Autopilot next on the list

It can't - it is hardwired into the Garmin CCU, not NMEA 2000. It is a flow switch which closes when the wheel is manually turned; it will close when fluid flow is in either direction. Depending upon the sensitivity setting is how the Garmin AP reacts. If on a heading hold and the system reacts to manual input it will temporarily allow control from the wheel then after a period of time (short) will resume the heading hold whichever way the boat is pointed. If following a course and the wheel it turned it will disengage the course and the AP will need to be re-engaged. Here is how it's wired -

 

ORB is a flair fitting that is 37 Deg.
A couple of pics -

 

I believe this would work just fine in a Raymarine system (with the right Course computer), just drop it into standby mode and return to manual control which I think is a good idea.

The most natural thing to do if you need to make an emergency course correction for a log, crabpot etc is to grab the wheel and start turning. This would be a lot quicker than fumbling for the standby button on the control head then grabbing the wheel, and probably nobody but me could do it quickly when it would be needed.

 

Tom @ttmott that's funny that you posted that. I put that remote in last spring. I am considering moving forward with the upgrade. I have so many projects underway right now, when they are all completed I am going to revisit this. My current RM has the latest pilot head and works great, but would like the Garmin features.

 

If that's how you want it to work, it should work for you that way if connected to the sleep connections. I tried it with a regular switch and when switched on and it disengaged the pilot. When switched off the pilot was in standby. If a course was active the pilot was back in standby and the it needed to have the track started again.

 

That flow switch is so sensitive that it triggered standby constantly until I backed off the sensitivity which is a setting in the Reactor control unit. I have it set that the wheel needs at least 1/4 turn to trigger. I suspect it is a time engaged setting as it does not measure flow.

 

I like my Raymarine setup, everything works well, but the Autopilot is one area where Garmin has RM beat hands down, particularly with this feature.

Unfortunately, I started with Raymarine 4+ years ago and way before I thought about this.

 

Installed a Garmin setup in my 340 a couple years ago. Here are some of the parts. I would install valves in case the pump ever had a problem. Hardest part was bleeding the system. You do need a bunch of parts and have a good idea how everything works if your doing the install yourself. I also have the Shadow drive. It can be adjusted to be how sensitive you want it to be. Never had a problem with it. Knock on wook.