Garmin Auto Pilot

[Cigatoo]

I am changing my autopilot over to a Garmin reactor 40. I also have Garmin chart plotters. I am told that you can control the auto pilot directly through the Garmin chart plotters and the separate controller is not necessary. Do you Garmin autopilot people have any thoughts / experience on using the chart plotters for the autopilot control?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Jklotz]

I've got the GHC 20 control unit along with my chartplotters. I use it all the time. It's nice to have a button right there where you can shut it off quickly, put it in heading hold from follow route, etc. I also use it as my rudder indicator. Chart plotter manages my routes and displays a lot of info not available on the GHC 20, but hunting through menus and pages to get to it when I need it quickly would be a no go for me.

 

[ranger58sb]

Our mix-'n'-match system allows me to initiate waypoints and routes on the MFD, but... it's slightly cumbersome.

The quick " go straight" (or stop going straight) button on the AP controller gets most of the work. Can't imagine being without that...

-Chris

 

[boomerang]

The quick " go straight" (or stop going straight) button on the AP controller gets most of the work. Can't imagine being without that...

-Chris

My sentiments too. When a quick navigational decision is required, I like a good ol' analog button.

 

[READY]

I have Raymarine which allows control of the MFD. I would not want to go without the separate auto pilot control head. Not that expensive. You may even find a used one. So easy to just turn the knob to tweak the heading or hit the dedicated button to enable or disconnect. Much easier to see the stare of the autopilot and nice to have the big heading display. For me a no brainer to have the separate control/display.

 

[l00smarble]

I install many Garmin autopilots and have always advised that customers should get a dedicated controller. One of main reasons is the importance of having a dedicated "hard button" that is in the same place all the time and has tactile feel so you can disengage the autopilot quickly without taking eyes off the "road."

However Garmin has done away with the GHC 20 controller and now the GHC 50 is touch interface only so the tactile feel of a hard button is not the same on a GHC 50.

They do now offer the APK 20 autopilot keyboard which is a good add-on either with or instead of GHC 50. This kind of control with rotary knob is especially good on a power cruiser like a trawler. Can be mounted in horizontal or vertical configuration. This gives back the "hard button" with tactile feel. Plus a nice rotary knob for easy course selection.

Having ONLY a multifunction display for autopilot control is not ideal. The MFD has a lot going on with many interfaces and the chances of any hiccups/issues are greater than a dedicated single function control.

Example - I had a customer ask us to immediately add an autopilot controller after his previous installer did a new Garmin autopilot with only MFD control. The customer was motoring on a river using autopilot the the river got narrow for a bridge with confined traffic and he went to put the autopilot in standby but the MFD had "locked up" for some unknown reason. He had no way to regain control of his rudder without rebooting the MFD which takes an eternity when your boat is in traffic with a locked rudder. He was in an absolute panic and did not think to turn off the autpilot breaker to release control of the rudder.

 

[kernie]

Howdy - I have the Reactor 40 and use it integrated into my Garmin MFD's, ie: no direct controller.
It's very easy - you can select it directly or tie it a ribbon on the top of the display - also i bought the hand held remote for small corrections when in heading mode. For me it works perfectly, no need for an additional display.

 

[Shrew]

I would absolutely install the separate AP controller. I have Raymarine with the rotary dial. I'm sure controlling through the MFD is fine. I like the ability to quickly adjust course for flotsam, jetsam, and lobster pots.

Honestly, I don't even allow the AP to follow the plotted course. I set it based on heading and then let it hold course. I make the course adjustments through the AP head unit at each turn. It keeps me paying attention.

Besides, I spend a lot of time adjusting course for boat traffic and junk most time anyway. I'll often end up running parallel to my course or very gradually getting back on it. I don't find huge benefit to the AP following course automatically.

 

[Barking Sands]

I just installed the Reactor 40, and 2 liter pump, ghc50 lower helm only, Reactor 40 remote. This is coupled to a pair of 923XSV units. I only have a few hours on it and Im not super experienced with AP in general. But even with a few hours, thi is become apparent quickly.

You can operate from the 923xsv alone. But its tight. If it was a 12 inch screen that would better. Having the GHC50 is nice. And having the Reactor 40 remote is really nice.

But after running around a bit I bought the APK20. It just has a few large buttons and a dial, its small but easy to hit those buttons. I think if you didnt want a GHC50 you could add the APK20 near the plotter and that would be a basic, yet very effective combo.

I have the Shadow Drive I need to add as well. This allows you to grab the wheel and steer to disengage AP when needed. I pretty much have all the bells and whistles. With more use I am betting I use the Plotter and APK20 combo the most.

 

[Greg QS]

Yes you can. Put as a bar on the top or bottom of the screen. I find the dedicate Screen gch 20 is best thought always on. Also look into the head held remote. Nice to have to tweak the course while sitting on the bow.

 

[SaltyDogg]

I have the reactor 40 and two garmin chart plotters, I purchased the remote to carry with me when not at one of the helms, also works great to be on the bow when navigating channels.

 

[Fleming]

I just recently installed the Garmin Reactor with control panel, can operate with the chartplotter, but I only use the remote. So easy, it stays on a lanyard around my neck and it's faster to get to a button to turn than the control panel or the plotter. If I need to pass control to my wife, I just hand her the remote.
I'm not a fan of using the plotter to control it, or letting it run pre-programmed routes because I'm a traditionalist that way. But I love the remote!

 

[Frosty]

Do you Garmin autopilot people have any thoughts / experience on using the chart plotters for the autopilot control?
Thanks in advance.

I'm not a "Garmin person" as I have a Raymarine system, but I think it's basically the same choice. I could control the AP purely through the MFD screen, or I could have a separate control (which in my case also has a little screen that you can put some other info on).

I chose to have the separate control and would make the same decision again every day. I would not want to have to control through the MFD screen.

Side note: The Raymarine powerboat separate control has a little steering knob (vs. just buttons). I think the standard Garmin one may only have buttons, but there is a fancier one that has a knob. I would always choose the knob. I mean, compare having a car radio volume or tuning knob vs. having to find and punch buttons....

 

[Ertyqway]

I have all Garmin nav gear, including a GHC20 Autopilot Controller and Reactor remote. The autopilot can be controlled through either the salon helm or flybridge charplotters, GHC20, the remote, or my Garmin smartwatch. I've used all of them, and it's a great system.

 

[Barking Sands]

I have all Garmin nav gear, including a GHC20 Autopilot Controller and Reactor remote. The autopilot can be controlled through either the salon helm or flybridge charplotters, GHC20, the remote, or my Garmin smartwatch. I've used all of them, and it's a great system.

I have the Quatix watch. But I have not tried it yet. My eyebulbs are getting a little weak for that small of a device.

 

[Ertyqway]

I don't use the Garmin watch to drive the boat much, but it's fun that it can. Its range is fairly limited. You need to be within 10 to 15 feet of the chartplotter for it to make and keep a connection, and it won't hand off automatically from one to another. The Reactor remote is far more reliable and easy to use.

I have a couple of friends who are big into watches, talking about the complications and movements and such on their exotic Swiss automatics which cost car money as they raise eyebrows at my chunky digital wrist monster. I enjoy saying, "Yeah, sure. But can your fancy-pants watch drive your yacht? Mine can." Solid flex. Always gets a chuckle.

 

[sjisailor]

We have the Garmin 40 AP with separate controller and remote. And I have never, not once in 1.5 years to date, used the separate AP controller panel (standard from factory). I always use the chartplotter controls, and occasionally the remote. So I'd skip that device if it were me.

A couple of notes. One, I plot the course with chartplotter but never let the system follow it. I regard it as informational only while I set the headings. (There are separate threads here about that.)

Two, I find it easy to hit the wrong button (e.g. circle, or follow route) on the remote. Be careful with that.

Three, on any chartplotter screen it is easy to add an AP control toolbar to the top (where I put it) or bottom or sides. Click "toolbars", autopilot, and then the button for location. Very handy on any screen used when underway.

 

[Barking Sands]

My buddy Ron with the Youtube channel Cruising This Old Boat did a series of Garmin video modules that are all quite useful. Here is one going over the AP basics.

 

[Jklotz]

My buddy Ron with the Youtube channel Cruising This Old Boat did a series of Garmin video modules that are all quite useful. Here is one going over the AP basics.

Your buddy makes an excellent tutorial! I learned a few things and I thought I already knew it.

 

[Barking Sands]

Just stumbled across this local post in Clearwater where this shop has 11 of the older style GHC-20 AP units with the buttons for a good price. Some may prefer the buttons over the touch screen.

In case you dont want to go to Facebook.

Large 4" color display for your Garmin autopilot. $350 We have 11 units in stock in our warehouse. Available to ship. Quality Boats of Clearwater Florida

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[HeadedToTexas]

Having ONLY a multifunction display for autopilot control is not ideal. The MFD has a lot going on with many interfaces and the chances of any hiccups/issues are greater than a dedicated single function control.

We have a new Garmin Autopilot without the dedicated display and it is not ideal, but I think it is more than adequate after getting used to it. We used to have an old Simrad AP16 and the dedicated control is great, but space is very limited at both of our helms and everything being a compromise, I chose to run the autopilot exclusively from the 9" MFDs. Works just fine, but not idea. Ideal is having a lot more space at the helm so you can add dedicated displays and gauges for key components. Just wasn't going to happen on our boat.