Thread: Terrova won't hold course

Originally Posted by deltarat

When I set my Terrova on a course it will not hold it. The head will move like it is working but it veers of course. What could be the problem?

Well I would like to understand for sure what you are describing when you say "course". Moving the boat to a specific place or just a direction?

From reading some of the replies to this thread it makes a difference.

If you are trying to go from point A-B the GPS navigation is what you would use(N with circle), the trolling motor head is going to turn in the direction it takes to keep you on that line.

If you are simply wanting to travel on a azimuth of ??? use the one without the circle. However if the wind is pushing from the side it could very well run you aground, as it is not compensating for your path.

Another problem is weather, clouds can limit the GPS ability to get a good lock. Also the GPS accuracy of most trolling unit's that I have heard about is 15'. There is no way I can fish a dock using spot lock, boat gets to far out of position before GPS realizes it then over corrects bringing it back to point.
Supposedly the new "Ultrex" has a GPS capability than what is out there now.


FWIW
Mildot

Originally Posted by "G"

I never use the N with the circle around it.....i want to go straight not zig zag so i use the N without the circle.....works great.....been doing this for six years now.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk 2

I guess we are in for a discussion.

The N with the circle is "suppose" to put you on a azimuth from where you are and what it is pointing at when you punch the button. It will try to correct movement caused by outside sources such as wind.

The N without the circle just sets a "direction", not a specified point, if you were heading north a west wind could (theoretically) blow you 500 miles off course to the east while maintaining the same azimuth.

You are experiencing the same problem I had with my first unit, the GPS is bad.

Once mine was replaced, the problem became acceptable.

The GPS sensitivity in these units is sub par. If you look at the little diagram about how close spot lock will hold you, it's a farce.

They are not going to keep you dead on a track, a dock, structure better than a fifteen foot average in my humble opinion.

FWIW