Autopilot Route Following: Features to Check

What Route Following Means on a Marine Autopilot

Route following is the autopilot function that steers the boat along a series of waypoints rather than holding one fixed heading. The waypoints come from a route created on a chartplotter, and the autopilot turns the boat onto each new leg as the route progresses.

The function appears in listings under different names. Some control heads call it nav mode, some call it route or track mode, and some makers describe it as an interface to a chartplotter. What matters for a buyer is that the autopilot receives the active route and has a control point to manage it.

If you use a chartplotter aboard, the article on autopilot integration with chartplotters explains how the two units work together in general terms.

The Sensors and Data a Route-Following Autopilot Needs

A route-following autopilot needs a heading source, a position source, and the route data itself. The heading source is usually part of the autopilot pack, either inside the actuator control unit or as a separate sensor. Position and route data come from the chartplotter.

NMEA 2000 is the network standard that lets marine electronics share data, including commands and status, over a single channel. According to the National Marine Electronics Association, NMEA 2000 is based on CAN communications and describes a multi-transmitter, multi-receiver instrument network with no central controller.

Some autopilots also use a rudder reference to make turns. Not every pack includes one; the listing and the maker's page state what is in the box. The article on autopilot sensor requirements covers the sensors to look for.

Reading a Listing for Route-Following Features

Route following is not always written out in the first words of a listing. The pack title names the model line and part, while the bullet list carries the details. Look for terms like NMEA 2000, navigation interface, waypoint, or active route.

A pack with a control head in the box gives you a dedicated way to select nav mode and follow the route. A core pack without a control head may rely on your existing multifunction display. The core pack without drive article compares the two approaches.

Compare the pack contents against what you already have. If your boat has a chartplotter that sends routes, you can build the autopilot around a core pack; if you want a single-brand system, a complete pack may be simpler. See the complete pack versus custom article for that choice.

How the Control Head Shows an Active Route

The control head is the panel you use to switch the autopilot into nav mode, see the active leg, and return to manual steering. On color displays, the head shows the route, the next waypoint, and cross-track error, which is the distance the boat has drifted to one side of the planned course line.

Listing titles name the control head model, such as the Raymarine p70 series or the Furuno NavPilot 300 display. When a head is named in the title, it is in the box; when the title says w/o or core, the head is not included.

If you already own a multifunction display, the autopilot may be operated from that display instead of a dedicated head. The article on control head options compares the two ways of running an autopilot.

Verifying the NMEA Link for Waypoint Handling

NMEA 2000 certified products are identified by a manufacturer code and a product code, and certification is granted after validation by NMEA. When you read a listing, the phrase NMEA 2000 certified or the NMEA 2000 logo tells you the unit can share data over that network.

The maker's page is the place to confirm how routes reach the autopilot. Some products state requirements there that do not appear in a listing. For example, Furuno notes that a compatible NMEA 2000 heading source is required for the NavPilot 300; that kind of note changes what you need to buy.

The NMEA 2000 connectivity article and the chartplotter integration article explain how to read these statements on a listing.

Questions to Ask Before You Choose

Route following depends on the network, the sensors, and the control point, so the right questions focus on what a listing does not say.

While the autopilot steers, it does not replace the watch. The U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety page is the reference for navigation rules, lookout duty, and boating education.

• Does the autopilot accept the active route from my chartplotter, and over which network?
• Is the control head in the box, or will I use my multifunction display to run nav mode?
• Does the pack include the heading sensor, or does the maker require a separate heading source?
• Does my boat have the steering drive the pack names, such as a hydraulic pump or a linear drive?
• What does the maker's manual say about navigation mode and waypoint handling?

What to Pick for Your Situation

Use the stated details on each listing, then match the pack to the steering and network you already have.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

What is route following on an autopilot?

Route following means the autopilot steers the boat along a route of waypoints set on a chartplotter, turning onto each new leg as the route advances.

Does every autopilot follow routes?

No. A tiller pilot or a simple power pilot may only hold a heading. Route following requires the autopilot to receive route data, usually over NMEA 2000, so check the listing and the maker's page for a navigation interface.

What does NMEA 2000 have to do with route following?

NMEA 2000 is the network standard that carries route and waypoint data from the chartplotter to the autopilot. The system shares commands and status over a single channel, and certified products must be validated by NMEA.

Do I need a control head to follow a route?

Not always. Some autopilots are operated from a multifunction display. If a pack does not include a control head, the listing usually says so, and you will use your existing display.

What is cross-track error?

Cross-track error is the distance between the boat and the planned course line toward the next waypoint. The control head shows this distance so you can see how far the autopilot has let the boat drift.

Does my autopilot need a heading sensor for route following?

Yes, a heading source is part of route following on most systems. Some makers require a separate NMEA 2000 heading source, so verify that detail on the maker's page.

Can I add route following to an older autopilot?

That depends on the network and the model line. If the existing autopilot has an NMEA 2000 interface, adding a chartplotter or upgrading the control head may be possible; the maker's page for your model is the source to check.