Garmin has unveiled the SmartDrive. The system comprises a brushless linear actuator, an ECU – that is, the control unit – integrated into the actuator, and a rudder position sensor. Together, this combination is designed to control the rudder with precision, whilst reducing the amount of cabling and the number of external components. Garmin describes SmartDrive as the first sailing boat autopilot to feature this combination of a brushless linear drive and an integrated ECU.
What sort of yachts is the SmartDrive designed for?
According to Garmin, the new propulsion system is designed for sailing yachts and catamarans up to 45 feet – that is, around 13.7 metres in length. The maximum thrust is said to be 477 kilograms. With this, SmartDrive is targeting a segment where linear propulsion systems installed below deck are common on many cruising yachts and smaller catamarans.
However, it is not just a boat’s length or displacement that determines whether a particular model is suitable. The rudder quadrant, linkage, available installation space, rudder pressure and the existing on-board electrical system must all be included on the checklist before any retrofitting takes place. Particularly with older systems, it is worth starting with a thorough Survey of sockets, buses and existing cabling. Only then will it be possible to assess whether the new drive system can actually be integrated without any major modifications.
What’s new in SmartDrive?
The key difference lies not so much in an additional operating mode as in the design of the drive system. A brushless motor does not require carbon brushes, which are a typical wearing part. Garmin combines it with an ECU housed within the unit and the rudder position sensor. This is intended to reduce the number of separate components and make the installation clearer.
This is particularly of interest to boat owners when an existing drive system is ageing or the autopilot is reaching its limits during a cruise. However, fewer cables and external boxes do not automatically mean a quick DIY installation: the mechanical mounting and the correct alignment of the linkage remain safety-critical.
Reactor 40: Features for sailing
SmartDrive can be purchased separately or combined with the Reactor 40 Sail Corepack. The pack includes a course computer and the GHC 50 autopilot display with a five-inch touchscreen. The system can be connected to compatible Garmin multifunction displays via the NMEA 2000 network.
Garmin states that this combination offers an improved wind-holding function as well as more precisely controllable tacks and jibes. Speed settings and automatic response are said to be adjustable. Set-up is to be carried out via a wizard whilst the boat is moored. A Product overview of the Reactor 40 Sail Corepack with SmartDrive and GHC 50 Garmin already offers this online.
In addition to the display, a wireless Reactor 40 remote control, the APK 10 keypad and the Qatix 8 pro are provided as control elements. This expands the range of options available on board. The fact that it can be useful to operate the autopilot from the foredeck was also demonstrated by the YACHT review of smartwatches for sailors.
What remains to be seen before the retrofit
These are still the manufacturer’s specifications; we have not yet carried out our own practical test. Important questions therefore remain unanswered, which can only be resolved once the system has been installed and operated on various vessels: How quiet is the drive under load? How well does it hold its course in following seas and with varying rudder pressure? And how significant is the installation advantage on yachts whose existing steering linkage does not comply with the Garmin standard?
For long-distance crews, power requirements also remain a key consideration. Electric autopilots are often one of the biggest power consumers on long legs; a mechanical windvane steering system, on the other hand, does not require any on-board power. The comparison outlines the fundamental advantages and disadvantages of both systems Wind-vane steering or autopilot on a long-distance voyage. SmartDrive can make electric autopilot systems more robust and easier to retrofit.
Prices
Garmin quotes a recommended retail price of 3,999.99 euros for the SmartDrive propulsion system alone. The Reactor 40 Sail Corepack with SmartDrive is expected to be available from 5,499.99 euros.
For owners whose existing linear actuator needs replacing, SmartDrive is therefore an attractive new system. However, only real-world rudder systems and in rough seas will reveal whether the promised installation benefits hold true in practice.
Would you prefer an electric autopilot or a traditional windvane steering system?
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik