I had one professionally installed brand new by a certified Garmin installer. Came with a two year warranty, and boy did I need it. If I recall, the issues I encountered were:
- replaced the ECU twice due to random ‘it just stopped working’ moments. $600 part if not under warranty.
- total hydraulic fluid loss due to leaky pump.
-software once decided without my permission to give it Max throttle, right when I was fishing tight along a shoreline. Had to snap the throttle line (braid) with the tiller handle to avoid putting the boat onto the rocks.
-multiple broken throttle lines, no clue why.
-twice loss of steering due to broken weld on bracket that hydraulic arm attaches to. Sheering force from all the rapid motor movement eventually snaps the weld.
-wired remote stopped working, had to replace.
-would lose its compass calibration frequently
-replaced the compass ball
- probably a few more issues I can remember.
The damn thing was always broken.
After 2 year warranty was up the issues continued so I sold it broken on Craigslist and switched to a rear steering station (which BTW was only $500 more) and have never looked back.
I used my TR1 in the salt, it couldn’t keep my 22’ Hewescraft pointed in the right direction if winds were 10+ mph or 2’ waves. Have to turn off and use tiller handle. It also will rapidly turn your kicker right to left to keep a heading. That gets pretty annoying watching and listening to it while fishing.
I highly recommend not buying one for the salt. Folks love them in the rivers I’ve heard.
If you do buy one, be sure to stay on good terms with your installer and keep him on speed dial — you’ll be hanging out together a lot.
I’m still bitter about that POS and how it constantly ruined my fishing trips. Can you tell?
Barry