Garmin g2 Vision

E

Eric R

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
150
Fluid Motion Model
R-21 EC
Vessel Name
Why Knot?
Has anyone with autopilot upgraded to the Garmin g2 Vision chip, which enables automatic routing and turns? If so, how much did it cost you, where did you get it, and what do you think? I’m thinking about getting it.
 
Yes
forgot $$ over $200
but mostly well worth it
a couple of funky routes - one through a mooring field and a couple behind markers, one ran me aground.
but it is a dream to let it steer - just keep a sharp lookout and be ready to override.
Bill
 
eric9603":1u56rvp2 said:
Has anyone with autopilot upgraded to the Garmin g2 Vision chip, which enables automatic routing and turns? If so, how much did it cost you, where did you get it, and what do you think? I’m thinking about getting it.
Click to expand...

I bought mine recently from Ranger Tugs and it cost $250. I had traded my 2016 R-21EC in for my 2018 R-27/OB and had left my previous G2 Vision card in the R-21EC... drat... and when I realized this the R-21EC had been bought and had left the Kent factory for some Mid Western location. 🙁
 
eric9603":3oab2ntp said:
Has anyone with autopilot upgraded to the Garmin g2 Vision chip, which enables automatic routing and turns? If so, how much did it cost you, where did you get it, and what do you think? I’m thinking about getting it.
Click to expand...
What it costs depends on where you are cruising. For me, I live where 2 maps area's intersect. Which means I need to buy 2 map area's to cover the area I cruise, which are about $350 each. At the moment I don't plan on updating.
 
I'd like to add that using this G2 Vision card in co-ordination with Auto pilot to follow a given route is something I would do when the boat is moving at 15 mph or less. If my boat was moving at 35 mph I would not use the auto guidance but rather simply use the auto heading feature. I have tried the auto guidance when moving at 35 mph but felt it was just too dangerous (things happen very quickly at this speed and my reactions aren't what they used to be) and have now refrained from using it at above 15 mph for safety reasons.

I do love the auto guidance feature.... but has already mentioned... you must give importance for the lookout at all times when under the auto control.
 
I like that the system will set up a route but have never let the boat follow the route on its own. I typically get the route up, hit standby, and then go into heading hold. This gives me the pink route to follow if I so choose but allows me to easily deviate based on conditions, boat traffic, obstacles etc.

I find that sitting back with the remote control allows me give my shoulders a break from hunching over the wheel but I don't leave the helm as at speed things happen fast and I sure as heck don't want to hit anything. The autoguidance is well worth it on the longer legs as it gives me the opportunity to change driving positions.

The chip was somewhere around $200 but that is because I wanted from the Columbia River to Port Hardy.

Jim
 
Go on the Garmin web site and find the part number for the chart you want to purchase. Check other sites for cheaper prices. I have saved $$ buying original Garmin G2 Vision charts on EBAY. Do not purchase copied cards.
 
We have the G2 Vision chips for the Garmin 5212 and love it. The boat came with the Vancouver Island - Dixon Entrance chip, and we also got the Alaska South chip, which covers Dixon Entrance north for the entire Alaska coastline. As mentioned, the cost will vary depending on what coverage area you want, and where you buy it.
I have used the auto routing feature, or just set the autopilot; either way works great. Just sit back and keep a close eye on what's going on around you, and make small corrections with the remote control. Great way to stretch and re-position while cruising slow, but I also wouldn't trust it on its own or at high speed.
I also picked up a couple SD cards and copied my chips for spares, in case I nuke one transferring back and forth to the laptop. This way I use the spares in the laptop with Garmin Homeport for planning purposes and leave the originals on the boat. Works great. Lots of detail and information, plus at this time it still works with Active Captain data. I just wish Homeport would accept a GPS input so I could use it for a backup chartplotter. But that's a whole nuther topic... 😀
 
I’ve been looking on the Garmin website and I’m thinking I’ll get VUS038R which covers my area (Potomac/Chesapeake). However, I don’t see a way to actually buy it direct? When looking at other sources to buy it I see either bad reviews about being old versions or being a copy. I was hoping to buy direct and make sure I have the newest possible. They seem to make that difficult.

I definitely can’t hit 35mph in my C28, so that’s not an issue. I really want it for the auto guidance/route planning feature. Had that in my Sea Ray and loved it. I’m excited at the autopilot integration with the CW and think that will make it that much nicer to have!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Richard in Ranger Tugs parts ought to be able to help, or Andrew.
 
I really like using the G2 Vision Chart chips. It’s great to use the software to to know arrival time, or make adjustments to make a tidal slack. I have bought used chips on eBay, but there are risks....

To the person who ran aground : you might want to check the setting in your chartplotter where you set the minimum depth for autorouting. The only other way I can think of for grounding occur while on auto guidance is if you are traveling in a shallow area where a dredged channel is subject to shifting or silting up over time.
 
I think the opinion of G2 vision with auto guidance is a matter of location use. I have found that in Florida it is not very effective. Having many shallow areas in Florida (regardless of parameter settings) the auto guidance will not calculate. Additionally, when on the ICW, it will always want to take you out onto the closest inlet to cruise on the outside rather than stay on the ICW. I have the one for my area in the Northeast and also used one in the PNW. They are much more effective there.
 
I have the G2 for my area. It came (upon request) with the boat during a Garmin special promotion. I have to second what's been stated earlier: Heed the warnings about its auto-routing feature. It's great, but.......I asked it to route me across a lake to a location I knew would be tricky to get to (around a peninsula, miss an shallow area, cross a causeway under a short bridge section and enter the opening of a river). It routed quite well, except for entering the river where it crossed over a section less than the 3' minimum set depth. The funny part was that it popped up a warning screen telling me I chose a route that violated my minimum settings. LOLOL I found that to be hilarious because IT chose that route, and then blamed ME. So although very useful, thoroughly check the proposed route, keep a sharp eye out while underway, and remember it can never 'see' other boat traffic anyway, or new obstacles, etc. Don't get me wrong - I really like it - Just don't get complacent.

Todd
 
I use it all the time. Often to just estimate the arrival time but also let it steer the boat if the route selected looks safe. You just need to realize it is only as good as the data given and can’t anticipate changing variables (logs, crab pots, other boats, silted channels...). If our route goes through a challenging area I set the destination to a point just prior to the challenging area, take control through that area, and then restart a new route after through the tight stuff. You can set the variables for depth and distance from shore etc to your comfort level but that may limit the routes available. You just need to understand it’s limitations.

Curt
 
Once it picks a route, can you edit it by moving the intended track around?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
rocklobster":1k0j2kor said:
Once it picks a route, can you edit it by moving the intended track around?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yes, on the touchscreen you can grab the turning points and drag them where you want them.
Or, you can create a route manually by touching the screen where you want to turn, and it will connect the turning points.
 
On our GPSMap 7212 you can only edit the manually created routes. You cannot edit the auto “guide to” routes.
 
As I recall the auto guide routes can be reviewed if I there are problems. If you were to change your boat parameters like draft you could force this edit
 
Yes, you can change the parameters and calculAte a new route but cannot edit specific turns like you can for a manual route.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top