Resources
Marine autopilot resources
The regulators, forecasters, rescue services, training bodies and manufacturers this guide is checked against. Every link is outbound to the authority itself.
- Regulators and the rules
- 9 links
- Weather, tides and rescue
- 7 links
- Training bodies
- 4 links
- Manufacturers
- 12 links
Regulators and the rules
Regulators and the rules
The authorities whose rules apply whether a person or a machine is steering.
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) ↗
Commercial vessels, the NSCV, the Navigation Act and the Collision Regulations as applied in Australia.
www.amsa.gov.au
- AMSA: Collision Regulations (COLREGs) ↗
The rules of the road, including Rule 5 on keeping a lookout.
www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/domestic-commercial-vessels/collision-regulations
- Transport for NSW: boating ↗
NSW licensing, safety equipment and the boating handbook.
www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/boating
- Safe Transport Victoria ↗
Victorian marine licences, safe operation and the Rip.
www.safetransport.vic.gov.au
- Maritime Safety Queensland ↗
Queensland licensing, bar crossings and reef navigation.
www.msq.qld.gov.au
- Department of Transport WA: marine ↗
WA skipper's tickets and safety equipment.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
- Marine Safety SA ↗
South Australian licensing and safety rules.
www.marinesafety.sa.gov.au
- Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) ↗
Tasmanian licensing, safety equipment and local guidance.
www.mast.tas.gov.au
- NT Government: boating ↗
Northern Territory marine safety in the no-licence jurisdiction.
nt.gov.au/driving/boating
Weather, tides and rescue
Weather, tides and rescue
What to check before the pilot goes on, and who to call if it comes off.
- Bureau of Meteorology: marine and ocean ↗
Coastal waters forecasts, warnings, MetEye and tide predictions.
www.bom.gov.au/marine
- Bureau of Meteorology: tide predictions ↗
Official tide tables for Australian ports.
www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/projects/ntc/ntc.shtml
- Marine Rescue NSW ↗
Volunteer marine rescue and radio watch in NSW; log on before a coastal passage.
www.marinerescuensw.com.au
- Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland ↗
Volunteer marine rescue across Queensland, including bar advice.
www.marinerescueqld.org.au
- Australian Volunteer Coast Guard ↗
Volunteer rescue flotillas in several states.
coastguard.com.au
- Marine Rescue WA (Department of Fire and Emergency Services) ↗
Volunteer marine rescue groups in Western Australia.
www.dfes.wa.gov.au
- AMSA: beacons ↗
Register your EPIRB and personal locator beacons.
beacons.amsa.gov.au
Training bodies
Training bodies
Where autopilot competence is taught inside recognised courses.
- Australian Sailing ↗
The national body: keelboat and powerboat training, Discover Sailing centres and the Special Regulations.
www.sailing.org.au
- Australian Sailing: Special Regulations ↗
Safety equipment and crew requirements for racing, by category.
www.sailingresources.org.au
- Royal Yachting Association (RYA) ↗
RYA Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster courses are taught by affiliated schools in Australia.
www.rya.org.uk
- YouSail.com.au ↗
The Australian sailing training directory that publishes this guide.
yousail.com.au
Manufacturers
Manufacturers
Official product pages, manuals and dealer locators. Specifications on this site are checked against these.
- Raymarine ↗
Evolution autopilots, drives, manuals and the Australian dealer locator.
www.raymarine.com
- Garmin Australia ↗
Reactor 40 packs, GHC controls and Shadow Drive documentation.
www.garmin.com/en-AU
- B&G ↗
NAC autopilots, Triton2 and H5000 sailing systems.
www.bandg.com
- Simrad Yachting ↗
AP44 and AP48 controllers, NAC computers and VRF packs.
www.simrad-yachting.com
- Furuno ↗
NavPilot 300 and 711C, satellite compasses and commercial systems.
www.furuno.com
- Lowrance ↗
Outboard Pilot and plotter compatibility.
www.lowrance.com
- Hydrovane ↗
Auxiliary-rudder windvane self-steering.
hydrovane.com
- Windpilot ↗
Servo-pendulum windvane self-steering.
www.windpilot.com
- Pelagic Autopilot ↗
Offshore tiller pilots with external actuators.
pelagicautopilot.com
- CPT Autopilot ↗
Above-deck wheel pilots for cruising yachts.
cptautopilot.com
- NKE Marine Electronics ↗
Gyropilot racing autopilots and instruments.
www.nke-marine-electronics.com
- Jefa Marine ↗
Linear, direct and rotary drives used with B&G, Garmin and Simrad systems.
www.jefa.com
Standards and installation
Standards and installation
The networking and installation standards behind a good job.
- National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) ↗
The NMEA 2000 standard and installer certification.
www.nmea.org
- Boating Industry Association (BIA) ↗
Australian industry body; member directories for dealers and installers.
www.bia.org.au
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB): marine ↗
Marine safety investigations, including collisions and groundings.
www.atsb.gov.au/marine