Auto pilot can’t stand in for a human skipper

Ahoy.

Last week in the Daily Pilot, there was a picture of a 57-foot

yacht sitting on the rocks off Crystal Cove State Park. The story

reported that the owner fell asleep while the boat was on autopilot

from Avalon to Newport Harbor.

The vessel caught my eye because, approximately a year earlier, I

had delivered that boat from Ensenada, Mexico, to Newport Beach.

I remember the boat because it was a new Carver that could get up

on top of the water and cruise at a decent speed for that size of

yacht.

I do remember that I did not give this new boat owner any boating

instructions, and he was not on the delivery with me. Therefore, I do

not feel so bad that he programmed the autopilot incorrectly by

missing the channel entrance by such a huge error at Crystal Cove.

Theoretically, he should have crashed into one of the jetties if

he had the unit in navigation mode with the correct waypoint selected

on his global positioning system. However, he probably was operating

with the autopilot in the auto mode, which is where one simply dials

in a compass heading.

In auto mode, the autopilot will not adjust for set and drift, but

just keep the boat heading in that specified direction -- which makes

sense if the swells pushed him south of the jetty entrance.

I just have a hard time thinking that one could fall asleep in

that short of a time period, as the crossing should have taken

between an hour and an hour and a half with the speed that boat can

do.

He was very lucky he did not hit a ship in the shipping lanes,

considering that Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors combined are the

third-busiest ports in the world.

However, I am very concerned that a yacht was underway on a set

course with no one standing watch on the bridge. If he was too tired

to make the crossing, then he should have never pulled anchor to get

underway and endangered anyone on the water that night.

I consider autopilots one of the best pieces of electronics on the

boat and if used properly, the autopilot will increase the safety

level. The unit can steer straighter than any human operator at the

wheel and, especially in rough seas, frees up the skipper from

tackling the wheel to watching the radar and looking around the

vessel.

I have found that the autopilot decreases skipper fatigue. One

day, I will have to calculate the return on investment for purchasing

an autopilot in the fuel saving costs, as the unit steers very well

and in navigation mode adjusts for set and drift.

Then there are those who misuse the autopilot, thinking that it

can see and think for itself. I have heard of stories of the skippers

turning on the autopilot and going below to make a sandwich, take a

nap or entertain with the guests aboard.

Yes, I have to admit that I have gone below to grab something to

eat or drink, but I slow the boat down to 3 knots -- not full

throttle. The reason for 3 or so knots is to keep the boat moving

very slowly ahead but not getting turned abeam into the swell’s

trough, which could dangerously rock the boat.

My tip of the week is to use your head when underway, and remember

you must always have a watch or two while underway.

Many times in the fog, I will also post an extra bow watch who has

the advantage of the extra distance from the helm to the bow and who

can listen for any whistle signals or engine noises.

It reminds me of the urban legend of the new motor-home owner who,

while cruising down the interstate, left the steering wheel to get a

cup of coffee -- you can image the outcome.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170).

You can join me, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland by calling the

listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit

o7https://www.boathousetv.comf7.