Does Your Auto Pilot Have a Name?

[Snore]

It seems that, once again, my autopilot - a/k/a Mr Christian - has mutinied on me and stopped working.

Since buying my boat last year Mr. Christian has had discipline issues. He was just cutting out (had to rewire his supply circuit), had belt slippage (reworked his mount) and a propensity for rounding up (boat MUST be balanced for belt drive to work). And now the plug seems to need replacing!


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

Bill

[Zanshin]

Mine is called "Otto" (Otto-pilot), and Otto has been doing a fine job for me and never complains or hickups.

[Tim R.]

Not really but I know a few named Otto.

[tamicatana]

Autopilot is the very original 'Otto' and the outboard is 'Obie,' also original

[sailorboy1]

Ray Jr.

the old man died, Jr. like his old man is blind but gets around just fune

[marc2012]

When I first got my raymarine named it Rayetta after a girl I knew.After using it for awhile changed it to Ray Charles.marc

[Alecadi]

Ours is Capt. Ron!!

[AnsleyS]

Our autopilot was made by Simrad so we naturally began calling him Simbad after the sailor of the same name. Our autopilot control is mounted on the forward cowl of the cockpit which is great when the weather is poor as we can steer from under the dodger.

When our kids were small and still sailed with us, I would often ask our younger son, Brad, to make adjustments to our course. Such as, "Brad, give me ten degrees to port." This would enable me to steer from my lounging position with out much bodily movement.

Then the boys got older and got summer jobs and I found that I had to move my entire body to make changes in our course so I decided to look into a remote control unit. I looked at Simrad but they were selling theirs for two hundred fifty dollars and that was too steep for an item that my wife says that I should not have at all.

A bit of wiring and about four dollars of parts from Radio Shack and I made a simple remote that is plugged into a water resistant plug at the back of the cockpit where I lounge. It works great and we named it SimBrad.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

Mine is called "Otto" (Otto-pilot), and Otto has been doing a fine job for me and never complains or hickups.

I've got an OTTO on board too. He's good in conversation and keeps the opinions to himself, does not drink my beer, never asks what's for dinner. Mans the helm for hours without complaint. Has his own circuit breaker.

[Tortuga's Lie]

Seems like I need to be more original.....mine's Otto as well.

[tamicatana]

In my case I should say my lack of originality in autopilot and outboard naming is kind of funny in that I'm rather a Nazi about boat naming...

[HappyMdRSailor]

Moses... I plan on letting him leading me nowhere in particular for 40 years....

[Jimbo485]

Ours was called Dickhead for a while. Then he started behaving himself, so we dropped the name.

[magicmoments]

Mine is Benny an old Benmar marine course setter.

[zeehag]

otto pile it