Raymarine Smart Pilot X-5

by Donn Brown
(Naples, FL)

I installed all the Raymarine Smart Pilot X-5 autopilot components myself on my Watkins 27-foot sailboat. Installation was easier than I had expected and the dockside checkout went flawlessly.

I did have some issues with the sea trial calibration and had to send the course computer back to Raymarine for service. I had just purchased Smart Pilot X-5 so everything was still under warranty. Turn around time was was a very fast seven days and the follow-up sea trial went perfectly.

I am using my Raymarine Smart Pilot X-5 with my Garmin Colorado 400c GPS and it seems to be a good match for the autopilot. I would recommend this unit to a first time do-it-yourself sailor.