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I am going to replace my footcontrol TM. I am addicted to pulling cranks and w/ my motor it is a 2 man job. Please give me feedback if Terrova is worth the extra money over the PD V2. Also is the ipilot is necessary or will the auto-pilot be sufficient. I have read some on the ipilot and it seems that it might be overkill. All advice appreciated.
Actually no problem at all unless you get 3 or 4 Striped bass on at the same time. That or If you're going into a pretty strong wind. Just got to keep a close eye on things.
I would like to know about this as well. I tried out a PD V-2 with Co-pilot the other day and I liked everything about it except deploying the motor and stowing the motor.
Terrova with i-pilot is the best money I ever spent. I can set a heading, set my speed, and fish without worrying with driving. If you fish alone a lot, like I do, it is ideal.
Is it sensitive enough to keep you above a particular brush pile? Or works best in the manner you describe above?Quote:
Originally Posted by feelay
I've used the Powerdrive with Co-Pilot and the Terrova with IPilot. Either are the bees knees for pulling cranks. Yes, the Co-pilot is sufficient for pulling cranks as it will do what is most needed while by yourself - keep the boat headed in at least a relative straight line so you can get a fish in or put rods out without spinning or turning so bad as to tangle your lines. That said, the Auto-Pilot is even better because left unattended, the co-pilot will go into a turn due to waves or cross winds, although it's a soft turn if you're basically headed in a straight line.
The only other function I use on the I-pilot is the spot lock to hold me while I do something else like rig up or take down and the Speed control if I want to lock in a GPS speed in particular with gusty winds or pulling accross a wind that is variable. The track feature I'm sure could be nice at times if you had something particular you wanted to follow and go back over. For me, I kind of wander around some so I haven't used it at all.
The killer for me is batteries. With my boat - 18.5' glass with a 175, max I can get is 3 hours at 1.8 mph when I'm pulling with 2 group 31s. I get one more hour at a decreasing speed of down to about 1.3, then I the batts give up on me. I can nurse 'em for a little more using the wind, but it's basically over after 4 hours for me. I'm gonna have to do something for additional juice before crankbaits really get going...just haven't figured out what yet.
In summary, Co-Pilot is fine, I-Pilot is as good as it gets though. Juice is your limit and without 4 batts, you'll never get a full day of pulling cranks with either.
Wannabe...
As long as the wind is dead calm. I'm assuming you're referring to the spot lock feature. It's not good at guaging wind drift, overcorrects too much. It works well enough in less than 10 mph wind to cast slip floats to a brush pile, but not well enough to verticle jig...for me anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by C N
CN, spot lock will keep you in the vicinity of the pile, but not on top of it exactly. You'd still need to make manual corrections. Haven't really tested it for that purpose, but from what I can tell, it wouldn't work good enough for you to fish a small pile. Maybe a large, room sized one though.
Wannabe...
K we were discussing this and wondering TY sirQuote:
Originally Posted by feelay
And me and Feelay didn't even PM to get our stories straight neither.
Back to the original question, Bigger pulls cranks with his Terrova 80 and Co-Pilot remote and has no plans to upgrade to the I-pilot.
Wannabe...
What is the differences between Auto Pilot and Co Pilot?
Tis' what I was afraid of. Thanks, bro. I wanted to hover. I always am wanting something, I know. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Wannabe...
Co pilot is just a wireless remote. Only functions for steer left, right, on/off and speed settings. Plus, I think it only has 10 speed settings.
I-Pilot has all the same functions plus uses GPS for spot lock, track record, spot return, speed control, and course settings. Also, it has 20 speed settings by using 1/2 step increments.
Probalby confused you by using the words Auto Pilot when I meant I-Pilot.
Wannabe...
So what the catalogs call Auto pilot...that is corded and not wireless? Is that correct?
whats one of them I pilots cost ya?
I-pilot and co pilot remotes both have an auto pilot feature.
I-pilot is $399....It's the Terrova that gets ya!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by DonDon
Had a Terrova with Autopilot (I think - now I'm wondering) and now have a Fortrex but if there was one that would stay over a brushpile, I'd have to have it. :)
If you buy one that says auto pilot and do not buy the co pilot or the i pilot accessary....what do you have. I am trying to figure out what auto pilot is.
They all will, you just have to drive them!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by C N
cause I know me, once I want something, I get it. To broke to afford one right now. LOL
wait wait
I can upgrade the Terrova for $399, Feelay? It's just hanging in the basement collecting whatever things in the basement collect. :eek:
Sounds like it's time to sellQuote:
Originally Posted by DonDon
SOMETHING :p
Auto pilot is a magnetic compass steering device in the motor. Point it in a direction, push the AP button, locks the motor on that heading. I pilot is GPS.Quote:
Originally Posted by G-3 Fisherman
Affirmative! Maybe cheaper even! I have seen them as cheap as $369.Quote:
Originally Posted by C N
OK....If I buy one that is just auto pilot......what will it be? corded foot control? corded remote? what?
Well, well, well....... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by feelay
Thanks for the info!
Foot control.Quote:
Originally Posted by G-3 Fisherman
Thanks feelay
Terrova foot pedal sucks, and I hear that the PD pedal sucks worse.
I tried the PD foot pedal....it sucked...the PD V-2 with co pilot...I loved the operation with the remote. But I do not like the way the PD deploys and stows so am leaning towards terrova.
Thanks Guys, I knew I could count on you to help me keep spending my children's grocery money. The reason I asked the question is to help figure out which one to buy for pulling cranks without buying more than I need. It sounds as if the auto-pilt will keep me going straight while I tend to rods/fish etc. The co-pilot will allow me to control the motor and make course adjustments from anywhere in the boat and I-Pilot will do all of the above plus more than I will ever use.
Now what about the PD V2 vs Terrova-- any comments?
Ya'll are faster than I can post. You already answered my next question.
That's what the MAN is for. Heck if I have to drive the trolling motor, too, I could go by myself. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by feelay
If the footpedal is no good then what do you use? CoPilot all of the time? I also want to be able to use it vertical jigging and spider-rigging and I cannot see how I will be able to use the CoPilot handheld remote and still catch fish. I read one review that said that because the footcontrols are electronically controlled that there is a delay in the signal compared to the constant tension of the push/pull type cable system in the traditional footcontrol. What's the answer--have a separate boat and motor(s) for each season?
I have the Terrova with I-pilot. Foot pedal never been hooked up. The remote works great.
The spot lock will hold you in a spot with say 15 feet of accuracy. I tried it several times for holding me over a large stake bed. Does not work for this well in my observation. I spent a lot of time waiting for to correct its position. I could hold much better with the remote in hand. Now spot lock is awesome when you catch a fish have need time to measure and put in live well (Wannabe you can overlook this part) spot lock will hold you close so you can get right back to fishing. Also Spot lock is awesome when you are putting out the trolling poles or trying to hover over a spot with trolling poles.
Advanced auto pilot is great because you can set speed for trolling and direction and forget the trolling motor.
Track play back is great for long line or crank baits but not for slow trolling. The correction is too fast.
Sorry bout that G-3, I confused you with improper use of the terms. Yes, the auto-pilot is a feature like Fillet said, liquid filled course control, that is turned on and off with the foot pedal.
I agree the PD foot pedal was useless. The V2 was better, but I disagree on the Terrova foot pedal. It has left and right steer buttons on it that are fairly easy to use for course corrections while under way, like as in in pulling cranks or spider rigging at steady rates of speed. Now the main steer pedal that is heal to toe steer is kind of crappy, but ueseable....just not great compared to the regular cable steers.
On the PDV2 vs Terrova. The Terrova is superior in most every way - bigger motor and windings, better stow and deploy mechanism, The Terrova has a more sturdy lock in the stowed position and also cuts power to the motor when stored...not sure if the PDV2 does or not. The big kicker for a lot of folks is that with the PDV2 and I-Pilot, you can't use the foot pedal and remote at the same time. You can with the Terrova.
Wannabe...
I single pole most of the time. I hold the remote in my left hand and pole in right. You will be surprised how comfortable it is when you get used to it and i never look at the remote and it is one hand operation..
Warning: I hated mine the first time or two I used it for hand pole fishing. Now I love it.
Lacy, from what limited single poling I've done with mine, it works fine with the hand held remote - either co-pilot or I-pilot. Basically, you steer in your direction, hit the on button, which comes on to the speed setting you've already set seperately, motor in and hit the off button. Works pretty slick really. The only issue with it to me is if you're fishing to the left or right of the boat out of the line of sight of the head. When you hit the on button, you sometimes want it to just nudge you in the right direction when your'e in close. To do that, you have to look at the head and steer in the right direction, then hit the on button and that takes your eyes off your line or the structure you're in close too.
The slickest thing is that Feelay fished with me and brought his remote with him. You hit a button and it' learns your motor. Then we both had fully functional remotes. That way when he caught a fish, I could run the motor and keep the boat in position for him to come back and catch another fish. You'd think it would have worked so that I'd catch one and he'd run the boat, but it really only seemed to work the other way that day. :)
Wannabe...
I am on my 3rd PD in the last 14 yrs had one with auto pilot and it was not worth it dont have a prob with foot pedal , just gotta learn how to use.Dont have a prob. catchin a few fish now and then either. Its what suits you needs.