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Using the Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot with Outboard in Reverse

All Reactor 40 Autopilots are capable of guiding the boat when the engines are in reverse. Running in reverse is very useful for fishing or for holding a position in current and wind. It is handy on the Reactor 40 Kicker for drift fishing, back trolling, and keeping a boat from swinging while at anchor.


NOTE: Do not move the tiller manually (by-hand) while the Garmin Kicker Autopilot is engaged.  Users must disengage the Garmin Kicker Autopilot first, then the tiller can be moved manually.
NOTE: Moving the tiller manually (by-hand) when the Garmin Kicker Autopilot is engaged may/will result in damage to the Garmin Kicker Autopilot system or the motor.


Setup

Before using the Reactor 40 Kicker in reverse, settings will need to be adjusted to enable this function. Direction Control allows the user to select forward or reverse.  

From the GHC (Garmin Helm Control) select Menu > Setup > User Autopilot Setup > Direction Control – change to Enabled.

From the Chartplotter – in the Autopilot page, press the Menu > Autopilot Setup > Directional Control (Dir. Control) – change to Enabled.

Once Direction Control is set, it no longer needs to change back. 


Changing from Forward to Reverse

To switch your autopilot and outboard into reverse, follow these steps:

From the GHC (Garmin Helm Control)

  1. Put the autopilot into Standby

  2. Press Menu > Direction Control > set to Reverse

An icon appears in the upper right corner of the autopilot screen. It looks like a small boat with an arrow in it pointing down. The reverse icon indicates that the autopilot is in reverse. 

From the chartplotter:

  1. Put the autopilot into Standby

  2. From the autopilot page, press Menu > Direction Control > Set to Reverse

Setup the Outboard Motor

An icon appears in the upper right corner of the autopilot screen. It looks like a small boat with an arrow in it pointing down. The reverse icon indicates that the autopilot is in reverse.

Set up the Outboard Motor

  1. Put the outboard into reverse. Ensure the throttle friction lock is released and the throttle is at idle

  2. Engage the autopilot into Heading Hold

    • NOTE: The heading is still the direction the front of the boat is pointing

NOTE: Gesture Control feature while direction control is enabled will cause the autopilot to turn the front of the boat’s direction to navigate to the path gestured. 


Changing from Reverse to Forward

From the GHC (Garmin Helm Control)

  1. Put the autopilot into Standby

  2. Press Menu > Direction Control > set to Reverse

  3. The Reverse Direction icon should disappear

  4. Put the outboard in a forward direction

  5. Engage the autopilot in Heading Hold


Tips

  • The boat may not steer as well in reverse as it does in forward; this is common. Some boats have trouble in reverse. A small outboard mounted on the side of the boat may make that worse

  • Often boats steer better at slower reverse RPM than at higher RPM

  • Larger kicker motors can pull a boat in reverse fast enough that it causes the outboard to get jammed over to starboard or port

  • The design of outboards makes it easy to steer going forward, making them harder to run in reverse. At faster speeds, the water stream creates more force on the outboard parts in the water

  • Too fast is too much for the autopilot steering actuator. Keep speed reasonable in reverse. If it does get held hard over, put it into Standby; doing this will return the throttle to idle and slow the boat. Use a slower reverse speed for the autopilot


Advanced Notes

Master general usage of the Reactor 40 Kicker before attempting the next set of directions. 


Slowing Down Drift Speed while Fishing

To drift fish, but the wind or current is pushing the boat too fast, use the autopilot to control the drift speed. Put it into reverse. Adjust heading so that the stern (transom) is into the wind. Use the remote to adjust the drift speed. Drift fishing works for boats that drift naturally with the stern into the wind.

Keeping boat from swinging back and forth at anchor

In a crowded area or hold the boat from swinging and dragging your bait around, use reverse direction while at anchor.

Anchor up as customarily done. Once the boat is hanging on the anchor, reverse the outboard, set the autopilot into reverse, and then engage Heading Hold. It only requires a little bit of throttle to make sure that it’s not dragging anchor.

Anchoring in current can be dangerous. Know how to anchor in this situation before attempting this procedure. There are very critical skills to learn elsewhere first.

Following a Route while in Reverse

Reactor 40 Kicker can follow a route in reverse.   

  1. First, put the autopilot into Reverse, leave it on Standby

  2. Create a route on the chartplotter and activate it

  3. The Garmin chartplotter will ask if the user wants to engage the autopilot. Select Yes. It will now follow the route.  

Use Reactor 40 Kicker to control the throttle while on the route; this can slow down or speed up the drift over a reef or hole you want to fish while the autopilot keeps the boat near the route line.


Change one of the Programmable Buttons on the Remote to Direction Control.

Use the User Setup menu to change the function of one of the programmable buttons on the remote. One of the choices is “Direction Control.” 

Setting one of the buttons to Direction Control allows the user to toggle the autopilot between Reverse and Forward with this button. Always put the autopilot on Standby before changing direction. 


FINAL NOTE: When engaging the autopilot and the vessel immediately starts steering in a circle (goes hard over right away), check to see if the autopilot is in reverse. The outboard and the autopilot must be in the same direction (both in Forward or both in Reverse).



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