Automatic pilot

[10PoundHammer]

My automatic pilot appears to be "disconnected" from the actual steering mechanism. The GPS is working and the autopilot itself appears to be working, but by 27 is not following the plotted track. Have reset both the GPS and the autopilot. Has this happened to anyone else? Suggestions?

tx
10 Pound Hammer

 

[GulfSailor]

My automatic pilot appears to be "disconnected" from the actual steering mechanism. The GPS is working and the autopilot itself appears to be working, but by 27 is not following the plotted track. Have reset both the GPS and the autopilot. Has this happened to anyone else? Suggestions?

tx
10 Pound Hammer

Couple of questions, first has it ever worked, or is this the first time you've tried to use it?
Second, does this appear to be an electronic or hydraulic issue, i.e do you get the 'Autopilot Engaged' and 'You have the Helm' messages on the screen when you engage and disengage?

Also, what happens when you have the autopilot engaged and you take the helm?

Finally, have you altered any of the settings and perhaps disabled the ShadowDrive?

 

[baz]

Along the same lines as Gulfsailor posted...

Did you participate in a sea trial before buying the R-27, and if so did you checkout the autopilot for calculating a safe course and engaging the autopilot to steer the course ?

Do you select a destination by Name, then select Done, then select one of the destinations found (if several displayed), then select Guide To, and then select the warning message as OK and then select engage Autopilot ?

Do you have the Garmin Autopilot documentation ? If so have you followed the instructions carefully ?

If all this fails to get the Autopilot to steer the selected safe course, then call Ranger Tugs service and describe the issue to them for help.

Typically, if your boat is equipped with Auto Pilot then during the sea trial the Auto Pilot is checked out with you onboard. Sometimes the Auto Pilot's electronic compass needs calibrating, as was my case during the sea trial, and Andrew Custis took the boat back to the factory to have it fixed.

It's important to have the Auto Pilot checked for proper operation so that one can feel comfortable relying on it for safe tracking etc.

Post back here what you find out... as we can all learn from issues like this. Thanks... 🙂

 

[10PoundHammer]

Thanks all. It's worked fine for a couple of years. No settings were changed prior to discovering this problem. It could well be a hydraulic issue although the steering is working fine. Thought I'd ck Tugnuts first. The "track" and compass are showing and are correct. The boat simply won't follow the track.
I'm going to reset to defaults and if that doesn't work will connect with Andrew or Port Boat House. Service support has been great.

10PH.

 

[10PoundHammer]

UPDATE - Had it looked at by Philbrooks in Sidney BC this week. The hydralic pump connected to the Garmin 10/ECC had packed it in. Electronics showed it was working. It was not. Tx again for suggestions.