Garmin GPSMAP 8700 Black Box Owners Manual - Page 48

If you have more than one heading source on the network, you can select a your preferred source. The source could be a compatible GPS compass or a magnetic heading sensor. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Autopilot Setup > Preferred Sources 2 Select a source. If the selected heading source is unavailable, the autopilot screen does not display any data. Autopilot Overlay Bar NOTE: Not all options are available on all autopilot models. Autopilot mode Enables the heading hold Steers left Actual heading Rudder position indicator (available only when a rudder sensor is connected) Intended heading (heading the autopilot is steering toward) Steers right Engages the steering pattern Opens the full autopilot screen and menu Engaging the Autopilot When you engage the autopilot, the autopilot takes control of the helm and steers the boat to maintain your heading. From any screen, select Engage. Your intended heading shows in the center of the Autopilot screen. Adjusting the Heading with the Helm NOTE: You must enable the Shadow Drive feature before you can adjust the heading using the helm (Enabling Shadow Drive™, page 39). With the autopilot engaged, manually steer the boat. The autopilot activates Shadow Drive mode. When you release the helm and manually maintain a specific heading for a few seconds, the autopilot resumes a heading hold at the new heading. Adjusting the Heading with the Chartplotter in Step Steering Mode Before you can steer your boat using the keys at the bottom of the autopilot screen, you must engage the autopilot (Engaging the Autopilot, page 40). • Select to initiate a single 1° turn. • Select to initiate a single 10° turn. • Hold to initiate a rate-controlled turn. The boat continues to turn until you let go of the key. • Hold to initiate a sequence of 10° turns. Steering Patterns WARNING You are responsible for the safe operation of your boat. Do not begin a pattern until you are certain that the water is clear of obstacles. The autopilot can steer the boat in preset patterns for fishing, and it can also perform other specialty maneuvers such as Uturns and Williamson turns. Following the U-Turn Pattern You can use the u-turn pattern to turn the boat around 180 degrees and maintain the new heading. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Pattern Steering > U-Turn. 2 Select Engage Port or Engage Starboard. Setting Up and Following the Circles Pattern You can use the circles pattern to steer the boat in a continuous circle, in a specified direction, and at a specified time interval. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Pattern Steering > Circles. 2 If necessary, select Time, and select a time for the autopilot to steer one complete circle. 3 Select Engage Port or Engage Starboard. Setting Up and Following the Zigzag Pattern You can use the zigzag pattern to steer the boat from port to starboard and back, over a specified time and angle, across your present heading. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Pattern Steering > Zigzag. 2 If necessary, select Amplitude, and select a degree. 3 If necessary, select Period, and select a length of time. 4 Select Engage Zigzag. Following the Williamson Turn Pattern You can use the Williamson turn pattern to steer the boat around with the intent of running alongside the location where the Williamson turn pattern was initiated. The Williamson turn pattern can be used in man overboard situations. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Pattern Steering > Williamson Turn. 2 Select Engage Port or Engage Starboard. Following an Orbit Pattern You can use the orbit pattern to steer the boat in a continuous circle around the active waypoint. The size of the circle is defined by your distance from the active waypoint when you begin the orbit pattern. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Pattern Steering > Orbit. 2 Select Engage Port or Engage Starboard. Setting Up and Following the Cloverleaf Pattern You can use the cloverleaf pattern to steer the boat to repeatedly pass over an active waypoint. When you begin the cloverleaf pattern, the autopilot drives the boat toward the active waypoint and begins the cloverleaf pattern. You can adjust the distance between the waypoint and the location where the autopilot turns the boat for another pass over the waypoint. The default setting turns the boat at a range of 1000 ft. (300 m) from the active waypoint. 1 From the autopilot screen, select Menu > Pattern Steering > Cloverleaf. 2 If necessary, select Length, and select a distance. 3 Select Engage Port or Engage Starboard. Setting Up and Following a Search Pattern You can use the search pattern to steer the boat in increasingly larger circles outward from the active waypoint, forming a spiral pattern. When you begin the search pattern, the autopilot drives the boat to the active waypoint and begins the pattern. 40 Autopilot