The ideal position is as close as possible to the pitch and roll centre of the boat. On a sailing boat this often conflicts with the position of other equipment and may also be subject to interference from the iron keel/ballast.  The handbook offers many suggestions, but in principle, move the fluxgate aft and outboard until a position is found which has minimal deviation.  This position should also be checked with a hand bearing compass, for sources of hidden deviation.  Often positions 3-4 feet off the centreline and 2-3 feet above the waterline will give excellent performance.

On a power boat, the ideal position often ends up between the engines, so it is important to relocate the fluxgate.  Since height has a much better effect at reducing deviation, the sensor can be raised to a position 3 feet or more above the top of the engines, alternatively move it aft - unless the boat has I/O drives in which case keep the sensor at least 4 feet forward of the engine room!

Do not mount the compass in the front 1/3 of the boat due to shock motion and whilst lead shielding works well for Kryptonite, it has no effect on shielding the sensor from magnetic interference! If in any doubt, mount the compass temporarily with tape and carry out a linearisation swing, be prepared to move it if necessary.
 
 

No, most definitely not. All Autohelm equipment containing a fluxgate compass will rattle when shaken, as the compass unit is mounted internally on gimbals. The sound is that of a rubber buffer hitting the inside of the case and from our point of view, it's a reassuringly good sound!
 
 
 

This is not as straight forward as it might seem and depends on many varied factors including boat displacement, hull type, steering system type and intended use of the autopilot. However, we have compiled a cockpit pilot configurator, which will give you direct access to a database of information gathered from around the world. Quite simply, keying in your boat type or displacement will result in an instant specification. If in any doubt ALWAYS consult your local agent for advice.
 
 
 

First, while running the boat through a complete circle, verify that the compass tracks through 360 degrees. Second, perform the compass linearization procedure described in the owner's manual. After completing up to 3 complete circles, if the deviation displayed is greater than 15 degrees, or you get no deviation value at all, you must move the compass to another location and redo the linearization. Once you have the deviation at 15 or less, use the +1 or -1 keys to adjust the reading so that it agrees with your ship's compass. Push the STBY key for 2 seconds to store the settings and exit calibration mode.
 
 

The deviation number indicates the amount of magnetic influence around the fluxgate compass. If the deviation is greater than 15 degrees the compass will have to be moved to a spot with less magnetic influence. Remember, you may have to turn up 3 complete circles to obtain a deviation value.