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Author Topic:   Auto Pilot Install For $1,600

bill4tuna posted 10-21-2008 08:05 PM ET (US)
Today I received an estimate from a marine electronics business to install an auto pilot in a 255 CONQUEST. His estimate was two days labor at $100 per hour or $1,600. Is this the going rate or am I being overcharged?
AtoZ posted 10-21-2008 10:29 PM ET (US)
It depends. What is listed in the estimate? What unit is he installing?
glen e posted 10-22-2008 08:18 AM ET (US)
[Installation of an auto pilot] should be about six to eight hours of labor. Never seen one on a small boat take too much longer. Sounds high to me but as said above, we don't know what kind and what the installtion entails outside the normal set up. Ripping people off with high install costs on an auto pilot is a common occurance in the industry.
bill4tuna posted 10-22-2008 01:06 PM ET (US)
Sorry for not including adequate information to answer the question. He is installing a new [ComNav] 1420 autopilot. The boat did not previously have an autopilot. I have not purchased it yet. Any suggestions for a similarly priced ($1,400) auto pilot?
bill
Brian7son posted 10-24-2008 04:49 PM ET (US)
Bill,
I have replaced a lot of things on my 295 Conquest, (Chartplotter, stereos, generator,etc.)but no Auto Pilots. I dont have one. I have a wife and 2 kids. Someone's always eager to take the helm if I want to take a break. That 16 hours of labor time does sound high to me. Like Glen, I would think more like 8 hours.
I really don't think that you will find a lot of feedback on C.W. regarding autopilot prices and install time info. I could be wrong, but just I don't think many of the folks on here have autopilots, maybe a couple.
I'm not sure about your options in your area, but if it were me, I'd get 1 or 2 more estimates. I'd also tell the first guy that you'd like to do business with him, but you intend to get 2 other estimates. That way, if he's shafting you on the labor time, he may be inclined to "adjust his original estimate". In this market, he'd be a fool to let you walk.
seabob4 posted 10-24-2008 11:37 PM ET (US)
Bill,
Basically, an autopilot install consists ot the rudder position potentiometer on your steering cylinder, the pump, the fluxgate compass, the control head, and one additional steering hose. The hardest part is running the electrical cable from the rudder position indicator to the helm. The rest is "plug and play". The user manual will tell you how to "dial it in".
Bring her down here to Hudson, FL, I'll install it for you for $700, and you get a great weekend of fishing in warm sunny Gulf Coast Florida to boot!

glen e posted 10-25-2008 08:09 AM ET (US)
any AP worth it's salt has no rudder transducer anymore- the best in the biz like raymarine, simrad and Garmin don't need them...
Casco Bay Outrage posted 10-25-2008 05:21 PM ET (US)
Bob - Was that a fluxgate compass or a fluxgate capacitor(i.e Back to the Future)?
LOL
David1877 posted 10-25-2008 11:42 PM ET (US)
I had an AP installed in my Eastport (Conquest) 205 this summer for about $700.
I concur with other posters, if you have a GPS, rudder sensor is not needed. Most AP system now require GPS.
I purchased the Raymarine S1000. It has been ok but it has had more hiccups than I might expect from anew unit. If I were to do it again, I might spend a little more and get the Simrad AP-24, which was recommended.
If you have hydraulic steering, the AP install should be relatively the same as an install on my boat. 8 hours should do it.
Good luck.
seabob4 posted 10-26-2008 04:12 PM ET (US)
Glen,
So what would the long skinny thing be? And Tom, yes a fluxgate compass.
http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=733& PRODUCT=1582
Glen, rudder position pot may not be the proper term, but whether it uses the cylinder that clamps to the steering cylinder, or the pivoting arm that bolts to the end of the cylinder, the control head still needs to know where the motor is pointed.
glen e posted 10-26-2008 04:48 PM ET (US)
do some up to date research...no good AP uses any contraption near the back of the boat....All the new rays, simrads and garmins don't need it...the only major mfr using the usleless RFU is Furuno..
glen e posted 10-26-2008 04:56 PM ET (US)
read the copy - no "long skinny thing" as you call it - still waiting for your fax on verado certification...(LOL)
http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1848&PRODUCT=4191
seabob4 posted 10-26-2008 05:27 PM ET (US)
http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1848& PRODUCT=4191
I stand corrected, Glen.

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Author	Topic: Auto Pilot Install For $1,600
bill4tuna	posted 10-21-2008 08:05 PM ET (US) Today I received an estimate from a marine electronics business to install an auto pilot in a 255 CONQUEST. His estimate was two days labor at $100 per hour or $1,600. Is this the going rate or am I being overcharged?
AtoZ	posted 10-21-2008 10:29 PM ET (US) It depends. What is listed in the estimate? What unit is he installing?
glen e	posted 10-22-2008 08:18 AM ET (US) [Installation of an auto pilot] should be about six to eight hours of labor. Never seen one on a small boat take too much longer. Sounds high to me but as said above, we don't know what kind and what the installtion entails outside the normal set up. Ripping people off with high install costs on an auto pilot is a common occurance in the industry.
bill4tuna	posted 10-22-2008 01:06 PM ET (US) Sorry for not including adequate information to answer the question. He is installing a new [ComNav] 1420 autopilot. The boat did not previously have an autopilot. I have not purchased it yet. Any suggestions for a similarly priced ($1,400) auto pilot? bill
Brian7son	posted 10-24-2008 04:49 PM ET (US) Bill, I have replaced a lot of things on my 295 Conquest, (Chartplotter, stereos, generator,etc.)but no Auto Pilots. I dont have one. I have a wife and 2 kids. Someone's always eager to take the helm if I want to take a break. That 16 hours of labor time does sound high to me. Like Glen, I would think more like 8 hours. I really don't think that you will find a lot of feedback on C.W. regarding autopilot prices and install time info. I could be wrong, but just I don't think many of the folks on here have autopilots, maybe a couple. I'm not sure about your options in your area, but if it were me, I'd get 1 or 2 more estimates. I'd also tell the first guy that you'd like to do business with him, but you intend to get 2 other estimates. That way, if he's shafting you on the labor time, he may be inclined to "adjust his original estimate". In this market, he'd be a fool to let you walk.
seabob4	posted 10-24-2008 11:37 PM ET (US) Bill, Basically, an autopilot install consists ot the rudder position potentiometer on your steering cylinder, the pump, the fluxgate compass, the control head, and one additional steering hose. The hardest part is running the electrical cable from the rudder position indicator to the helm. The rest is "plug and play". The user manual will tell you how to "dial it in". Bring her down here to Hudson, FL, I'll install it for you for $700, and you get a great weekend of fishing in warm sunny Gulf Coast Florida to boot!
glen e	posted 10-25-2008 08:09 AM ET (US) any AP worth it's salt has no rudder transducer anymore- the best in the biz like raymarine, simrad and Garmin don't need them...
Casco Bay Outrage	posted 10-25-2008 05:21 PM ET (US) Bob - Was that a fluxgate compass or a fluxgate capacitor(i.e Back to the Future)? LOL
David1877	posted 10-25-2008 11:42 PM ET (US) I had an AP installed in my Eastport (Conquest) 205 this summer for about $700. I concur with other posters, if you have a GPS, rudder sensor is not needed. Most AP system now require GPS. I purchased the Raymarine S1000. It has been ok but it has had more hiccups than I might expect from anew unit. If I were to do it again, I might spend a little more and get the Simrad AP-24, which was recommended. If you have hydraulic steering, the AP install should be relatively the same as an install on my boat. 8 hours should do it. Good luck.
seabob4	posted 10-26-2008 04:12 PM ET (US) Glen, So what would the long skinny thing be? And Tom, yes a fluxgate compass. http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=733& PRODUCT=1582 Glen, rudder position pot may not be the proper term, but whether it uses the cylinder that clamps to the steering cylinder, or the pivoting arm that bolts to the end of the cylinder, the control head still needs to know where the motor is pointed.
glen e	posted 10-26-2008 04:48 PM ET (US) do some up to date research...no good AP uses any contraption near the back of the boat....All the new rays, simrads and garmins don't need it...the only major mfr using the usleless RFU is Furuno..
glen e	posted 10-26-2008 04:56 PM ET (US) read the copy - no "long skinny thing" as you call it - still waiting for your fax on verado certification...(LOL) http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1848&PRODUCT=4191
seabob4	posted 10-26-2008 05:27 PM ET (US) http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1848& PRODUCT=4191 I stand corrected, Glen.