Topic: NMEA 0183 compatible?

[EZM]

Are the Humminbird products NMEA 0183 compatible?

I was thinking of putting on one of those Garmin gas kicker auto-pilots for salmon / lake trout fishing.

http://www.northwestmarinesolutions.com/2008/12/garmin-tr-1-autopilot/

looks pretty cool

[EZM]

just looked on the specs - it looks like my 898 is compatible .............

has anyone used the gas kicker autopilot systems? if so, what do you like and dislike about them?

[D S]

looks interesting what is the cost and where can u order from?

[EZM]

The link above is a place in Oregon who carries and installs them. Around $3000 USD.

There is a retailer out in Ontario and one on the lower mainland - which means the two of us either need to haul our boats to BC or have the product ordered and delivered and try and find someone capable of properly installing the thing.

The way I look at it - for my boat - which has a Honda 150 on the back - I "could" add a 9.9 Honda with power tilt and electric start for around $3000 and spend another $2200 or so to get it installed with a throttle control box, ignition and bolted onto my sea-star hydraulic steering - total $5200 ...........

OR

Get the motor for $3000 and add $3000 for the GPS autopilot (ends up $800 more) BUT I get GPS navigation and can still use it as a tiller on the back of my 1800 Lund Tyee.

Very tempting ........