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Coursemaster Autopilots Pty Ltd has been designing and manufacturing
quality autopilots in Sydney Australia for 30 years and exporting
to Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America.
In 1974, Coursemaster was incorporated after David Chapman's
i
nnovative 'autopilot with unique compass heading sensor'
won a John Lysaght Inventors Award and received national coverage
on the ABC Television's Inventors Program.
Coursemaster's R & D has continued this tradition of technical
innovation under the direction of Dr Graham Rigby PHD MSc.,
achieving another world first for Coursemaster in 1980 with
the design of the CM300 autopilot using digital electronics
and a fluxgate compass. An interface to enable a Coursemaster
autopilot to automatically steer to waypoints from a satellite
navigator achieved another world first for Coursemaster in
1984.
Coursemaster's commitment to specialise in innovative autopilot
technology continued with the development of the first microprocessor
based CM500, the dedicated commercial CM650 pilot, and the
innovative software and large LCD graphics display of the
CM700 and CM800 range. The development of the all the Coursemaster
models may be seen on our Product History page.
Dr Rigby's Vessel Motion Simulator has been instrumental in
the development of the intelligent, self-tuning software in
the new CM80i autopilot - primarily designed for smaller powerboats
with hydraulic steering and the first autopilot that does
not require a rudder feedback sensor. Along with exhaustive
sea trials conducted on vessels of differing displacement,
the VMS has also been at the core of the development of the
intelligence built into the software of the latest commercial
CM880 autopilot - designed to IMO standards for use on workboats,
trawlers and freighters of up to 10,000 tonnes or more.
Coursemaster is the sister company of HyDrive Engineering
Pty Ltd, the largest manufacturer of hydraulic steering gear
in the Southern Hemisphere. HyDrive has been manufacturing
high quality hydraulic marine steering equipment since 1966
and won more than 7 prestigious awards for design excellence
including 4 Australian Design Awards. The HyDrive Steering
page of this website offers information on the inboard/outboard
steering kits, heavy duty helms and power steering systems,
or you may visit www.hydrive.com.au for HyDrive's complete
range of products. Joint projects between the two companies,
including the development of the 8000 Series Steering Pedestal,
are continuing both here in Australia and around the world.
This close alliance between the two companies means that with
a combined 65+ years of specialist experience, Coursemaster
and HyDrive are in an enviable position to provide Australian-made
quality steering solutions for both commercial and leisure
vessels while providing a solid foundation for continued expansion
and the pursuit of emerging opportunities around the world.
Here in Australia, Coursemaster is the authorised Australian
distributor for KODEN, SEIWA, Interphase, KVH, Leica/MX-Marine
and Shakespeare products, and is committed to providing technical
sales and service expertise on these award-winning, quality
marine electronics both directly and through our Australia-wide
dealer network.
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