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i-pilot

by simmsjs , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 08/03/2011 11:07 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
simmsjs

Joined: 01/08/2004
Location: ND
 I recently installed the i-pilot on my PD V2 electric. I was wondering if anyone who has this has trouble with the spot lock. It seems to work great if you face into some wind or current but if you set it  up in slack water with no current and no wind, it constantly moves you in a circle. It does keep me with in that 5 ft radius of where the feature was set but makes it hard to stay still and vertical when it is always on the move. It also moves one way or the other but wont stop turning a certain way until it has the cords wrapped all around the trolling motor shaft. Any suggestions?
IT IS BETTER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN ASK FOR PERMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: i-pilot
by Captain Ahab on 08/03/2011 11:06 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Captain Ahab
Joined: 12/01/2008
Location: ND
I have the same problem.  My solution=good old fashion anchor. 

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."
Benjamin Franklin
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/03/2011 11:25 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
Mine must keep a record of rotation - it will unwind itself if it goes past 1.5 wraps!

And I don't have the "going round in circles" behavior either. Hmmm... maybe I got lucky? Glad I don't have that issue.

And finally, a horsager-type common sense question: If there's no wind and no current, why the need to anchor? 

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by MuskyManiac on 08/03/2011 1:37 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
MuskyManiac
Joined: 01/07/2004
Location: ND
Correct, if there is not enough wind or current iPilot will move your boat around....but if it is that calm you shouldn't need iPilot anyway.
Re: i-pilot
by simmsjs on 08/03/2011 2:09 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
simmsjs
Joined: 01/08/2004
Location: ND
 I ended up taking it off in the calm area of the lake but I thought if there is no wind or current then it would just be on and nothing would happen until the boat got out of the area. But that wasn't the case.
IT IS BETTER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN ASK FOR PERMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: i-pilot
by Captain Ahab on 08/03/2011 2:14 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Captain Ahab
Joined: 12/01/2008
Location: ND
guywhofishes Said:
Mine must keep a record of rotation - it will unwind itself if it goes past 1.5 wraps!

And I don't have the "going round in circles" behavior either. Hmmm... maybe I got lucky? Glad I don't have that issue.

And finally, a horsager-type common sense question: If there's no wind and no current, why the need to anchor? 


Actually if I am by myself, all I use is my Vantage.  I move it to backtroller mode and holder steady.  Gotta love the tiller.

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."
Benjamin Franklin
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/03/2011 4:13 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
Captain Ahab Said:
guywhofishes Said:
Mine must keep a record of rotation - it will unwind itself if it goes past 1.5 wraps!

And I don't have the "going round in circles" behavior either. Hmmm... maybe I got lucky? Glad I don't have that issue.

And finally, a horsager-type common sense question: If there's no wind and no current, why the need to anchor? 


Actually if I am by myself, all I use is my Vantage.  I move it to backtroller mode and holder steady.  Gotta love the tiller.
 same here
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/03/2011 4:14 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND

my ipilot "turns off" and does nothing for periods when it's dead calm - but then it wakes up, overshoots, gets on... goes back to quiet, etc. I'm sure some of it is the "wobble" in the coordinates that the government puts into the GPS signal on purpose (defense reasons)
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/03/2011 4:30 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
guywhofishes Said:

my ipilot "turns off" and does nothing for periods when it's dead calm - but then it wakes up, overshoots, gets on... goes back to quiet, etc. I'm sure some of it is the "wobble" in the coordinates that the government puts into the GPS signal on purpose (defense reasons)

my boat is a big fat non-tracking pig, sort of like the buffalo boats of the Mandan indians I suppose. Maybe that helps ipilot behave better than other hulls in calm conditions? I can't imagine the engineers' struggles in tryinng to build a control system that fits all boats/winds.

It would be nice to be able to adjust (dampen) certain behaviors to fit certain boats or wind conditions. There are some wind speeds that result in a LOT of see-sawing back/forth while other wind speeds the ipilot controls like a dream
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by SHORTHAIRSRUS on 08/03/2011 5:21 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
SHORTHAIRSRUS
Joined: 11/24/2004
Location: ND
I have the same issue as ahab and simmsjs
Stay thirsty my friends
Re: i-pilot
by WalleyeTracker on 08/03/2011 5:55 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
WalleyeTracker
Joined: 12/08/2005
Location: ND

Dont mean to hijack your thread simmsjs!...But is it also possible to do a high speed record-a-track? As in putting the trolling motor say a foot in the water....hitting the record a track feature, then doing a 10 - 15mph pass around the contour with the big motor. At the end of the pass just put the trolling motor all the way down and click Track to start. Essentially laying down the track quickly with the steering wheel rather then slowly with the remote/pedal.

Re: i-pilot
by Jake G on 08/03/2011 8:39 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Jake G
Joined: 07/17/2011
Location: nd
yeah walleye it will save the track if you do that.
Jake G.
Re: i-pilot
by simmsjs on 08/03/2011 8:41 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
simmsjs
Joined: 01/08/2004
Location: ND
well, the main issue is with the anchor feature. I have a lot of learning to do on the record a track and the 2 auto-pilot features but it is nice having autopilot and cruiz. 
WalleyeTracker Said:

Dont mean to hijack your thread simmsjs!...But is it also possible to do a high speed record-a-track? As in putting the trolling motor say a foot in the water....hitting the record a track feature, then doing a 10 - 15mph pass around the contour with the big motor. At the end of the pass just put the trolling motor all the way down and click Track to start. Essentially laying down the track quickly with the steering wheel rather then slowly with the remote/pedal.
IT IS BETTER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN ASK FOR PERMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: i-pilot
by archer109 on 08/03/2011 9:16 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
archer109
Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
They are upgrading the remote and a couple other things on the I pilot.
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/03/2011 9:30 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
Archer, where did you see that news?
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by simmsjs on 08/03/2011 9:34 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
simmsjs
Joined: 01/08/2004
Location: ND
Figures, everytime I buy something, the next minute after the cash drawer goes cha ching, new and better is released. Commy bastages!
IT IS BETTER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN ASK FOR PERMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: i-pilot
by WalleyeTracker on 08/03/2011 9:52 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
WalleyeTracker
Joined: 12/08/2005
Location: ND
Great, thanks for the replies... I agree just upgrading to the 2 auto pilots and cruz alone will be awesome. Im a run and gun fisherman so anything to cut down time on the first pass is a plus. Also if you have a transom electric trolling motor , maybe putting that in reverse on the lowest setting will simulate a current to keep the boat in one direction better with the spot lock.  Looking forward to learning more hands on in the near future.

Re: i-pilot
by Auggie1415 on 08/04/2011 00:01 AM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Auggie1415
Joined: 09/13/2005
Location: ND
From what I've heard from some who went to ICAST is that the new remote is designed a little better and you can save 6 trails and 6 points instead of 3 each.  They are 50$ cheeper in Cabelas right now.  When it comes to waypoints, I just drive right on top of it hit anchor wait a minute or two for it acclimate and you're set.
I have heard some rumors that Humminbirds will be able to link with the Ipilot and in this case, you could draw a trail on the computer, then program the Ipilot to drive it.
I never thought of tracing a trail with the big motor.  Good idea.
Hail the Bison!
You can always retake a class, but you can never retake a party!
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/04/2011 08:25 AM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
Auggie1415 Said:
From what I've heard from some who went to ICAST is that the new remote is designed a little better and you can save 6 trails and 6 points instead of 3 each.  They are 50$ cheeper in Cabelas right now.  When it comes to waypoints, I just drive right on top of it hit anchor wait a minute or two for it acclimate and you're set.
I have heard some rumors that Humminbirds will be able to link with the Ipilot and in this case, you could draw a trail on the computer, then program the Ipilot to drive it.
I never thought of tracing a trail with the big motor.  Good idea.
Don't forget that on up-wind trails you can add the outboard for a kicker - and the ipilot still keeps you on track and at the desired speed - it just doesn't have to burn batteries so hard
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by guywhofishes on 08/04/2011 08:34 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
guywhofishes
Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
simmsjs Said:
Figures, everytime I buy something, the next minute after the cash drawer goes cha ching, new and better is released. Commy bastages!
Yes, it's the curse of the times. It burns me a lot too, but it also reflects how spoiled we are as sportsman to have such advances in so little time available to us. That's what I tell myself anyway.

I had a Powerdrive V1 form 2004, not a V2, so I had to upgrade to a totally new Terrova to get ipilot - cuz the upgrade kit wouldn't work for my "old" V1.

Big bucks, but it's a better motor overall.

So maybe it's the upgrades that are lackluster in their anchor behavior??
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: i-pilot
by sdwxman on 08/04/2011 08:38 AM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
sdwxman
Joined: 04/06/2007
Location: SD
Anyone want to sell a used V2? My old Minkota is on its last legs.

23 Replies | Page 1 of 212 Next Page >> | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
Posted By: simmsjs
Posted On: 08/03/2011 11:07 AM
907 Views, 23 Comments

Tags: i-pilot, current, wind, installed, wondering, recently, trouble, electric, anyone, spot
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Categories: Outdoor Sports > Boats
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