Thread: Terrova I Pilot for 16ft Bass Tracker

If you are not going to use it to pull cranks the 55 would be good. I have a 18 WarEagle and run a 55 and perfectly happy with it. Not much help on spot lock because I don't fish brush piles. I will say mine holds me close enough when I do use it. Seems it does better if you have just a little breeze so it can pull straight into it. This is just my opinion for what it is worth, a lot of people have unrealistic expectations of what spot lock should do for them and some of the advertising dosnt help. It's controlled by GPS and it has to move off the spot and GPS has to get a new fix before it can adjust. It has a lot of other features that make it a dream for me to use spider rigging, long lining or pulling cranks. If you get Terrova and Ipilot the good thing is if spot lock dosnt work for you, you can attach foot pedal and use just like a cable steer.

I would go with the 24V motor. That is what I have on mine.

The spot lock is very useful for holding the boat in a relative position while you are doing something else.....and the follow a recorded track feature is VERY nice.....even if you don't get the link.
As far as holding over a brush pile....I would say it depends. If you are dropping jigs down into the brush, you won't like it. I often fish just over the top of a brush pile and find it very useful then....it is good to move around a little on the pile anyway.
If you want to hold the boat just away from the brush pile and slip float minnows over the top...it is great.

It is not fool proof, and can get itself confused on occasion, but I REALLY like it.

I have the 55 lb. thrust I pilot on a Tracker 175 TXW currently, had the same unit on my previous boat - a Tracker 170 (16.5 '). Bought the unit when they fish came out over 3 1/2 years ago. Works just fine pulling crank baits, holding on a spot with spot lock, etc.

I've got a 55# Terrova w/ IP on my PT175, and like it a lot. If you fish brush piles a lot, then the spot lock will not hold you in one spot like 2 anchors would. You will drift off and then it will pull you back to the spot, not the exact same spot and maybe/maybe not in the same position relative to the brush pile. I use the spot lock to keep me off the bank or whatever when I want to get a drink, re-tie my rods, change lures, etc;. I don't worry about anything then, but you do have to make sure you don't accidently turn the spot lock off and start drifting, etc.

55# will be plenty for your boat, you could run 2 batteries parallel if you have room in the boat for more time on the water.

I agree with jimp.....seems like we have nearly the same boats and TM. I use two batteries on mine, but don't really feel like it was necessary to do so. Spot lock will allow the boat to drift approx 20' and then may run you 20' past as it tries to relocate, so don't count on it for bp's

I have a 17 1/2 bass tracker and 55 lb mi5 motor guide,i only fish bp and shoot docks,always been a cable man,well tm does good on bp but you do need a little breeze,it moves a little but comes back to it slow,not bad but nothing will stay on bp like a experience cable man,i just turn 70 and want more time resting while fishing and now while tying on a bait wife can still fish bp.under a bridge it will lose singal once in a while.still holding on to my maxx 70 didgal cable for a while to give it more test,had it 6 months but been sick some so have not been as much as i like ,maybe 15 times

I have the 55 on a Lund 1650 XL Sport and it works great. The spot lock holds as good as one anchor but will not hold position like two anchors (bow and stern) would.

The tracks, cruise control and directional systems are awesome.

i haven't used my anchor in over 3 years.

I also have the Terrova I-pilot 12 volt on my 16.5 Tracker and it has more than handled all my needs. Never have run out of power or felt I did not have enough trust. At power setting 4 or 5 it will pull me about 1.2 to 1.5 which is a good trolling speed.
I am still working on the spot lock over brush piles. Last time I was out I would pull into the breeze up to just maybe 5 ft past brush pile and set the lock. It held me within about 10 feet of that setting which was good enough to fish a jig all around the brush.
I like it if you are fishing a river bank and want to work a 20 to 30 ft area you can set the lock about at the top end of the stretch you want to fish and with the current it will gently move you back and forth up and down that area. Good for fly fishing an edge or shore line. Also good if you have to re-rig or pee too, just don't hit the rabbit button while hanging over the edge.