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I have completed the install of the Raymarine S1000 Autopilot (see gallery). With it all said and done I hope I never have to work with hydraulic fluid ever again (I had nightmares I was swimming in the stuff) From an install score of 1-10 with one being the easiest I rate it a five. Now that I have it installed it and having the opportunity to use it on the water for the last month, "I LOVE THIS THING!"

This is really a solo fishermans, or any fishermans/boaters dream come true. It will follow waypoints on your GPS, and it can be programmed to do small, medium and large circles, zig-zags and cloverleafs, and you can steer it manually as well, all with a remote and from anywhere in the boat(Osprey Vic you gotta have one of these toys!).

I was in the market for an autopilot, as some of you know I run a fishing charter operation here in Indiana and I do a lot of trolling.
I did'nt like having my guest steering the boat while I was setting or working line's(which I do alot), and I cant always depend on a deck hand.
Then Raymarine came out with the S1000 remote autopilot for boats up to 25'. I waited a year for the unit to work it's bugs out, and then I went for it, and I absolutely love it, and my guest get a kick out of it as well!

It's really great with my family too, because I can cruise at slow speeds and spend more time with them instead of having to be behind the helm the entire time I'm underway.

If I could of done anything differant.... I wish I would of had all Raymarine electronics aboard. It would of made some of the install easier. It would of been nice to drop it off and let somebody ele's do the entire install.
I did manage to have some good help(Thanks Dennis from A&E Marine) it's always good to know the unit inside and out in the event you ever have to troubleshoot.

The worst thing about the install was the hydraulic fluid. I probably spent more time cleaning hydraulic fluid off everthing than it took to install the unit itself!

And if anyone is planning on purchasing one, make sure it is one of the brand new models, because some of the earlier hydraulic pumps had problems!

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