Garmin Auto Pilot

[Markh]

Question, at RPMs below 2700 my auto pilot will maintain it heading and I can can manually change the heading using the auto pilot. However, once I get above 2700 RPM's the boat steers to PORT and I cannot correct its heading using the auto pilot. Is this a pump problem? I have a 30 Cutwater Diesel.

 

[Levitation]

Could be not enough pressure output from the pump to move the rudder.
Could be electrical noise from the alternator becomes high enough to interfere with heading information ( I have had this).

The electrical is easy to try a cure - find the switch controlling the + 12v power lead to the autopilot on the switch panel and clip a filter capacitor across the + to the ground (- 12v).
Now, I could dazzle you with my brilliance in mathematical equations (remember, bovine emissions also begin with B) and calculate the perfect value - but being lazy:
Try a .01 microfarad ceramic capacitor in parallel with an electrolytic capacitor of 10uFd @50 v. Make friends with a ham radio operator who will have these kinds of parts on hand.

Or the lazy mans way:
https://www.amazon.com/Pipemans-Install ... 63&sr=1-15

 

[Cutwater28GG]

sorry for obvious question:
are you sure that at 2700RPM you arent getting onto the plane and the boat just isnt trimmed right with the trim tabs: i.e. one is up and 1 is down causing the boat to veer off?

 

[Kevin Lamont]

Question, at RPMs below 2700 my auto pilot will maintain it heading and I can can manually change the heading using the auto pilot. However, once I get above 2700 RPM's the boat steers to PORT and I cannot correct its heading using the auto pilot. Is this a pump problem? I have a 30 Cutwater Diesel.

Hey Mark,

Good texting with you today. With what your describing you could have air in the steering system and or low fluid level which would cause the prop wash to over power the rudder which in turn would push the boat to port. Best practice would be to have the steering system checked for air, leaks and fluid level. If there is air, leak or low I would fix the issue and have the whole system bled then check on the water. Be sure when having the system bled that the AP pump gets bled too as the pump can hold air in the system then introduce it back into the system when the pump is used for the first time after bleeding the system. Email me if you have further questions.

Thank you,
Kevin Lamont

 

[Toki]

This sounds a whole lot like the problem I had with my R27, and according to this forum a number of other Ranger and Cutwater owners have seen.

As Kevin says, air in the system or lack of fluid is a possible culprit. You should be able to turn the wheel to the stops and it should feel fairly firm. If it feels spongy at the stops, or with minor force keeps turning past the stops, fluid/air would be the first place to look.

In my case (and in other cases), the problem was a failed autopilot pump allowing fluid pressure to bypass the pump. Again, lack of firm stops at either end of helm travel is a clue to this one. One way to positively identify if this is the issue is to close off the autopilot pump and see if the helm stops are now firm. On my R27, this is done by tightening 3 brass screws on the front of the pump manifold. Not sure if it's the same system on the Cutwater.

Good luck!

 

[bill46]

Agree with Kevin and Toni.
Amazon filter only 10A, AP Fuse is 40, might smoke.
I doubt RF interference, I operate HF 100 watts on board, one only thing that is sensitive are thrusters.
Good luck.
Bill