Thread: I pilot trolling motor

i have not been impressed with the "electronic anchor" on the new i pilot trolling motor--what have the rest of you seen that have them--i am trying to figure out if i am doing something wrong--thanks Knappy

some are happy with it and some are not, depending on what you're trying to do such as vertical jig over a BP, most agree it won't hold you tight on the BP, will allow the boat to drift from 10-20' off before it reacts. The spot anchor works off of gps and gps is only accurate up to a point, and its not 5' as advertised. There are several threads on the IP, check 'em out and see what all has been said. I don't vertical jig, I use mine for maintaining the boat in a safe spot while I'm retying or looking for something, I won't have to worry about running aground or hitting something. I longline and the IP works good for longlining imo.

There's no way to "do something wrong" with Spot Lock. It's either off or on.

As jimp advises, its accuracy is no better than the GPS technology that "remembers" where the spot is. Unless I missed something, iPilot's GPS does not use WAAS to improve accuracy, so that means "the spot" has a diameter of about 30'. Product literature says the motor activates when the unit drifts more than 5' from "the spot". If you're drifting fast, you'll be much farther from "the spot" before the boat starts moving forward again. At this point you could be anywhere in a circle with a 50'+ diameter.

Spot Lock has its time and place, and that's not going to include small BPs or windy days. Also, you shouldn't work too close to docks or anything else you can't afford to hit.

Be careful hitting that return to last spot button. Especially if you moving long at 1/2 throttle or more and the "spot" is in behind you.

I am saving my pennies to buy one. I drift fish and jig for perch and stipers and the spot lock will hold me in the area of the school well enough to work I think. Plus retying and old poots like me need to pee everynow and then so I think for what I want it is great. Don't have one yet, still trying to decide if the foot pedal and other stuff on the Terrarova is worth the extra $$$$. Usually when I pinch pennies I wish I had bought the high end unit.
SeaRay

Originally Posted by SeaRay

I am saving my pennies to buy one. I drift fish and jig for perch and stipers and the spot lock will hold me in the area of the school well enough to work I think. Plus retying and old poots like me need to pee everynow and then so I think for what I want it is great. Don't have one yet, still trying to decide if the foot pedal and other stuff on the Terrarova is worth the extra $$$$. Usually when I pinch pennies I wish I had bought the high end unit.
SeaRay

SeaRay;
I have the Terrova and have kept the foot pedal connected as IMO, it is easier for me to control the boat when using the IP. I longline and can just reach over and tap the button on the foot pedal with my foot way easier than fumbling for the remote, flipping it around, finding the right button out of 15 (?). If I want/need to use the anchol lock, then I find the right button on the remote, and do what I gotta do. I use the AP function quite a bit longlining, but the recorded tracs are nice as are all the other features when you go up to the IP. You get it all with a Terrova/IP so you have it if you need it or want to use, so I suggest you eat more beans and cornbread and go terrova.

Originally Posted by SeaRay

I drift fish and jig for perch and stipers and the spot lock will hold me in the area of the school well enough to work I think...still trying to decide if the foot pedal and other stuff on the Terrarova is worth the extra $$$$.

Spot Lock can be very helpful for drift fishing. You can get iP on the PD2, but Terrova is a tougher motor and it supports both the foot control and the handheld. My 24v Terrova has 156 trips under its belt with 0 trips to the repair shop! I only use the foot pedal as an emergency backup if the handheld craps out for some reason.

Heard the new 2012 model has two gps receivers in the head. Thats why the head alone is 100.00 more than last year. Dont know how true this is. Spot lock is definitely a thumbs down for me. Would be awesome if the new model has improved

Newell

I asked MK and they said the only upgade was double the memory capacity. 6 tracks and 6 spot locks and a bigger screen remote.

Originally Posted by newly

Heard the new 2012 model has two gps receivers in the head. Thats why the head alone is 100.00 more than last year. Dont know how true this is. Spot lock is definitely a thumbs down for me. Would be awesome if the new model has improved

Newell

Originally Posted by Knappy

i have not been impressed with the "electronic anchor" on the new i pilot trolling motor--what have the rest of you seen that have them--i am trying to figure out if i am doing something wrong--thanks Knappy

Nope....you aren't doing anything wrong. But it's something you get used to. The IP will keep you in the neighborhood, but the 5' circle they claim is wayyyy off target. So you learn to use it when you are in open water....not in timber or close to docks. I've found that fishing brushpiles with the remote is pretty easy, but I also know guys who can hold a boat so still with the pedal that you would think the boat is on dry land. Keep after it and you will find it a good unit, IMO