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

[ttmott]

How would you get an accurate angle reading at cruising speed? Would someone have to sit up on the hardtop?
How do waves play into the correct angle?

You take the measurements on a convenient place on the deck then compare the deck to the radar mounting location on the arch/bridge. Let's say static and floating the mounting pad is +2 degrees (leaning forward towards the bow and the deck is -1 degree leaning backwards. Now running on plane the boat is -4 degrees on the deck (leaning backwards bow up) so between static and running there was a change of -3 degrees on the deck. Then -3 degrees +2 degrees leaves -1 degree that the scanner mounting pad is leaning backwards. You then need 1 degree wedges to lean the scanner downward towards the bow and it will be level to the horizon at cruise speed.

 

[Skybolt]

You can use one of these to measure the angles.

 

[rlynch03]

To add:
I believe the key is in Low Speed gain and counter. These are the rudder reactions below the plaining speed set point.
From what I can determine the Low Speed Gain is the rudder reaction/deflection to adjust course and Low Speed Counter is the rudder counter to oversteer. The two settings play together.

I think you are right... I was out yesterday and at cruise speed 26mph +/- the slow speed gain/ctr gain had the biggest impact on the rudder swag.

Also (below picture) on the GHC20 there is a "Response" setting that impacts the "cruise" zig zagging of the boat. Not sure how this relates to the Gain settings.

 

[Jaybeaux]

Here are a few pictures, when boat splash’s I’ll get into engine room to see where they mounted the reactor 40 w/smart pump.

Nice! I'd love to see where the pump was mounted. Also, do you know where he mounted the CCU?

Jaybeaux

 

[Jaybeaux]

@rlynch03 , what did you set the planing speed as while performing the Sea Trial Wizard? Was it your "normal speed" or something less when the boat gets on plane? If the latter, how did you determine? I think it is the point where the boat "separates" from the wall of water when "plowing", but I've never really thought about it that much.

Jaybeaux

 

[rlynch03]

@rlynch03 , what did you set the planing speed as while performing the Sea Trial Wizard? Was it your "normal speed" or something less when the boat gets on plane? If the latter, how did you determine? I think it is the point where the boat "separates" from the wall of water when "plowing", but I've never really thought about it that much.

Jaybeaux

I set it at 1400 RPM's although it probably is a little less than that... Like you said, just as the stern breaks away from the wash then it is on top of the water. Not sure what it would change in all of the perimeters if I changed that to my typical running speed of 24 knots.

 

[rlynch03]

Garmin GT23M-TH
It seems to show bottom detail very well as well as digital depth and water temperature.
For my boat it's installed under the port engine at the forward end of the engine and about eight inches from the inboard stringer.

Tom
Do you also use the original transducer as a back up or second source?

 

[ttmott]

Tom
Do you also use the original transducer as a back up or second source?

It's gone and hole glassed up. The boat had an in-hull that was for the Raymarine DSM and a thru-hull that was NMEA0183 for the SR Navigator system. Neither was of any use for the Garmin replacement system.

 

[dtfeld]

You can use one of these to measure the angles.

Most phones have in inclinometer app.

 

[Jaybeaux]

I performed the Sea Trial Wizard this morning! Left the dock at 7:00 AM in 28 Deg F. The first thing I did was the compass calibration. 1.5 turns, I went clockwize, just in front of the marina. Calibration was successful. On to the AutoTune, but I waited until I was through a no wake zone and clear of a narrow channel. I put just about 900 rpm on the engines; that gave me good steering control and just about 9 mph. I was anticipating some radical zig-zag moves; but in reality, the bow just deflects a bit and then begins turning the other way. Oh well, rather be safe than sorry.

After a successful AutoTune, the procedure took me into Setting North. Again, my cruising speed of 900 rpm was set; follow on screen instructions; Setting North completed successfully. Next, we tested the AP and various speeds, on Heading Hold, we turned the boat using the GHC20, and activated a route and had the AP drive the boat. All worked flawlessly--except for a slight graphical difference or variance in the intended route and the heading of the boat. It was depicted on the chartplotter as if the boat was crabbing a few degrees. Leave that for later. On to the next test! Then I wanted to test the Shadow Drive! While in Heading Hold we simulated a log in the river and turned the wheel to Port-------nothing. Until I remembered that I had to deactivate the Shadow Drive to perform some earlier testing! Not wanting to drill through menu after menu while driving the boat, I will just leave that for another day. Sidebar: Back in the slip, it took all of 1 minute to find in the manual the procedure to activate the Shadow Drive and even less time to actually do it. I will report back on Monday as that is our next trip to the boat.

So back to the crabbing......i realized (back at the dock of course) that it was a bit windy and a tad choppy. We are currently experiencing very low water due to days of NW winds which have blown all of the water out of the upper Potomac. With my desire to find deeper water outweighing the Garmin instructions of going with the current and with the wind when performing the "Setting North" procedure, I have convinced myself that the boat was actually crabbing during the calibration. Example: COG=225, Heading=230. So my plan is to rerun the Setting North procedure on Monday.

When safely back at the dock, I was trying to find and review the settings that had just been set by the Sea Trial Wizard. I found the following:

Accelerator Limiter: 62%
Compass Cal: Q81
Rundder Gains: Low Speed: 81%
Low Speed Cntr: 70%
High Speed: 85%
High Speed Cntr: 62%

I'll leave it to the experts to say whether those appear to be valid numbers or not!

I didn't notice a touch of course adjustment when following a route, but I don't know if it is enough to worry about or not. The turning response on a 30+ degree turn was pretty cool. It was not subtle, but not violent....deliberate and on purpose! The boat lined up on the new heading very nicely.

So to review, all looks very good. Shadow Drive operation will be tested on Monday. When I get to the boat on Sunday night, I will go down into the engine room to check all the fittings and connects. My early assessment is that I am VERY Happy!

Jaybeaux

 

[Jaybeaux]

Auto-pilot Commissioning/Tuning Part #2......

The Admiral and I went out this morning to redo the Set North step on the auto-pilot configuration. As I mentioned in the post above, I neglected to account for the wind and current on the first attempt and it gave me a few degrees of offset, similar to crabbing.

This morning, without a breath of wind, way up in the quiet river, I initiated the Set North procedure and getting the unit back in Dealer Setup Mode. It took longer to remember how to get in Dealer Setup Mode than it did to Set North. Everything looks great now.

I also enabled Shadow Drive as I had forgotten to do that on the first run. Talk about cool! In Heading Hold Mode, you grab the wheel to do a Crazy Ivan, and the GHC changes to Shadow Drive. When your maneuvers are over, at whatever heading you relenquish the wheel is your new Heading. Pretty slick.

And, when you are following a route, and you engage the Shadow Drive, when maneuvers are completed, the unit is in a Heading Hold Mode. You have the option to return to Route following. My advice would be to manually steer the boat to get back close to your "line" before activating the Auto-pilot for Route Following. We were in a wide open place and the boat turned to starboard to get back to the line and then had to immediately turn back to Port to follow said line.

So after one round trip through our No Wake Zone and out into the Main Channel down to a local favorite anchor spot, I can say that I'm pretty pleased with the results. It will be interesting to see it perform on a longer trip when we take it to the Lower Potomac and on to the Chesapeake Bay and encounter less than flat water! Bring it!

@ttmott , @rlynch03 : The compass calibration value of Q81---does that seem ok?

Thanks to everyone for their help, guidance and technical expertise over the course of this project. The Admiral is pleased and so am I.

Jaybeaux

 

[rlynch03]

Added the 2nd station to the Garmin 315... I like having a full functioning radio in the salon/galley to listen to the weather, scream through the Hailer to the kids, quick calls to the helm and radio-use as needed without going out.

 

[J.Wilt]

Can’t figure out why the installed my AIRMAR B60 50/200KHZ Bronze Low Pro 20 Deg transducer where they did !
Had two old transducers, seems like they would have just replaced one instead of drilling a new hole.
This is just forward of the Port engine and it’s on the upwards slope of the bottom; so will the sonar and depth work with it on an angle like that?

 

[Jaybeaux]

Accelerator Limiter: 62%
Compass Cal: Q81
Rundder Gains: Low Speed: 81%
Low Speed Cntr: 70%
High Speed: 85%
High Speed Cntr: 62%

@ttmott Just came back from a 600 mile round trip to Cape May, NJ. Awesome trip and the Auto-pilot performed pretty well. I noticed that while on the Chesapeake Bay, in a very minor sea state, the AP would "search" or "seek" a bit while following a route. I'd look behind me and my wake stream looked like a sinusoidal curve. If I put the AP in Heading Hold, it cut a much "straighter" line.

I reviewed this thread and found your parameters. My parameters were generated from the Sea Trial Wizard. Would you recommend modifying the Low Speed Gain/Counter and High Speed Gain/Counter to eliminate some of the searching?

Thanks in advance,

Jaybeaux

 

[ttmott]

@ttmott Just came back from a 600 mile round trip to Cape May, NJ. Awesome trip and the Auto-pilot performed pretty well. I noticed that while on the Chesapeake Bay, in a very minor sea state, the AP would "search" or "seek" a bit while following a route. I'd look behind me and my wake stream looked like a sinusoidal curve. If I put the AP in Heading Hold, it cut a much "straighter" line.

I reviewed this thread and found your parameters. My parameters were generated from the Sea Trial Wizard. Would you recommend modifying the Low Speed Gain/Counter and High Speed Gain/Counter to eliminate some of the searching?

Thanks in advance,

Jaybeaux

It would be a starting point to dampen the overcorrection. If you were at off plane speeds then I'd start with the low speed settings.

 

[b_arrington]

Auto-pilot Commissioning/Tuning Part #2......


And, when you are following a route, and you engage the Shadow Drive, when maneuvers are completed, the unit is in a Heading Hold Mode. You have the option to return to Route following. My advice would be to manually steer the boat to get back close to your "line" before activating the Auto-pilot for Route Following. We were in a wide open place and the boat turned to starboard to get back to the line and then had to immediately turn back to Port to follow said line.

Jaybeaux

Captain Rusty gave me some good tips for the AP when resuming a route. If you are off course and simply resume following the route, the AP can make some radical moves to get back to the line. To make a smoother transition, there is an option on the chart menu to "restart route". This function will recalculate the course to the destination from your current location. The AP will then ask if you want to engage to follow the new course. Easy peasy.

 

[b_arrington]

Can’t figure out why the installed my AIRMAR B60 50/200KHZ Bronze Low Pro 20 Deg transducer where they did !
Had two old transducers, seems like they would have just replaced one instead of drilling a new hole.
This is just forward of the Port engine and it’s on the upwards slope of the bottom; so will the sonar and depth work with it on an angle like that?View attachment 102949

It should work fine on the angle. That's the exact purpose of the getting the tilted B60 transducer. The element is internally tilted at 20 degrees to accommodate the angled deadrise of the hull. Typical Sea Ray deadrise is 19-21 degrees so you're good.

 

[Jaybeaux]

It would be a starting point to dampen the overcorrection. If you were at off plane speeds then I'd start with the low speed settings.

Most noticable at planing speed. So, I will try adjusting the High Speed Settings first and report back.

Thank you.

Jaybeaux

 

[Jaybeaux]

Captain Rusty gave me some good tips for the AP when resuming a route. If you are off course and simply resume following the route, the AP can make some radical moves to get back to the line. To make a smoother transition, there is an option on the chart menu to "restart route". This function will recalculate the course to the destination from your current location. The AP will then ask if you want to engage to follow the new course. Easy peasy.

Thanks for the tip! I will look into that. And you aren't joking about "radical moves" when resuming a route. I would tell the Admiral "time for a Crazy Ivan!".

Jaybeaux

 

[rlynch03]

Thanks for the tip! I will look into that. And you aren't joking about "radical moves" when resuming a route. I would tell the Admiral "time for a Crazy Ivan!".

Jaybeaux

I have been out of the water so long I can’t remember for sure but there must be a way to soften that “hard over” correction. Garmin talks about it in their sales literature. I have tried several times to adjust it without success.

The only sure method I have found is what Rusty mentioned “restart the route.”