![\"Tin](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.boatingmag.com\/uploads\/2024\/12\/BTG1224-ILAB-Autopilot-1024x768.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/div>\n Courtesy Raymarine, dule964 \/ Adobe Stock<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/section>\n
After months of extensive preparations, my friend Coy and I headed for the Bahamas from Brunswick, Georgia, on Makana<\/em>, his 32-footer.<\/p>\n Prior to leaving for the Bahamas, we learned that the -autopilot on Makana<\/em> was not functioning, so Coy had a marine-electronics technician come to repair it and conduct a test trip. It was now running great. Having cruised extensively, we knew the value of an autopilot for fuel and time savings and for reducing stress on the skipper.<\/p>\n We set off, heading under the Sidney Lanier Bridge before allowing the autopilot to take control. Within seconds, Makana<\/em> veered sharp to starboard and started swerving erratically. I immediately disengaged the autopilot and took control of the steering.<\/p>\n Read Next:<\/strong> Compounding Mistakes Make for a Dangerous Situation<\/a><\/p>\n Coy was not happy and was talking about returning to the dock. The autopilot had functioned flawlessly just a few days prior. Why was it suddenly acting like this?<\/p>\n I had experienced a similar event before on a boat that had its fluxgate compass and controls in one unit. It worked great in stand-by, but if I hit the engage button, it would turn us hard starboard. I figured out that the external fixator on my wrist (used to repair a fracture I had sustained) was causing the problem, so I thought maybe we had a fluxgate-compass problem with Makana<\/em>.<\/p>\n After a thorough search in the aft cabin, I located the fluxgate compass situated at the bottom of the aft hanging locker, next to a No. 10 tin can (110 ounces) of peanuts. We quickly relocated the peanuts, and the autopilot operated flawlessly for the remainder of the voyage. Sometimes the solution to a boat problem can be quite simple, and this, thankfully, was one of those cases.<\/p>\n Charles Wilsdorf [The key safety takeaway here is that Mr. Wilsdorf remained at the helm, despite using an autopilot. Had he left the helm, the boat may have struck something or a sudden turn may have thrown someone overboard. Always keep a helm watch when using autopilot.<\/em> \u2014Ed.]<\/p>\n Wanted: Your Stories The post Troubleshooting Autopilot Interference<\/a> appeared first on Boating Mag<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Brunswick, Georgia<\/em><\/p>\n
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