I-Pilot Information

I read some interesting information on the I-Pilot (from a friend of mine) and wanted to make sure I passed it on to others.

I utilize my trolling motor a lot. In the Detroit river I am constantly adjusting in order to remain vertical. I've tried the navigation feature however I found that the boat always wanted to point in the direction I set it instead of into the wind like I wanted it.

What I didn't know is that there is actually TWO different navigation settings. When you hit the button one time, it puts the "N" with a circle around it on your display of your remote. This is specifically used for GPS navigation. In other words, you point it towards and object (a fixed point) and the bow will stay pointed directly towards that no matter what the wind or waves do to you. In the river, you are just trying to keep the bow into the wind and the current to keep your jigs vertical. This doesn't work well as the wind pushes you one way while the water moves another.

IF you hold the navigation button down on your remote for a few seconds, it will BEEP. The circle around the "N" will go away. This is designed for COMPASS navigation. Now instead of pointing at a fixes object on shore (as an example) it will point directly at a compass heading (say 120 degrees). So, as the wind blows you across a lake, your boat will no longer point at a fixed object and rotate the position of your boat in relation to the wind. Instead it will point at 120 degrees. If the wind is coming from 240 degrees, it will ensure you boat points in the direction you want it instead of a fixed position.

Maybe others knew this however they didn't know what the difference was. I hope this helps someone. Since I have learned this, I use this feature a ton.

The best explanation I can give is this: You are on the north side of the lake, I am on the south. A lighthouse is to the east. The GPS position of that lighthouse will always be the same. If the wind is out of 120 degrees. The boat at the north side of the lake and the boat at the south will both point their compass heading exactly the same. The difference being is that the fixed position on shore for the boat to the north might be 700 yards different than the boat to the south. If we were both trying to hit the same object, GPS navigation would be best, if we are both trying to stay into the wind, a compass heading would be best.