Thread: Using the Spot Lock function of the updated i-Pilot to target fall crappies

You can tell right off by looking at the remote.Thumbs Up

Originally Posted by SeaRay

Is there a recognizable difference in the appearance like color or style that would jump out at you as opposed to reading the specs?? Just want to makes sure when I spend that much that I am getting the latest one.
SeaRay

I would not think there is a hugh/big difference in the appearance of the part that attaches to the top of the TM but I don't really know. As gabowman said, there is a noticable difference in the appearance of the remotes. I would read the specs to make sure you get what you want or ask to make sure.

There is no noticeable difference in appearance between the old head unit and the new one.

I have a 18 1/2' War Eagle w/ MK Terrova w/ I-Pilot. I have not seen it keep me within 5 ft of spot locked anytime I have fished. I single pole jig and staying on top of structure without a lot of movement is important. The spot lock has not done that as advertised. Maybe 20 -30 ft is more a realistic number. This past weekend fishing in 10-20 mph winds I had to manually control the boat because 5 seconds on a top is not enough and running all over the structure. I'm seriously considering a foot control again. Other than the spot lock issue it's a great TM but Minnkota needs to resolve this issue before I'm sold it's the best thing ever. IMO there are very few ideal conditions when fishing, well not in my neck of the woods anyway. Yea I know I should have taken a screen shot to show what looked like a game of pick up sticks on my screen but i didn't. Sorry to be so negative Jason but it just hasn't proved itself to me.

My experience with the I-Pilot Spot Lock is that it will not hold steady for verticle jigging straight down on a brush pile. The boat has to move before the GPS receives input that it has to correct the position. Plus you have to consider the built in government error each GPS has. It's just the nature of the beast that the boat is going to have to move before the I-Pilot starts to correct the position. How far it moves depends on the speed and direction of the wind and current. It's probably impossible for MinnKota to make the motor stay directly on top of a brushpile. The government GPS signal puts in an error and the I-Pilot has to deal with it. That said, the Spot lock is a great feature and I use it often. it works fine for casting to a brushpile, or just holding your boat in position as you work on your tackle or fight a fish etc.

Originally Posted by Shellback

My experience with the I-Pilot Spot Lock is that it will not hold steady for verticle jigging straight down on a brush pile. The boat has to move before the GPS receives input that it has to correct the position. Plus you have to consider the built in government error each GPS has. It's just the nature of the beast that the boat is going to have to move before the I-Pilot starts to correct the position. How far it moves depends on the speed and direction of the wind and current. It's probably impossible for MinnKota to make the motor stay directly on top of a brushpile. The government GPS signal puts in an error and the I-Pilot has to deal with it. That said, the Spot lock is a great feature and I use it often. it works fine for casting to a brushpile, or just holding your boat in position as you work on your tackle or fight a fish etc.

Amen! I call it the pee lock.

Genec and his wife Elaine are visiting with us now. Gene would like to try an experiment, and have anybody else interested to try the same. With your I-Pilot set up on land, whether still mounted on the boat, or a wagon or some sort, engage the Spot Lock function. Then move the I-pilot off the spot you locked onto. At the point you see the I-pilot start to correct for the movement, mark the spot on the ground. Then move it back in the direction turns till it shuts off, then mark that spot. Continue moving in different directions and marking the spot it starts to correct spot, then when it stops correcting.. When finished, try and determine the diameter what your maximum distance the I-Pilot moved before it started correcting. This should give a good indication of how it will hold on a spot for verticle jigging.

It's been my experience that that is does detect when you start moving off and I mean within 1 -2 ' because you see the head moving and stays pointing toward the spot. It's the reaction time that probably needs a little tweaking! It doesn't seem to detect or correct for speed as which you're drifting. I'm not an engineer and don't claim to be one but maybe a control knob where you can adjust the reaction time according to conditions. That's probably wish list item for future versions maybe / hopefully. Maybe somebody who has the newer version can give some input on how the reaction time is. Heck if it works better I would probably upgrade.