Navionics (Simrad, B&G) NAC Pilot Computer vs AC42/24

[Dockhead]

Anyone know whether there are useful improvements, or just repackaged old stuff? And are they compatible with Triton 1 and 1st generation Zeus? Navico website is remarkably uninformative.

[fallingeggs]

When reading the Zeus2 manual for my NAC-2, there seems to be less features than the AC series. But I bet you won't care too much about VMG Optimization, which my NAC doesn't have. I asked a sales guys at a boat show and got a vague "improved algorithms." No idea about compatibility with first gen Zeus and Triton.

Why not just leap right to H5000 (other than the obvious cost)?

[Dockhead]

OK, so is the NAC on the contrary cheapened and simplified??

[fallingeggs]

It sure as heck isn't cheaper! As for simplified? It's really only two or three settings the AC has that the NAC doesn't. The Zeus2 manual has them listed. And maybe the NAC automatically takes care of these settings in some other way.

That said, I'm not sure you'll see a difference between the two units, so if it isn't broken...

[Dockhead]

After digging deep in the Navico websites - the NAC computers are NOT compatible with 1st generation Zeuses.

[SailRedemption]

We have a b&g zeus 2 and at first I thought about going with the NAC 3 but now we're going with a Pelagic unit to control our L&S ram when we get it. Cheaper and does the same thing. I'll get a Maretron heading gyro for the n2k network though and probably one Triton screen. That will all be less than the NAC-3 core pack with only comes with rudder sensor, gyro and pilot.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by SailRedemption

We have a b&g zeus 2 and at first I thought about going with the NAC 3 but now we're going with a Pelagic unit to control our L&S ram when we get it. Cheaper and does the same thing. I'll get a Maretron heading gyro for the n2k network though and probably one Triton screen. That will all be less than the NAC-3 core pack with only comes with rudder sensor, gyro and pilot.

Will that do wind steering?

I might be willing to give up some other features of a networked pilot, but wind steering would be a deal breaker for me. YMMV.

[kevincook]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

After digging deep in the Navico websites - the NAC computers are NOT compatible with 1st generation Zeuses.

Can you post a link to where you found that information?


Thanks,
Kevin

[SailRedemption]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Will that do wind steering?

I might be willing to give up some other features of a networked pilot, but wind steering would be a deal breaker for me. YMMV.

Yea, it has the option to steer by wind. Right now we're just trying to get going. If we need wind steering later on, we'll get the converter to go from our wso100 to NMEA0183 or get the NAC 3 and the Pelagic will be a back up.

You can view it here:

https://pelagicautopilot.com/products/gyro-controller

I spoke with the owner Brian who spent a few years developing the algorithms or whatever makes the thing steer. His unit is on a lot of racing boats on the west coast a lot of which do the Hawaii race from CA. He's an engineer who what I feel makes a solid product and has really competitive prices. It's not that flashy but sometimes that's a great tradeoff for simplicity & reliability (from what I read, no experience yet). He's also a nice guy to take with, which is always refreshing.

I think all in for it would be around $800 with covers, remote control, and rudder sensor. Also, he will up the guts on the motor controller to handle boat pilot pumps like ours.