Garmin VHF 315 and GHP Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot Corepack - Reviews

Reduced high speed parameters and will test this weekend. Thanks to all.

Jaybeaux
 
Reduced high speed parameters and will test this weekend. Thanks to all.

Jaybeaux
Some friends in town; We were out today. This is on my settings-
IMG_5680.jpg
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@ttmott WOW!!!!!!!!!! I've updated my fast settings to your parameters. Really had no issue with the slow stuff. I should have a chance to test on Sunday.

Thanks for sharing that STRAIGHT line! Awesome work.

Jaybeaux
 
Completed an upgrade this past spring which included the Reactor 40, along with Vessel View 703, replaced speedometer with Garmin MFD 20 (Nice tool), and SeaStar hydraulic steering. Removed a Sitek 110 AP that never really worked well with the mechanical / cable helm, for the Garmin Reactor 40 with Shadow Drive. The Shadow Drive is nice as you can steer around an obstacle and it will return to the course it was on. Very nice AP. Have it on 2000 network along with Garmin 7610 chart plotter and all other electronics. Does exactly what it is supposed to do. Follows courses and saved tracks spot on. Very easy to learn and use. Had the work done by a well respected local boat yard. They were very meticulous in getting everything no less than perfect.
Spring 2021 Upgrade.jpg
 
Garmin released an update for the Autopilot a couple months ago. Not sure if you all have loaded it yet however it seems to have fixed many of our issues.

Largest one for me was the hard over to say a 90degree and then another hard over to get back on course after a deviation from the route.

The hard over is also fixed with adjustments to the acceleration limiter in the setup of the AP.

The blend back into the route is a nice improvement as well.

I did re-run the Autotune function.
 
I can’t get my rudder sensors to show on my Auto Pilot, it’s stuck on this. It’s like it’s stuck on a route, I can select standby or heading hold.
Any ideas?
DB7E6BF9-3A89-400A-861D-0F3EA7A19510.jpeg
 
I can’t get my rudder sensors to show on my Auto Pilot, it’s stuck on this. It’s like it’s stuck on a route, I can select standby or heading hold.
Any ideas?View attachment 110613

Are you using the Garmin Rudder Sensor that plugs into the Smart Pump?

It also looks like the GHC20 Direction Control setting is in Reverse. I don’t think that has anything to do with you rudder sensor though.
 
Are you using the Garmin Rudder Sensor that plugs into the Smart Pump?

It also looks like the GHC20 Direction Control setting is in Reverse. I don’t think that has anything to do with you rudder sensor though.
Yes, rudder sensor connected to smart pump.
Yes, I hit the reverse direction button and forgot to change back before I took picture.
Auto Pilot works ok when I choose a waypoint and navigate to it on MFDs.
 
Doesn't the rudder position appear when "Engage" is pressed for heading hold or following a route?
 
Doesn't the rudder position appear when "Engage" is pressed for heading hold or following a route?
the <+1 +10 - +10 +1 > shows up and I can control the rudders but there was a bar at the bottom of the window that showed the rudders position , helpful when docking.
 
I called Garmin about the rudder feedback sensor, they said they have seen this issue once before but only told me to check the wire from the rudder controller to the smart pump. Everything looked normal with that wire, so I just decided to reset the GHC 20 back to factory settings and wa-la, the black bar with the diamond is back at the bottom of the display showing the rudder position.
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HI Everyone. wow, I read through all 10 pages of this --- super helpful as I'm about to upgrade 2004 equipment (all raymarine) to all Garmin equipment.

One thing I wanted to ask. I have Raymarine radar (analog) and am going to replace it with the Garmin fantom 24. Will I need a pedestal or anything to add?
 
HI everyone. I, too, am about to pull the trigger and replace all the old ray marine stuff with Garmin. Couple of questions since I’m purchasing what I need:

* Do I need the rudder sensor? On my current configuration, I have a rudder indicator from the Raymarine and it’s nice to have so when I’m docking , I know where the rudder is.

* Do I need the smart pump or is that a nice to have?
* Is the Garmin 315 a nice unit? Work well and have AIS built in?
 
HI Everyone. wow, I read through all 10 pages of this --- super helpful as I'm about to upgrade 2004 equipment (all raymarine) to all Garmin equipment.

One thing I wanted to ask. I have Raymarine radar (analog) and am going to replace it with the Garmin fantom 24. Will I need a pedestal or anything to add?
You should not but the bolt patterns are different. You will have to fill, fare, and gelcoat the old bolt holes if it was mounted on fiberglass. The only "pedestal" you might need is a wedge shim to align the new radar.
 
HI everyone. I, too, am about to pull the trigger and replace all the old ray marine stuff with Garmin. Couple of questions since I’m purchasing what I need:

* Do I need the rudder sensor? On my current configuration, I have a rudder indicator from the Raymarine and it’s nice to have so when I’m docking , I know where the rudder is.

* Do I need the smart pump or is that a nice to have?
* Is the Garmin 315 a nice unit? Work well and have AIS built in?
The Garmin system does not come with a rudder position sensor due to the many different drive configurations (rudders, IO's, outboards). And the system will operate without a sensor but with one integrated the system uses much less energy as the rudder system is dampened - it learns.
The Smart pump is only a pump with the ECM integrated with it. The other Garmin pumps still require an ECM to control them only the ECM is a separate module. In other words you do not but it's the same either way you go.
As far as the 315 VHF I have it and two handsets. Good quality and a solid performer but I don't like the display in the handset; I have a difficult time reading it. With what I know today and the difficulty seeing the display I probably would not have purchased.
 
The Garmin system does not come with a rudder position sensor due to the many different drive configurations (rudders, IO's, outboards). And the system will operate without a sensor but with one integrated the system uses much less energy as the rudder system is dampened - it learns.
The Smart pump is only a pump with the ECM integrated with it. The other Garmin pumps still require an ECM to control them only the ECM is a separate module. In other words you do not but it's the same either way you go.
As far as the 315 VHF I have it and two handsets. Good quality and a solid performer but I don't like the display in the handset; I have a difficult time reading it. With what I know today and the difficulty seeing the display I probably would not have purchased.

Roger all, thank you. I am trying really hard to have everything ready when the install happens.

So far I have:
* Already have Garmin 8610xsv
* Purchased new Garmin 1242xsv (If this fits, I’d like to use this in place of the old C-80)
* Garmin Reactor 40 w/GHC 20 (believe it has the shadow drive in it)
* Garmin 2.0L pump
* Airmar P77 thru hull transducer (AIR-P79-50200-MM)
* Garmin Fantom 24 Radar (GAR-010-01707-00)

What else should I purchase to make this complete?
* Garmin 315 VHF?

What am I missing? (Rudder indicator?)
 
Roger all, thank you. I am trying really hard to have everything ready when the install happens.

So far I have:
* Already have Garmin 8610xsv
* Purchased new Garmin 1242xsv (If this fits, I’d like to use this in place of the old C-80)
* Garmin Reactor 40 w/GHC 20 (believe it has the shadow drive in it)
* Garmin 2.0L pump
* Airmar P77 thru hull transducer (AIR-P79-50200-MM)
* Garmin Fantom 24 Radar (GAR-010-01707-00)

What else should I purchase to make this complete?
* Garmin 315 VHF?

What am I missing? (Rudder indicator?)
Garmin SD Card Reader
Garmin GMS 10 Network Expander
Garmin Bluechart G3 Vision card
Garmin Network cables
Shadow Drive
Hydraulic quick disconnects and hoses (fabricated)
40 amp circuit breaker for pump plus Blue Sea Systems fuse block/holder.
NMEA 2000 network backbone, connectors, terminators, drop cables, and power cable.
Anchor connection cable (shielded twisted pair)
Garmin GPS 019x GPS Receiver

The P79 is a poor choice for the Garmin xsv capabilities; it's very limited and I don't think it even has CHIRP. Take a look at this - https://www8.garmin.com/marine/PDF/transducer_selection_guide.pdf
 

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