[CA] Providing Navigation Input to a ST6000 Course Computer

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Tim,

As you have suggested the Z123 is indeed the correct name for an autopilot course computer and was part of the AH6000 Stern Drive (see diagram below). Information for that autopilot may be found here.



Unfortunately, neither parts nor service are available any longer for this 20+ year old autopilot design and support is generally limited to providing access to the autopilot's owner's manual. That said, the ST6001+ autopilot control head is of a later design. On the back side of the ST6001, you will find a 4800 NMEA 0183 input interface. Interfacing it to the 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 v2.1 (or later) output of a third party chartplotter / GPS navigator may then permit the third party chartplotter / GPS navigator to supply the autopilot with navigational data in support of the autopilot's Track feature.

The Smart Heading System was not designed for use with the Z123 autopilot course computer.