Garmin Reactor Autopilot w/Smart Pump

Thanks for the updates Tom. I'm watching. And thinking seriously again about changing out my RayMarine sooner than later. Just wondering if anyone would be interested in my old RayMarine system if I pull it out? It's the RayMarine EV-100 system. New it was $1600. I'd probably try to get somewhere between $800-$1000 for it. Colby
 
Plans have changed. The fellow that was going to do the rest of the installation says he can’t get me in till February 20th. I’m not that patient so I’ll finish it myself as soon as I get the parts together. He did say that I could use his bleeding unit. Can’t be any harder than the amphibious seaplanes I rigged in the past.

I plan on putting T fittings on the back of the helm and running from there to the pump. I’ll also need to run a new return line from the helm to the pump. What I’m still not sure of is if I can put the shadow drive on one of the lines to the pump. It looks like that is the way it was done on Jodys boat.

Please let me know and thanks again. I’ll post more photos as I make progress.......Tom
 
It won't be that hard Tom. I installed my own without any issues. Bleeding isn't bad either. I may have had Rosanne help me. I just placed a small hose over the bleeding valves on the outboard rams and drained the fluid into a jar, rather than making a mess back in the splash well. Just turn the steering wheel and open up a bleeder on the opposite side of the turn. Not much different than bleeding brake lines. I also used the cheaper aviation brake fluid, but still within specs as an alternate fluid. I don't know about the shadow drive, as RayMarine doesn't use one. I'm sure your directions will show where everything needs to go. I forget where I ran my return line, but there may be pictures in a nested album on Midnight Flyer. Good luck with your install. I'm betting you'll do fine! Colby
 
Colby said the Raymarine doesn't use/have a shadow drive. I have Raymarine and know nothing about shadow drive. I am working with friends who are researching Auto Pilot system on a 25 that has Garmin GPS and VHF.

What does the Shadow drive do, and what are the advantages/disadvantages of having it or not? Please.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_055.highlight.jpg
 
Jody....I’ll bleed mine at home like you did. Good job. The shadow drive must be placed horizontal as you stated. What I was wondered was is the shadow drive on the line that you ran from your helm to the pump? My pump lines need to be 8’ long. If I use seastar lines they come in pairs. I’d like to buy a pair of 8’ for one direction and the return line. Then use the pair of 4’ lines with the shadow drive in the middle for the other direction.

Harvey....Garmin says that the shadow drive is a Garmin exclusive. What I understand is on most autopilots one has to use a switch to disengage or “fight” the autopilot to make a quick turn. For example when you suddenly notice a crab pot right in front of the boat. With shadow drive you just turn the wheel. After your done with your maneuver the autopilot puts you back on course.

There’s a lot of options that Garmin offers in autopilots, some without shadow drive, some with standard pumps. I figured that this will be my last boat.....I like it that much. May as well spend a few more bucks and get exactly what I want.

Colby....Thanks for the confidence!
 
Avidmagnum12":3vjmvnn5 said:
Jody....I’ll bleed mine at home like you did. Good job. The shadow drive must be placed horizontal as you stated. What I was wondered was is the shadow drive on the line that you ran from your helm to the pump? My pump lines need to be 8’ long. If I use seastar lines they come in pairs. I’d like to buy a pair of 8’ for one direction and the return line. Then use the pair of 4’ lines with the shadow drive in the middle for the other direction.
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That should work just fine. In the manual there is a list of about 10 items that they want you to follow for placement. Horizontal, higher than the pump and lower than the helm and so on.
 
Let us all know how it goes Tom. I made the call today and will have a package under my Christmas Tree. :D If your not completely satisfied with your install, I can always return mine when I go in to pick it up. (Several numbers working to my advantage this weekend...)

It may take me a month or two before I get things changed out, but if anyone is interested in a used RayMarine EV-100 autopilot system, let me know. I may try to auction it off on Ebay, but if someone wanted to offer me $800, it'll be a complete system, except for perhaps the hydraulic lines. FWIW, I was not happy with this system for my use, but it would likely work well in calm water, no wind, or on a smaller hydraulic ram system. (It has the .5 hydraulic pump. I think recommended max ram size is 6 cu in. (My ram is 8.4, so it just doesn't put out enough to work in conditions that need faster steerage response.) Colby
 
I’m going to have to be careful when Roseanne comes down to Hontoon ... she mite want to take it out of my hide! I’ll get back on the installation on Monday. All the parts are in the hanger waiting for me to get back from my trip with Water Bill on the Mystery Girl.

I landed up ordering SeaStar hose and fittings. I was out with Bill today and was able to operate his Garmin Autopilot. I was impressed with its handling.

Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 Ho Ho Ho

Tom
 
I’m going to have to be careful when Roseanne comes down to Hontoon ... she mite want to take it out of my hide!
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Uh huh! :mrgreen: Well I guess we are sort of even. But I don't see Joyce peddling her own Hobie Kayak yet. :P

Nah, I've gone back and forth over this issue for the past year. You just kind of helped me make the decision. Colby
 
You all will really enjoy having the AP on line. There is no way I would have spent the $$$$ to put Autopilot on if I had been buying my boat new. In fact, It was there, but I rarely used it for the first 3 or 4 years. After crossing half (about 14 miles), of Juan de Fuca in thick fog, (Vis about 1/4 to 1/2 mile), I learned how to use the early Raymarine AP so I would have it for "next time". When that system final went belly up, it was replaced quite rapidly. The new one gets used every time the boat goes out.

It is one of the systems I rely on most frequently, (the other is the AIS).

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_055.highlight.jpg
 
It took me a little longer than I hoped but I have my Garmin Reactor 40 autopilot with smart pump installed. There were no instructions with the system possibly because it had a rebuilt pump. I was able to get documentation on the web and a couple of calls to Garmin Support. The only real problem I had was a couple of leaks where the 1/4 inch fittings went into the shadow drive. Took me three tries to stop the leaks! Everything else sealed with no problem. Bleeding the hydraulic system was no problem with the hints that were given here. The Dockside Wizard was easy. I still need to run the calibration on the water. Plan on doing that Monday.

More after we get it going on the water. Tom
 
Ran the Sea Trial Wizard this morning. Went pretty well. The only problem I had was setting North on the autopilot The first time it was off so I had to rerun the Wizard. The autopilot functions flawlessly in light chop even at slow speeds. I’ll report later about performance in “rough” water”. So far it’s everything I hoped it would be and the Admiral gives it 👍 👍.

Thanks for all the advice.....Tom
 
Finally got my new Garmin Reactor 40 Autopilot with Smart pump installed as well. Photos can be seen at my nested album: http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php.

It'll be March at the Hontoon gathering before I can do the water setup, but everything appears to be working after the dockside setup. The biggest setback during the installation, was I kinked one of the main steering hoses while moving it around. It was only kinked for a minute or so, and seemed to straighten out without problem. There doesn't appear to be any leaks or ill effect, but I do have a message into SeaStar to find out what the cross section of that hose looks like, and if I could have probable internal damage to the hose.

Once again, I have my old RayMarine EV-100 autopilot now for sale if anyone is interested. The pump is the small one; just not big enuf to handle the size steering ram I had in any kind of wind or current at slow troll speeds. I imagine it would do fine on a smaller boat and motor.

Colby
 
Nice job with your install Colby. I know you are going to enjoy the auto pilot once you get the calibration taken care of when you get Midnight Fler back on the water. I use mine all the time. Would not want to give it up. See you and Rosanne in March, at Hontoon.
Bill
 
Thanks Bill. Not to happy with my answer from Seastar though:

"Good Morning
Thanks for the email , if the hose was kinked we recommend changing it as the nylon braid will break and the hose will blister and fail at the location of the kink. "


So far, no blistering, and not sure if the nylon braid was broken. But I think the best course of action is going to be order a new hose and install it when things are warmer again. I'd hate to have the hose leak on the Inside Passage this summer! Colby
 
Went out and did some measuring. Best measurement I came up with to replace the original steering lines is 22'. Anyone else replace their steering hoses on the CD-22 and remember what length the hose was? Colby
 
Oh never mind. I pulled the old hose out. 22' it is. And my local shops that repair my tractor hydraulics don't have fittings to work on 5/16" seastar hose, so looks like I'm ordering new. Anyone interested in just one 22' Seastar hose? I don't plan on replacing the other hose which has nothing wrong with it. Colby
 
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