Does the Garmin Autopilot Learn?

[Miss Trial]

I calibrated mine today and was quite impressed how easy it was.... a couple of straight shots and 4 right hand turns and it was done.

It made me wonder if the more the autopilot is used, does it learn and get better at what it does?

[Glen E]

yes...one of the best features it got from it's tr-1 ancestor...

[cold beers]

Originally Posted by Glen E

yes...one of the best features it got from it's tr-1 ancestor...

So, are you saying that it learns over time how much it needs to correct to stay on course? Mine has held a perfect course from day one. kind of hard to improve on it.

[Glen E]

going straight in a normal sea is easy for any AP to do.....a great AP is one that learns mostly how to act in a following sea, very slow speed, 20 kt wind and current in a quartering sea, etc

[Miss Trial]

I screwed up and set mine up in a two foot chop with 15 knot wind. Perhaps I should reset it up?

[Glen E]

leave it alone....go have fun....remember about websites:

http://www.veradoclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=526.0

[gerg]

Originally Posted by Miss Trial

I screwed up and set mine up in a two foot chop with 15 knot wind. Perhaps I should reset it up?

That would be a calm day compared to what I calibrated mine in. You may notice that the boat's heading is slightly off from your course. If your boat wanders too far during the "set north" step it can throw off the heading calibration.

It doesn't effect anything though, but is annoying.

[Miss Trial]

Originally Posted by gerg

It doesn't effect anything though, but is annoying.

Sounds like it would effect you getting to where you are going in a straight line?

[gerg]

Originally Posted by Miss Trial

Sounds like it would effect you getting to where you are going in a straight line?

It doesn't effect a straight line at all. It will have some impact on turns though, but if you aren't in tight quarters it's not a problem.