great white Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Just sea trialed my new Garmin GHC20 auto pilot with Platinum Marine Very pleased with it today, we are going fishing sunday to give it a proper test. Fitted by myself was not too hard, even if access was a bit tight and matching hydraulics between garmin and volvo was a bit of a pain. Plenty of advice and a good price from Platinum at the London boat show. Together with a good sea trial this afternoon. Ryan just took over driving the boat and did it all. Very pleased Cannot wait for Sunday charlieannear, niggle, Kingfisher 126 and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Thomas Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Not such a good story from me Charlie, mine was to be fitted today, however the Raymarine ACU for the 1.0ltr pump apparently are not even made yet. So you could say a wrong installation has been avoided, on the other hand you could say sh-- niggle, Kingfisher 126 and Jim 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Had that once with a couple of Lowrance units chosen to fit in my last boat Bought these after seeing them at a London show, but had to wait months for the first to arrive in UK. How long will you have to wait Mal. Is there an option to fit a differant size pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Thomas Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Sounds like mid March and the only option would be to dump raymarine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted February 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Oh dear I can understand the wish to stay with a brand that you already have. Its a quiet time of year and you are planning to keep the boat for ages, so there is time. Mal Thomas 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Mal, are you really too lazy to drive to your ray mark and back? You need better trained crew! niggle, Mal Thomas and Jim 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Thomas Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Planning to go further afeild Rob. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 I am looking at the Lowrance to match my plotter Chris at Platinum Marine did all my work a few years ago very good I had Raymarine on the last boat so I think he will supply and fit this one graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfisher 126 Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Best present ever Charlie, just think all the long trips will be a joy and give you a chance to push lots of buttons while sitting there. I'd be lost without mine best present to self ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Best present ever Charlie, just think all the long trips will be a joy and give you a chance to push lots of buttons while sitting there. I'd be lost without mine best present to self ever! Agree 100% with that statement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Thomas Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Graham just a note, I was doing the same, looking for an autopilot to match my Lowrance kit, till I noticed they all use nmea communications, so they are all compatible. The lowrance auto pilot without an expensive extra only works through the screen which is not ideal in an emergency. The other kits have a control on the dash. I would make in depth investigations before you by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 hi Mal i quite agree my last one was on it's own but with this one you can set up the screen so you have it up the time you are using it so you can have plotter , autopilot , fish finder all on the one screen then change back to what ever you what when you have done with it graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 Totally agree with Chris auto pilots are great, you arrive feeling more relaxed with more energy to put into other stuff like fishing. I run mine on auto (set fixed direction) or tracking almost all the time. Obviously still need to keep a good lookout. Peter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfisher 126 Posted February 17, 2017 Report Share Posted February 17, 2017 A real bonus with having one is in fog, they keep you on track as you always wander when you are looking out and driving in fog. niggle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Other bonuses are fuel saving, much less zigging and zagging, and that all important spare pair of hands while out solo Mike Peter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfisher 126 Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 You rag and stick people still do that Mike even if you have an autopilot!!! ;) Steve S 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Traditional boat anglers you mean... tut @ relying on an iron donkey only! Kingfisher 126 and Steve S 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted February 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Thanks guys Looking forward to more relaxing cruising to and from marks or destinations This Garmin one is very smart, simple to use and came with the compass unit that was simple to set up yesterday All linked by plugs and nmea2000. Only wiring I had to conect was the positive and negative to the circuit breaker and busbar. Plus two wires for the shadow drive and two for the audible buzzer. 4 inch screen doesnt take up much room either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 simple to set up yesterday All linked by plugs and nmea2000. Only wiring I had to conect was the positive and negative to the circuit breaker and busbar. Plus two wires for the shadow drive and two for the audible buzzer. 4 inch screen doesnt take up much room either. You lost me Charlie...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 I get it now! Charlie has replaced Sam and Dan, first the capstan and now the pilot!!! You'll have electric reels next! Hope you have a goodun tomorrow. R Kingfisher 126, niggle and charlieannear 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjb Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Hi am I right in thinking I would have screen up when using the autopilot with plotter then change to other preset screens when done with ?? so autopilot controls are at hand at all times while being used graham Ian.Jones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted February 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2017 Terrific sea trial today We set off early to head 15 miles offshore As soon as I set the way point into my garmin plotter and pushed engage for the pilot off we went. The unit has a shadowdrive which means all that is neaded to take control is to move the wheel. The hydraulic flow in the system overides the pilot untill movements stops. Made it easy to avoid the pot buoys at Old Harry. Re engage saw us take a direct line to the mark. These units learn as they go so in fairly calm conditions it learned quickly and the track was good. 7nhours later when we set back the sea state had picked up. Initialy the track weaved, but within a couple of miles it was straighter than any of manage to keep the boat in such weather. Think that I am going to enjoy the benifits of fitting this new toy. Although it did seem strange to be sat in the helm seat just keepin a good lookout ahead and chatting to the crew. Kingfisher 126, gjb, Peter and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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