Raymarine autopilot control unit - Manual (Page 15)

xii ST7000 Plus Autopilot Control Unit Owner’s Handbook
Safety Information
WARNING
Although the ST7000 Plus is designed to give accurate and reliable
performance, it should serve only as an aid to navigation and
should never lead to the erosion of good seamanship. Always
maintain a permanent watch and be aware of situations as they
develop.
The following rules should always be observed:
• Maintain a permanent watch and regularly check all around for
other vessels and obstacles to navigation – no matter how clear the
sea may appear, a dangerous situation can develop rapidly.
• Maintain an accurate record of the vessel’s position either by use of
a radio navigation receiver or visual bearings.
• Maintain a continuous plot of position on a current chart. Ensure the
locked autopilot heading steers you clear of all obstacles. Make
proper allowance for Tidal Set – the autopilot cannot!
• Even when your autopilot is locked onto the desired Track using a
radio navigation receiver, always maintain a log and make regular
positional plots. Radio navigation signals can produce significant
errors under some circumstances and the autopilot cannot detect
this situation.
• Make sure that all members of crew are familiar with the
procedures to disengage the autopilot.
• Ensure someone is present at the helm AT ALL TIMES, to take
manual control in an emergency.
• As the fluxgate compass used in the autopilot system is a type of
magnetic compass, it is susceptible to disturbances in the local
magnetic fields, in the same way that a conventional ship’s compass
would be. It is therefore important that the fluxgate compass is
installed and operated in a manner that will minimise the effects of
any such local disturbances.
Your Raytheon autopilot will add a new dimension to your boating
enjoyment. However, it is the responsibility of the skipper to ensure the
safety of the vessel at all times by careful observance of these basic
rules.
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