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Marine Autopilot

Below-deck system · Furuno

Furuno NavPilot 711C

The workboat and long-range cruiser's autopilot with a colour head and adaptive self-learning.

Indicative price
$4,500–$6,800 unit
Fitted
$7,000–$12,000
Rated for
Sized by drive or pump
Editor score
73 / 100
HydraulicMechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod)Outboard (cable or hydraulic)Power cruisingOffshore / bluewaterFishing and trailer boats

The NavPilot 711C is Furuno's general-purpose autopilot for larger vessels: a colour control head, a processor that drives hydraulic pumps, solenoid valves or mechanical drives, and an adaptive self-learning algorithm that keeps refining its steering as the boat is used. It is common on trawler-style cruisers, catamaran ferries, charter boats and the smaller end of the commercial fishing fleet, and it supports on suitable outboard installations too.

For an owner of a displacement motor cruiser heading up the Queensland coast or around to the Kimberley, the 711C's appeal is durability and a menu structure written for people who navigate for a living. It supports two control heads, a wireless remote, and drives from a 24 V house system without fuss.

Verdict

The autopilot for a steel or long-range motor cruiser, a charter boat or a vessel in survey. Recreational owners of smaller fibreglass cruisers will find the Garmin and Simrad packs easier to live with.

Furuno NavPilot 711C drive sizing

Sized by drive. Suits hydraulic cylinders from small outboard systems up to large commercial rams via Furuno pumps or solenoid valve control; mechanical drives via a third-party actuator.

Specifications

Autopilot components, voltage and steering modes

Sensor
Furuno PG-700 heading sensor or SC satellite compass
Processor
FAP-7002 processor, 12/24 V
Control
FAP-7011C colour control head; second head and wireless remote optional
Drive
Hydraulic pump, solenoid valves or mechanical drive
Voltage
12 V or 24 V DC
Network
NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183, Furuno NavNet
Power draw
2 A typical, 15 A peak. Depends on pump; 24 V systems halve the current.
Steering systems
Hydraulic; Mechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod); Outboard (cable or hydraulic)

Modes

  • Auto (heading)
  • Nav (route following)
  • Wind mode (with wind data)
  • Fish Hunter patterns
  • Dodge, turn and remote steering

Features

  • Adaptive self-learning steering
  • Fantum Feedback support on outboard boats
  • Two control heads and a remote
  • Satellite compass option for the most stable heading
  • Commercial-grade build and menus

For and against

Autopilot strengths and limitations

Strengths
  • Long service life; common on working vessels
  • Satellite compass option removes magnetic interference on steel boats
  • 24 V native
  • Supported by commercial marine electronics dealers in every port
Limitations
  • Interface is functional rather than pretty
  • Recreational sailing features are basic
  • Fewer leisure dealers than Garmin or Raymarine

Who fits it

Boats and places where this system is recommended

Boat types

Australian waters

  • Western Australia → For 24 V long-range cruisers and charter boats bound for the north-west.
  • Northern Territory → For charter and survey vessels on 24 V.
  • Gold Coast and Tweed → For the long-range motor cruiser heading north up the reef or across to New Caledonia. It is built for continuous 24 V operation on bigger vessels, and it behaves properly at displacement speeds where planing-biased pilots do not.
  • Cairns and Far North Queensland → Built for exactly this: long days at 24 V on a heavy hydraulic boat, with the low-speed control a game boat needs while trolling the Ribbons. It is also the system most local commercial operators will be familiar with.

Questions

Furuno NavPilot 711C: frequently asked

Can the 711C be used on a vessel in commercial survey?

Yes, it is commonly fitted on domestic commercial vessels. Whether a particular vessel needs an autopilot to meet its survey requirements depends on its class and operation under the NSCV; the pilot itself is not certified, the installation is assessed by the surveyor.

Alternatives to consider

The systems most often weighed against this one.

Other below-deck system systems

Head to head

Comparisons featuring this system

ProductsFuruno NAVpilot-1000 vs 711C →Use NAVpilot-1000 only when its application and interface requirements match the project. For a boat served by the 711C class, do not…
Check the finder’s viewLearn to use itManufacturer site ↗

Autopilot commissioning and operator training

A $12,000 installation with no handover is a gamble. Half a day on the water with the installer or an instructor covers the modes, the override, the alarms and a failure drill. It is the cheapest safety equipment aboard.

Find an instructorOpen the competency checklist