Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot with GHC™ 50 instrument

Installation of the Garmin Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot system must be carried out by a qualified marine installer. Specific knowledge of marine steering and electrical systems is required for correct installation and to avoid any risk of injury or damage to the boat.

Yes, the tilt tube of your auxiliary engine must be made of stainless steel for the installation of the steering actuator. Installing the actuator in a tube made of another material (such as non-stainless steel, commonly found on Honda and Yamaha engines) will cause rust to develop inside the tube and eventually seize the actuator. Mechanical damage caused by attempting to free a stuck push rod is not covered by the product warranty.

The Garmin Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot is a specialized navigation solution designed for precise control of auxiliary engines (commonly referred to as 'kicker motors'). This system is optimized for applications requiring strict steering and speed management, such as trolling, where accuracy is critical.

No, the Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot system is not compatible with the Shadow Drive™ valve. After completing the Dockside Wizard assistant, you must disable the Shadow Drive™ valve in the system settings. An error message will appear until this function is disabled.

For optimal performance, the Course Control Unit (CCU) must be mounted on a rigid surface, away from sources of magnetic interference. It is recommended to install it at least 60 cm (2 feet) from iron, magnets, high-current wires, and intermittent-use pumps. Large magnets, such as those in subwoofers, should be at least 1.5 m (5 feet) away. The ideal location is near the center of the boat, lower and slightly forward, and as close as possible to the boat's central axis. The CCU can be mounted in any orientation.

The GHC™ 50 instrument is powered via the NMEA 2000 network and does not require a separate power connection. It must be connected to the same NMEA 2000 network as the other autopilot components, including the Course Computer Unit (CCU), for the system to function properly and enable communication between devices.

After installation, the autopilot system must be configured and tuned for your boat's specific dynamics. This is done using two assistants:

The Dockside Wizard assistant: Can be completed with the boat docked or out of the water. It allows testing the rudder direction and selecting the speed source. It is crucial to disable the Shadow Drive™ valve at this stage, as the system is not compatible.The Sea Trial Wizard assistant: Must be performed in calm, clear water. It configures the autopilot's core sensors, including compass calibration, running the Autotune procedure, and setting the north or fine heading adjustment.These steps are essential to ensure the autopilot's performance and accuracy.

For the installation of the Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot, you will need the following basic tools and supplies:

Safety glassesDrill and drill bitsWrenchesJigsaw or rotary cutting tool (for installing a tiller pilot like the GHC 50)Wire cutters/strippersPhillips and flathead screwdriversCable tiesSolder and waterproof heat-shrink tubing or waterproof crimp connectorsDielectric greaseMarine sealantHand compass (to test for magnetic interference)White lithium greaseStainless steel tilt tube (required if the boat does not already have one)Fine cloth or small sponge (to clean inside the tilt tube)Mounting screws are provided for main components, but you may need different screws if they do not suit your mounting surface.

To avoid potential personal injury and damage to your boat, the autopilot system must be installed by a qualified marine installer. Specific knowledge of marine steering and electrical systems is required for correct installation.

The steering actuator must be installed in a stainless steel tilt tube. Installing it in a tube made of any other material will cause internal rust to form inside the tube, eventually jamming the steering actuator. Mechanical damage caused by attempting to free a stuck push rod is not covered by the product warranty.

The CCU, being the primary sensor of the system, must be mounted on a rigid surface, preferably near the boat's center of rotation. It is crucial to keep it away from sources of magnetic interference, namely:

At least 60 cm (2 feet) from iron, magnets, high-current wires, and intermittent pumps (such as toilet or livewell pumps).At least 1.5 m (5 feet) from large magnets, such as those in subwoofers.The CCU can be mounted in any orientation.

After physical installation, the autopilot system must be configured and tuned to your boat's dynamics. Use the Dockside Wizard and Sea Trial Wizard to perform this setup. These assistants guide you through the necessary steps, including the rudder test, speed source selection, compass calibration, and the Autotune procedure.

No, the power cables for the steering and throttle actuators cannot be cut or extended. It is essential to plan the installation so that the original cables reach the ECU without modification.

You can use a handheld compass to test a mounting location for magnetic interference. Hold the compass at the proposed location, then move it 15 cm (6 inches) to the left, then to the right, then above and below, and finally in front of and behind the location. If the compass needle moves more than three degrees during this test, magnetic interference is present, and you will need to choose a new location.

Popular outboard manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha commonly use tilt tubes made of non-stainless steel. For this autopilot, you must replace the original tilt tube with a stainless steel tilt tube before installing the steering actuator. Using a non-stainless steel tube may cause damage not covered by the warranty.

The GHC™ 50 instrument is powered by the NMEA 2000 network. It does not require a separate power connection. The NMEA 2000 network supplies the necessary power to the instrument and enables communication with other autopilot components and NMEA 2000 devices.

If your autopilot package does not include a dedicated helm control unit (such as the GHC™ 50), you must then connect the autopilot’s CCU to the same NMEA 2000 network as a compatible Garmin chartplotter. This chartplotter will allow you to configure and control the autopilot system.

No, the Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot system is not compatible with the Shadow Drive™ valve. After completing the Dockside Wizard, you must disable the Shadow Drive valve in the system settings. An error message will appear until it is disabled.

The Garmin Reactor™ 40 Kicker autopilot is a specialized navigation solution designed for precise control of auxiliary engines. This system is optimized for applications requiring strict heading and speed management, such as trolling, where precision is critical.

The Reactor™ 40 Kicker system integrates several essential components for optimal performance:

The CCU (Course Computer Unit): the primary sensor of the system. The ECU (Electronic Control Unit): manages power supply and communications. The GHC™ 50 autopilot instrument: the control unit at the helm. The steering and throttle actuators: designed to integrate directly with the auxiliary engine. The NMEA 2000 wiring and connectors required to establish the network.