Much cheaper to add the Ipilot to the motor you already have.
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I have a friend who is anti tech. He refuses to buy a fish finder or a trolling motor and insists that fishing is more fun without them. One morning we were both going out in our seperate boats, he with his two sons and me alone in mine. Since they arrived before me I told him to meet me in a cove at this specific spot. It sits in the center and you have to use land marks to line up to it without electronics. When I arrived I could tell that he was off to the side of the ledge and deep cut by about 15 foot. I motored up using the TM and fishfinder and set up camp. i asked if they were getting anything he said no not yet, my first drop I pulled in a fish and almost every cast or drop after was a fish or a bite. He then saw the benefit of gps and a good sonar and moved along side me.
When the bite slowed we moved to a new spot but he was having a hard time getting his motor started so I threw him a rope and towed him with the ipilot. When we got there he was having trouble holding bottom in the current so we tied up again and I set the spot lock and held both boats over the structure.
He still refuses to get involved with electronics.
Kosmo, yes I use the foot control and fob at the same time without a reset. When going to FC from fob I have to add power for just a second to ensure the FC has the control. I need to also mention that I am in an aluminum boat with 24 volts. While I am trolling, it will hold the speed constant on a setting even in strong winds unless a strong gust hits me, it will take a short while before it adds speed. As mentioned earlier, you need to make a slow approach into the wind/current when going into spotlock. The gps will lock on your mark and send the unit into a frantic reaction trying to get back on your mark if you are going too fast. That is when I want to strangle the stupid thing. BTW, my top speed at full power is 4.2 mph trimmed out, no seats and medium load and no wind. I am not advocating one brand over the other. All my electronics are Lowrance so I went with the compatible unit. Just lucky and happy to have a boat but would be in a kyack if I were 40 years younger.
Mine is erratic when following a course. Sometimes it will start going back and forth like it is searching the correct path even in calm water(very aggravating). The spotlock works well. Like someone mentioned above it is a lot of $ to connect to a Lowrance FF. Also once on your boat there is not a quick disconnect, so you have to leave it on your boat.
I installed a 24v 80# XI5 with Pinpoint on My Tracker Pt175, and love the unit for the most part, My biggest complaint is with the foot control, it realitivly easy to use and push when you are using your toe but when using your heel its very hard to push almost impossible to just push a little, it feel like the spring they use is way too stiff. i will add that I had to take mine in for warrenty service, apparently a circut board had gone bad after fishig in the rain, which concerns Me seeing I fish in the rain. I also feel that the unit could be balanced better it vibrates quit a bit at higher speeds. This past year I added 2 Lowrance HDS gen 2 touch units, and really wish I could have a side/downscan transducer mounted on the TM without adding major hardware.
Thanks for all the reviews. I may hold off for another season.
If you have a vibration take your prop off, rotate half round and remount. Worked on mine and friends who had same issue and closely check the threads on the shaft.
Mine has never acted erratic following trails.