Review of my new iPilot

**Hitek** · 03-21-2012, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Stymie

Ipilot is sweet, I love mine, but it is not without limitations.

Spotlock doesn't keep you locked to the spot. After you've drifted a ways, it will race back to the spot and overshoot the position. Not worth a darn if you are trying to sit on a spot as the lines will be near horizontal as you race back to position. I use mine mostly to hold steady as I retie jigs while pushing.

Auto pilot zigs and zags when you are pushing or anything at slower speeds and some wind. I haven't noticed it when pulling or at slgihtly faster speeds.

I still love using it, but it doesn't do everything that I envisioned that it would. But still much better than what I had before.

Spot lock does not work that well for me. There are 2 autopilot settings, one works better than the other when trolling at slower speeds and higher winds. Press the autopilot button and hold it down until the N appears without the circle around it. This makes it the standard autopilot instead of the point to point autopilot.

**CarolinaJim** · 03-21-2012, 01:18 PM

A question to those that have jerking the boat around issues. Do you have 12 or 24 volt and what size boat is it on? I debated a lot on 12 or 24 for my 15.5' boat and eventually called MK. MK tech felt I would get jerking motion with 24 volt system on my boat, so I went with 12 V. My 1 year fishing with it has been the best year of fishing yet. The more consistent the wind, current, the less movement I get on spot lock and I often get 5' or better hold.

My edit, I always get bow into dominant force before spot locking if I need best hold results. Eventually my boat will end up that way if I do not start that way.

**fishinhunter** · 03-21-2012, 03:22 PM

I've got a 24 volt system and a light boat, I don't experience any jerkiness. In higher winds you do get some drift, but the unit provides a smooth increase in power until it gets back where it needs to be. I've watched it as I've drifted back...it will start on power level "1" and then increase it as necessary to get back to the spot. This is FAR superior to my old method where i had to fight it the whole time. I can tell when I'm drifting off my spot and I simply adjust my casts as necessary.

All systems have weaknesses...but this thing works like a champ for me. It is far and away better than anything else I've used. I don't ever want to own a unit that doesn't have these features.

**Stymie** · 03-22-2012, 05:49 AM

I have a 18 foot aluminum bass boat. I have a 24 volt 80# terrova. I sometimes use the advanced auto pilot and sometimes the auto pilot when pushing. I usually start with advanced and if I get too much zig zagging, I will switch to auto pilot.

I always try to place bow into wind/current/dominant force before engaging spot lock. It does steadily increase and eventually goes too fast getting me back to my spot.

I got the 80# thrust for pulling cranks. It does this job well.

**Corker** · 03-22-2012, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by CarolinaJim

Do you have 12 or 24 volt and what size boat is it on?

24v, 80# on 16' full V.

Thread: Review of my new iPilot

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