Does Your Auto Pilot Have a Name?

[GrowleyMonster]

On ships it is called the Mike, short for Iron Mike. I thought it was pretty funny when folks started calling Mike Tyson an Autopilot!

[Dsanduril]

Gilligan!

He had a reputation as a "mighty sailing man", but when it comes down to it wasn't too bright. Did exactly what he was told to, without any thought whatsoever as to whether or not it was a reasonable thing to do. Seemed appropriate for an autopilot.

[Gary H]

We have two installed (long story). They are Captain Ray and Commander Ray. Captain Ray does better in normal conditions. Commander Ray does better in bigger seas. Different training (programming) I guess.

[Anchors Away]

I call mine Wilson. I sail alone quite a bit. So far have avoided becoming a Castaway, but one never knows.

[atoll]

we have 2 one is called "master bates" and the other is "seaman staines"............

[sv Shearwater]

Our NKE pilot is named Nikki.

[nautical62]

I called my first autopilot Ivan because every once it a while, it would pull a Crazy Ivan on me.

[44'cruisingcat]

Old autopilot was called lots of names, mostly not suitable for repeating here. Usually called it "The cursemaster" though.

The new Simrad doesn't get called anything but brilliant.

[bob_77903]

Fred...no particular reason, just came out first time he needed talking to...

[DWJ]

I also call mine Ivan. I find that when I plug in a course and tell Ivan to follow it he first must swing way to port then to starboard before setting in on the course. Crazy Ivan.

[Stu Jackson]

C25: Navico wheel pilot - Otto (too copycat, but only found out how much so when the internet became available, thanks Mr. Gore!)

C34: Autohelm ST3000 - Graeme (it's an English bit o kit, eh?)

[oldjags]

Mine's name is Jeeves. We have a running joke onboard that Jeeves, the butler, takes care of everything. Need a cup of coffee? Jeeves will get it. Naturally, we let him do most of the steering as well, as he's very good at it.

[twistedtree]

Ours is Skippy.

[Greggegner]

At dinner one night a 70+ gentleman from the dock was having dinner with us. His wife took a trip and asked us to kinda watch out for him. So he looked at us and asked the question, we replied Otto. He said they called theirs RUFUS...we queried him...routinely used for f#€+ing under sail....At that moment we renamed ours.

[cszosler]

I was curious if anyone else has named their autopilot and how they came to name it.

Bill[/QUOTE]

Mine is "Bob" and when he drives me nuts I do call him by his family name.