Adapting to electric steer from cable steer

[ricky]

Just got the IPilot Terrova....love the spotlock but don't know about the foot pedal operation. Been using the cable steer for decades. I’m 61. Can this old dog learn new tricks? This is my first electric steer. How are you cable steer guys adapting to the foot pedal? When I fish over brush piles I use long poles and fish straight down. With cable steer you get a sense of where the motor is pointing. Don’t believe I will adapt easy (or at all).
How are you guys doing? You use the rocker part or the little buttons on the back of the pedal?

[Cane Pole]

I am an "older dog" and I love elec steering. Hands free or should I say "foot free".

[tsaints1115]

My biggest complaint is , to me, the springs under the rocker plate are too stiff. I end up putting too much pressure into it and end up over steering. Lately I just use the remote.
I can't believe though how noisy it is compared to a cable steer. Sure, it's done with a gearbox but it could be a much quieter gearbox. Nothing like sitting over a fishing spot and having it grind away as it keeps you in place. I would think a hydraulic unit would be the way to go.

["G"]

I like mine....I use the remote most of the time but when I do use the foot pedal control I just use the touch buttons.

[gobbler]

when i crappie fish i just use the remote, but when i am bass fishing or have a rod in my hand i use the foot pedal, it definetly is different than the cable driven ones but with time you get used to it though you do always have to look at the head. i love my terrova for most applications but at times i miss the speed at which i could turn the old cable driven motor and its stealthyness!

[ricky]

I do fish different ways but I fish brush (and stakes) a lot by hovering over them. I hold a rod in each hand with a foot on the TM. I haven't done this yet but can already tell this won't be easy. I was ready to get the IP several times before then a post would pop up about someone that hated the thing because of this. So far I like this thing so much I may have to find another way to fish. To get close to an object, spot lock, then cast to and around is already better.
Thanks for all the responses keep them coming I have learned much from others experiences.

[rnvinc]

I'm still a cable steer guy ...but I have been in the boat with a electric steer TM ...

I would have to operate the TM when he would get up to handle fish and other stuff..

I found that I had to physically look at the indicator on top of the head a split second before I pushed the button to see which way the indicator arrow was pointing ....every time...

Just in the short time I used his...it seemed not that difficult to remember to look at the indicator arrow every time....just different...

I'm not switchin yet... Maybe if I get into crankin or long linin more in the future...(I can definitely see the advantage here) ...

Rickie

[rnvinc]

I'm still a cable steer guy ...but I have been in the boat with a electric steer TM ...

I would have to operate the TM when he would get up to handle fish and other stuff..

I found that I had to physically look at the indicator on top of the head a split second before I pushed the button to see which way the indicator arrow was pointing ....every time...

Just in the short time I used his...it seemed not that difficult to remember to look at the indicator arrow every time....just different...

I'm not switchin yet... Maybe if I get into crankin or long linin more in the future...(I can definitely see the advantage here) ...

Maybe I can mount a Terrova right next to my ForTrex...

Rickie

[ricky]

My biggest complaint is , to me, the springs under the rocker plate are too stiff. I end up putting too much pressure into it and end up over steering. Lately I just use the remote.
I can't believe though how noisy it is compared to a cable steer. Sure, it's done with a gearbox but it could be a much quieter gearbox. Nothing like sitting over a fishing spot and having it grind away as it keeps you in place. I would think a hydraulic unit would be the way to go.

That is true!

[ricky]

I am an "older dog" and I love elec steering. Hands free or should I say "foot free".

Also the older I get the longer it takes to drain the bilge. Spot lock was made for this.