Garmin GHC 10 Instruction manual

GHC 10
quick start manual

WARNING: See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product
box for product warnings and other important information.
© 2009 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street,
Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA
Tel. [phone] or [phone]
Fax [phone]
Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
Liberty House
Hounsdown Business Park,
Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9RB UK
Tel. [phone] (outside the UK)
0808 2380000 (within the UK)
Fax [phone]
Garmin Corporation
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road,
Shijr, Taipei County,
Taiwan
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
March 2009 Part Number 190-01082-01 Rev. A Printed in Taiwan
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GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 1
Introduction
The GHP™ 10/10V autopilot system
continuously adjusts the steering of your
boat to maintain a constant heading.
In addition to the basic heading-hold
functionality, the GHP 10/10V autopilot
system allows manual steering and
several modes of automatic-steering
functions and patterns.
Operate the GHP 10/10V autopilot
system using the GHC™ 10 control unit.
Through the GHC 10 control unit, you
engage and steer, set up, and customize
the GHP 10/10V autopilot system.
To install the GHP 10/10V autopilot
system, including the GHC 10 control
unit, use the provided installation
instructions.
The GHP 10/10V and the
GHC 10 are NMEA 2000
®
certied.
Warnings
You are responsible for the safe
and prudent operation of your
vessel. The GHP 10/10V is a tool
that will enhance your capability
to operate your boat. It does not
relieve you from the responsibility
of safely operating your boat.
Avoid navigational hazards and
never leave the helm unattended.
Always be prepared to promptly
regain manual control of your boat.
Learn to operate the GHP 10/10V
on calm and hazard-free open
water.
Use caution when operating the
GHP 10/10V at high speeds near
hazards in the water, such as docks,
pilings, and other boats.
•
•
•
•

2 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Manual Conventions
In this manual, the GHP 10/10V
autopilot system is referred to as the
autopilot, and the GHC 10 control unit is
referred to as the GHC 10.
When you are instructed to select an
item on the GHC 10, use the soft keys
( ) along the bottom of the screen to
select each item. Small arrows (>) in the
text indicate that you should select each
item in order. For example, if you see
“select Menu > Setup,” press the soft
key under Menu, then press the soft key
under Setup.
Heading Screen—the main screen
of the GHC 10. The Heading screen
displays the status of the autopilot and
shows your heading.
Menu Screens—screens used to initiate
and adjust the steering-pattern options,
and to customize the GHC 10.
Tips and Shortcuts
Press STBY from any screen to place
the autopilot in standby mode and
return to the Heading screen.
Press and quickly release the
Power button to adjust the display
settings on the GHC 10 (Backlight
and Color mode).
Press and hold the Power button
to turn the autopilot on or off.
Quick Links
Basic Operation: page 4
Manually adjusting the
heading: page 6
Using pattern steering: page 7
Using GPS steering: page 9
Customizing the GHC 10: page 11
•
•
•

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 3
GHC 10 Overview
Use the buttons on the GHC 10 to
control the autopilot.
Soft keys
Standby Power
Power—press and hold to power the
autopilot on and off. Press and quickly
release to adjust the display settings
(page 11).
Soft Keys—used to steer the autopilot,
navigate the menus, and select items on
the GHC 10.
Press a soft key to perform the action
indicated directly above it.
Typically, you use the left soft key to
engage the autopilot or move back
one screen, use the right soft key
to navigate through menu screens,
and use the center soft key to select
highlighted items and open the menu.
STBY (Standby)—used to place the
autopilot in standby mode. Press STBY
to stop the autopilot from any menu
screen, at any time.
CAUTION: Be ready to regain
manual control of the boat when you
place the autopilot in standby mode.
•
•

4 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Using the GHC 10
Use the GHC 10 to engage and manually
steer the autopilot. In addition to steering
the autopilot, use the GHC 10 to begin
automatic steering functions and to
customize the autopilot.
Basic Operation
The Heading screen displays the status
of the autopilot and the heading. Use
the soft keys to engage the autopilot and
manually adjust the heading from the
Heading screen.
Understanding the Heading
Screen with the Autopilot in
Standby Mode
When you power the autopilot on, the
system starts in standby mode, with
the Heading screen displayed on the
GHC 10. When in standby mode, the
autopilot does not steer the boat—you
are responsible for the helm. When in
standby mode, the top of the Heading
screen displays “You Have The Helm”
in yellow, and your heading is shown in
the center.
When in standby mode, you can engage
the autopilot, adjust the settings from
the menu, or specify the transmission
direction of your boat (forward or
reverse) by using the soft keys.
Soft-key
functions
Autopilot
status
Heading
Heading Screen with
Autopilot in Standby
Mode
To engage the autopilot:
Press the soft key labeled Engage.

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 5
Understanding the Heading
Screen with the Autopilot
Engaged
When you engage the autopilot, the
autopilot takes control of the helm and
steers the boat to maintain your heading.
The top of the Heading screen displays
“Autopilot Engaged” in green, and your
heading is shown in the center. You can
use the soft keys to adjust the autopilot
heading manually or to adjust the
settings from the menu.
You can steer the boat manually from the
helm while the autopilot is engaged. The
autopilot does not steer the boat while
you have the helm, and the message
“You Have the Helm” ashes at the top
of the screen in yellow. If you manually
maintain a specic heading for a few
seconds, the autopilot resumes control
of the new heading, and the message
“Autopilot Engaged” is displayed at the
top of the screen.
Soft-key
functions
Autopilot
status
Heading
Heading Screen with
Autopilot Engaged
Notes:
When the autopilot is steering a
pattern (page 7), the shape and
range of the pattern is shown
on the right side of the Heading
screen.
Some soft keys may appear
differently if you have step turning
enabled. For more information on
step turning, see page 11.
To place the autopilot in standby
mode:
Press the STBY (standby) button on
the GHC 10.
•
•

6 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Manually Adjusting the
Heading
When the autopilot is engaged, use the
left ( ) and right ( ) soft
keys to manually adjust the heading.
When you manually adjust the heading,
the heading dial on the Heading
screen displays your actual heading
while the autopilot steers the boat to
the intended heading. The intended
heading is indicated by a yellow marker
on the heading dial and is displayed
numerically in the center of the Heading
screen.
Manually Adjusting the Heading
Heading
dial
Intended
heading
Actual
heading
NOTE: If the autopilot is steering a
pattern (page 7), manually adjusting
the heading cancels the pattern.
Opening the Menu
From the Heading screen, the center soft
key opens the menu where you can start
pattern steering, customize the GHC 10,
and congure the autopilot.
When you select Menu from the
Heading screen, the rst option listed
depends on the current state of the
autopilot:
If you have the helm or if the
autopilot is maintaining the heading,
the rst menu option becomes a
shortcut to re-engage the most
recently used pattern.
If the autopilot is steering a pattern,
the rst menu option becomes a
shortcut to adjust the settings for the
current pattern.
•
•

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 7
Using Pattern Steering
The autopilot can steer the boat in preset
patterns for shing, and can also perform
other specialty maneuvers such as
U-turns and man-overboard retrieval.
Use the GHC 10 to begin pattern
steering.
Heading Screen When
Using Pattern Steering
Pattern
details
Pattern
name
Heading
Pattern steering is not based on GPS,
and can be used without a GPS unit
connected to the autopilot.
To cancel the pattern, you can physically
steer the boat, use the soft keys to
manually adjust the heading, or press the
STBY button.
CAUTION: 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.
To begin pattern steering:
1. From the Heading screen, select
Menu > Pattern Steering, and
choose a pattern.
2. Select Engage to begin the pattern
with the default values.
OR
Select Setup to adjust the values of
the pattern.
3. Choose the direction of the pattern if
prompted.
NOTE: If the pattern has only one
setting, the setting name appears
instead of Setup. If no settings are
available for the pattern, Setup will
not be available.

8 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Zigzag
The Zigzag pattern steers the
boat from port to starboard and
back, over a specied time and
angle, across your current heading. The
default values are 1.5 minutes and 30°.
Circles
The circle pattern steers the
boat in a constant circle, in a
specied direction and at a
specied time interval. The default value
create a circle that takes 5 minutes to
complete.
The autopilot positions the boat so that
the circle pattern is centered on the point
at which you engage the pattern.
U-Turn
The U-turn pattern turns the
boat around 180° and
maintains the new heading.
Man Overboard
The Man Overboard pattern
turns the boat around with the
intent of running alongside the
point where the Man Overboard pattern
was initiated. The boat must be below
planing speed when using this pattern.
CAUTION: The Man Overboard
pattern is not determined by GPS and
is affected by wind, current, and speed.
Be ready to adjust the throttle and take
the helm to avoid harm to a person in
the water.

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 9
Using GPS Steering
The autopilot can steer the boat along a
route dened by your GPS device, or in
preset patterns based on a GPS location
(waypoint). To use GPS steering, you
must have an optional GPS device
connected to the autopilot. For more
information on connecting an optional
GPS device, see the GHP 10/10V
Installation Instructions.
The GPS steering patterns are based on a
GPS waypoint to which you are actively
navigating using your optional GPS
unit. This waypoint is called the active
waypoint. For example, when you begin
a Search GPS pattern, the autopilot rst
drives your boat to the active waypoint
and then circles the active waypoint in a
spiral pattern.
To cancel a GPS steering pattern, you
can physically steer the boat, use the soft
keys to manually adjust the heading, or
press the STBY button.
To begin a GPS pattern:
1. Begin navigating to a waypoint on
your GPS device.
2. From the Heading screen, select
Menu > GPS Steering and choose a
GPS pattern.
3. Select Engage to begin the GPS
pattern with the default settings.
OR
Select Setup to adjust the settings for
the GPS pattern (if available).
4. Choose the direction of the pattern if
prompted.
NOTE: If the pattern has only one
setting, the setting name appears
instead of Setup. If no settings are
available for the pattern, Setup will
not be available.
CAUTION: You are responsible for
the safe operation of your boat. Do not
begin a GPS route or a GPS pattern
until you are certain that the water is
clear of obstacles.

10 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Orbit
The Orbit GPS pattern steers
the boat in a continuous circle
around the active waypoint.
The size of the circle is dened by your
distance from the active waypoint when
you begin the Orbit GPS pattern. There
are no settings to adjust.
Cloverleaf
The Cloverleaf GPS pattern
steers 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 then begins the
Cloverleaf GPS pattern when
appropriate. The default settings create a
cloverleaf pattern that turns the boat at a
range of 300 m from the active
waypoint.
Search
The Search GPS pattern steers
the boat in increasingly larger
circles (a spiral pattern)
outward from the active waypoint. When
you begin the Search GPS pattern, the
autopilot drives the boat to the active
waypoint and then begins the pattern.
The default setting spaces the circles
20 m apart.
Route To
The autopilot steers the boat according
to a route dened on your Garmin
chartplotter or other compatible
GPS device.
To follow a GPS route:
1. On your chartplotter or GPS device,
create a route and begin navigating
the route according to the directions
provided with the chartplotter or the
GPS device.
2. On the GHC 10, from the Heading
screen, select Menu > GPS Steering
> Route To.

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 11
Customizing the GHC 10
You can customize the display settings,
the manual steering method, and other
system settings.
Changing the Display
Settings
To customize the display settings, press
and quickly release the Power button
Color Mode—select Day or Night
colors.
Backlight—set the backlight level by
using the soft keys to adjust the slider.
Network Sharing—choose to share
color mode and backlight settings with
other GHC 10 (and GMI
™
10) devices
across the NMEA 2000 network.
Changing the Manual
Steering Mode
You can manually steer the autopilot
in two ways, by rudder or by step. The
rudder steering mode (default) turns the
boat in increments of 1° when you press
and release the steering soft key, and
steers the boat when you hold down the
steering soft key. The step steering mode
turns the boat in increments of 1° when
you press and release the steering soft
key, and in specied increments when
you hold down the steering soft key.
Rudder Steering Mode
Step Steering Mode
To change the manual steering
mode:
1. From the Heading screen, select
Menu > Steering Mode.
2. Select Steering Mode to alternate
between Rudder and Step steering
modes.
To adjust the Step steering
increments:
1. From the Heading screen, select
Menu > Steering Mode.
2. Select Step Turn Size.

12 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Changing the GHC 10 System
Options
To change system options on the
GHC 10, from the Heading screen select
Menu > Setup > System.
Units—set the units of measure used to
represent different values displayed on
the GHC 10.
System Units—select Statute
(mi, ft), Metric (km, m), or Nautical
(nm, ft) to dene the units of
measure.
Helm Displacement—select Cubic
Inches (cu in) or Cubic Centimeters
(cc).
Heading—set the reference used in
calculating heading information.
Magnetic—sets magnetic north as
the heading reference.
True—sets true north as the heading
reference.
•
•
•
•
Variance—only available when the
heading is set to True. You can adjust
the variance from true north.
Auto—automatically sets true north
as the heading reference
Change Variance—manually adjust
the heading reference.
Beeper—set when the GHC 10 makes
audible sounds.
Auto Power—select if the unit powers
on with the NMEA 2000 network.
Language—select the on-screen
language.
System Information—view unit
software information.
Factory Defaults—reset the unit to
factory defaults.
NOTE: If the GHC 10 is in demo
mode, this setting appears as End
Demo. Select End Demo to access the
Factory Defaults setting.
•
•

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 13
Conguring a GHC 10 Remote
Control
To congure an optional remote control
on the GHC 10, from the Heading
screen, select Menu > Setup > Remote.
You can connect one optional GHC 10
remote control to a GHC 10.
Search for Remote—allow the GHC 10
to search for an optional GHC 10 remote
control.
Disconnect Remote—(only available
when a remote control is connected)
disconnect a connected remote control.
Button (1–3) Action—dene the
functions of the three dynamic buttons
on a connected remote control. Choose
from the options listed in the Remote
Button Action Table.
Button Function Page Reference
Zigzag Page 8
Circles Page 8
U-Turn Page 8
Route To Page 10
Orbit Page 10
Cloverleaf Page 10
Search Page 10
Transmission
Direction
Page 4
Remote Button Action Table
Notes:
If you assign Transmission
Direction to a button on the
remote control, the autopilot must
be in standby mode to change the
direction (forward or reverse).
If you assign a pattern to a button
on the remote control, remember
that 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.
•
•

14 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Conguring the GHC 10
User Settings
Though the autopilot is congured for
your boat during installation, you may
nd it necessary to adjust it slightly
depending on sea conditions. You may
also disable the Shadow Drive if you
prefer.
To access the user autopilot
conguration, select Menu > Setup >
User Autopilot Conguration.
Shadow Drive
™
—disable or re-enable
the Shadow Drive.
CAUTION: On a GHP 10 autopilot
system, if you disable the Shadow
Drive, you will need to place the
autopilot on standby (STBY) to
manually control the helm. Use
caution when disabling the Shadow
Drive.
On a GHP 10V autopilot system, if you
disable the Shadow Drive, any
adjustment to the helm completely
disengages the autopilot.
Shadow Drive Sensitivity—on a
GHP 10 autopilot system, adjust this
setting if the Shadow Drive is being
tripped falsely or not activating properly.
If the autopilot disengages while the
helm is steady, decreasing this value
may help. If the Shadow Drive does not
disengage the autopilot correctly when
you take the helm, increasing this value
may help. This setting does not apply to
a GHP 10V autopilot system.
Sea State Filtering—adjust this setting
to slow the heading response down
and reduce rudder activity. Leave this
setting at 0% under normal operating
conditions, and increase it when
operating the autopilot in choppy seas
at low speeds. Increasing the Sea State
Filtering setting in choppy conditions
will save wear on your autopilot system.

GHC 10 Quick Start Manual 15
Appendix
Conguring the Autopilot
The autopilot is congured for your boat
during the installation process, and the
main autopilot conguration settings
should rarely need to be adjusted. If
the autopilot is not working correctly,
contact your installer.
For advanced autopilot conguration,
see the GHP 10/10V Installation
Instructions.
CAUTION: Changes made to the
conguration of the autopilot directly
affect the behavior of the autopilot,
and should be made by an authorized
installer. Unnecessary adjustments of
the autopilot conguration may render
the autopilot inoperable.
Product Registration
Help us better support you by
completing our online registration today!
Connect to our Web site at
http://my.garmin.com. Keep the original
sales receipt, or a photocopy, in a safe
place.
Contact Garmin
Contact Garmin Product Support if
you have any questions while using
your autopilot. In the USA, go to www.
garmin.com/support, or contact Garmin
USA by phone at [phone] or
[phone].
In the UK, contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
by phone at 0808 2380000.
In Europe, go to www.garmin.com/
support and click Contact Support for in-
country support information, or contact
Garmin (Europe) Ltd. by phone at +44
(0) 870.8501241.

16 GHC 10 Quick Start Manual
Software License
Agreement
BY USING THE GHP 10/10V AND THE
GHC 10, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND
BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE LICENSE
AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS
AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.
Garmin grants you a limited license to use
the software embedded in this device (the
“Software”) in binary executable form in the
normal operation of the product. Title, ownership
rights, and intellectual property rights in and to
the Software remain in Garmin.
You acknowledge that the Software is the
property of Garmin and is protected under the
United States of America copyright laws and
international copyright treaties. You further
acknowledge that the structure, organization, and
code of the Software are valuable trade secrets
of Garmin and that the Software in source code
form remains a valuable trade secret of Garmin.
You agree not to decompile, disassemble, modify,
reverse assemble, reverse engineer, or reduce to
human readable form the Software or any part
thereof or create any derivative works based on
the Software.
You agree not to export or re-export the Software
to any country in violation of the export control
laws of the United States of America.
Declaration of Conformity
(DoC)
Hereby, Garmin, declares that this
GHP 10/10V autopilot system is
in compliance with the essential
requirements and other relevant
provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC.
To view the full Declaration of
Conformity, see the Garmin Web site for
your Garmin product:
www.garmin.com/products/GHP10/.
Click Manuals, and then select the
Declaration of Conformity link.

For the latest free software updates (excluding map data) throughout the
life of your Garmin products, visit the Garmin Web site at www.garmin.com.
© 2009 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
Garmin International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, USA
Garmin (Europe) Ltd.
Liberty House, Hounsdown Business Park, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9RB UK
Garmin Corporation
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
www.garmin.com
Part Number 190-01082-01 Rev. A