Gator
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Post by Gator on Apr 10, 2015 13:53:33 GMT -5
Well then, I have something to ponder. Happy this popped up. Not happy you are having trouble Stripedyam. I have not had any issues with my current set up so I may just keep what I have. And my cash
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 14:30:27 GMT -5
Why???!!!! Name me a good reason - just curious? BentRod, I take it that you mean why switch to ipilot and not a good reason for yam to share his results. I am currently using the co-pilot and thought that the iPilot would be easier. Mostly fish by myself(don't have any friends) and with the iPilot I thought it might be easier. I was not aware you had copilot. I would not upgrade from that to IPilot. However, I thought IPilot was the only thing available. I disagree that the anchor lock is not good. It works awesome for me even in the Bay in choppy seas. And the North heading is great as well. The speed control is a bit wonky as Brian says but does pretty good in still water for me. I don't use the track features or anything else. I once had a copilot and it was almost as good as the ipilot in my opinion. |
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Gator
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Posts: 1,534
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Post by Gator on Apr 10, 2015 14:42:59 GMT -5
Looks like I will save my money and stay with the copilot.
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Post by striperjohn on Apr 10, 2015 15:35:56 GMT -5
If you have remote distance issues with your Copilot you can take the casing off-2 screws and attach an extension to the antenna inside. I added a 1 foot coil and extended my range about 8 feet all I needed to operate from the back of my boat when the remote battery gets low.
No idea what the ipilot looks like but it must have an antenna in the housing somewhere.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 10, 2015 15:58:13 GMT -5
Looks like I will save my money and stay with the copilot. Hmm, shoulda posted my I-pilot for sale before I got that off my chest  .  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 17:15:44 GMT -5
Now I'm confused... Does copilot have anchor lock? I can't live without anchor lock!
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 10, 2015 17:27:07 GMT -5
No, co-pilot doesn't have anchor lock. Count your blessings that you're happy with it! I don't dare use it unless I'm in the middle of the lake, otherwise it will crash me into something. I have tried to use it to "hover" and drop lines into trees, but it wanders around so much that it tangles my lines with each other and the trees.
Co-pilot does have a compass based autopilot, which is the only feature on my i-pilot that performs acceptably for me. So I should have saved some dough and stayed with a co-pilot trolling motor.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 18:04:47 GMT -5
No, co-pilot doesn't have anchor lock. Count your blessings that you're happy with it! I don't dare use it unless I'm in the middle of the lake, otherwise it will crash me into something. I have tried to use it to "hover" and drop lines into trees, but it wanders around so much that it tangles my lines with each other and the trees. Co-pilot does have a compass based autopilot, which is the only feature on my i-pilot that performs acceptably for me. So I should have saved some dough and stayed with a co-pilot trolling motor. Okay.. That's right.. I bought Ipilot for anchor lock for croaker fishing. Beats the hell out of an anchor if you want to move around. I have had two units now with anchor lock. And I can't tell you how many useful things it has provided for both fishing and pleasure boating. I have learned to point into the wind and wait until you hit 0 mph before hitting the lock. After that... The deviation is very minimal regardless of conditions. I just don't understand why it isn't working for you. Trust me, I use it every outing for something. At night when your hauling in your bait alone... No worries.. Anchor lock! Find a school stacked up.. Anchor lock. Wanna go swimming.. Anchor lock. Need to stop and fix some stuff and don't want to bring in your spread... Anchor lock. I can go on for hours. Gator.. Forgive me for making your decision tough again but anchor lock rocks! My whole family agrees as well... Wife included... In fact she just stated that our son Afton Fisher was conceived on Lake Hiawassee using anchor lock! I would spend 400 bucks on that feature alone! |
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Post by mwardncsu on Apr 10, 2015 23:15:23 GMT -5
AnchorLock works best when there is some current or wind and the boat is pointed into the current/wind.
The issue is when not, and the boat moves off position, the trolling motor goes back to the "spot" but the TM only knows about the location of the TM itself - not the back of the boat, etc. So if wind pushed you sideways or whatever it will make a beeline back to the spot a likely resulting in spinning you around in the process.
A but if current and the overall direction is held more steady.
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Post by Happy Camper on Apr 11, 2015 6:37:10 GMT -5
When I changed boats in 2011 I bought the powerdrive with ipilot add on thinking that if I had problems with the ipilot I could just plug in foot pedal,but learned you have remove cover and unplug 2 wires and plug them into the powerdrive wireing not a big deal,could save a trip.I use anchor lock marking schools of fish in summer,as I don't have maping to waypoint them(still running my trusty x17 lowrance)markem hit anchorlock then turn it off,put down trolling motor if its not already,then hit return to anchorlock and start putting down rods it will take you back to the school without even looking.My biggest beef with it is that if you get blown off them it runs up to 10 to get back to the spot also tried to use it catch bait deep in wind, and it nearly threw me off the front deck a couple times.I do like the rabbit button to jump over trees fishing downrods.Have never really used the record a track.The north feature Yam speaks of is just autopilot.
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Post by striperjohn on Apr 11, 2015 6:45:10 GMT -5
MWard, that's the main issue I have with the Ipilot and all TM tracker devices they have no means of ascertaining boat alignment. I talked to a Minn Kota guy and asked him if they considered having a device located in the back of the boat that would stay in contact with the front GPS/compass thus allowing proper bearing/alignment issues. The answer I got was "that's a great idea". DUH.
I followed a guy dragging bait out of Beaverdam a while back who was zigzagging back and forth like a "drunk chasing a snake". He said he was following his track from the day before but the damned tracker kept zigging when it needed to zag. LOL.
I'm thinking if both Lowrance devices that had and internal compass/gps(all HDS units do) could talk from the front DF to the back DF to ensure boat alignment/bearing. In any situation where you have 2 units synced on the Ethernet how hard could it be? All you'd have to do is have e.g.: HDS10 main console unit signal compass headings to the front unit ensuring they are synced and running a straight bearing that signal in turn is sent to TM control.
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Post by striperjohn on Apr 13, 2015 5:23:22 GMT -5
No, co-pilot doesn't have anchor lock. Count your blessings that you're happy with it! I don't dare use it unless I'm in the middle of the lake, otherwise it will crash me into something. I have tried to use it to "hover" and drop lines into trees, but it wanders around so much that it tangles my lines with each other and the trees. Co-pilot does have a compass based autopilot, which is the only feature on my i-pilot that performs acceptably for me. So I should have saved some dough and stayed with a co-pilot trolling motor. Any of you folks actually use the autopilot? I'm still trying to figure out how it keeps from zigzagging the boat all over the path if it has no back to front alignment sensor? I'd love to use it for putting bait out, with two guys and the wind it's all I can do to control the boat much less mess with Planer boards and keep the boat head correct. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Apr 13, 2015 6:23:47 GMT -5
Autopilot just keeps the TM head pointed on the heading you set it. The "older" Copilot version used a magnetic compass where the iPilot uses a solid state one.
I use AP all the time. It's on constantly and works well. If I want to go "that way" I point the TM that way and it does its thing - bringing itself out of a turn as needed, etc.
On thing to always make sure when pulling with your TM - ipilot, copilot or anything - make sure your outboard is straight and trimmed down so that you have a "rudder" - if it's turned you'll veere off course
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 13, 2015 7:10:34 GMT -5
Autopilot just keeps the TM head pointed on the heading you set it. The "older" Copilot version used a magnetic compass where the iPilot uses a solid state one. I use AP all the time. It's on constantly and works well. If I want to go "that way" I point the TM that way and it does its thing - bringing itself out of a turn as needed, etc. On thing to always make sure when pulling with your TM - ipilot, copilot or anything - make sure your outboard is straight and trimmed down so that you have a "rudder" - if it's turned you'll veere off course I just want to note that iPilot actually has 2 autopilot modes, a GPS mode and a compass mode (like the copilot). When you push the autopilot button, you get the GPS mode (N with a circle around it). If you push and hold the autopilot button for 2 seconds, you get the compass autopilot (N without a circle). This is the only feature of the i-pilot that works well for me and it is worth it's weight in gold. When I accidently have it turned off, I end up going in circles if I don't pay attention  I use the GPS version since it's easier to activate, but sometimes go to the compass version when heavy wind overcomes the GPS version. The compass version will only hold heading but not course, so you'll get blown off course but still make progress. The GPS version can get blown off course and end up trying to crab sideways back onto course. If cruise control worked, this wouldn't be an issue since the motor would just power up to compensate for the wind... But I always end up going 2.5mph if I turn on cruise control. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 7:59:29 GMT -5
Autopilot just keeps the TM head pointed on the heading you set it. The "older" Copilot version used a magnetic compass where the iPilot uses a solid state one. I use AP all the time. It's on constantly and works well. If I want to go "that way" I point the TM that way and it does its thing - bringing itself out of a turn as needed, etc. On thing to always make sure when pulling with your TM - ipilot, copilot or anything - make sure your outboard is straight and trimmed down so that you have a "rudder" - if it's turned you'll veere off course Very good point. You can also use your steering wheel to fine tune your course. I find it more precise than the left right of the remote. |
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I use the GPS version since it's easier to activate, but sometimes go to the compass version when heavy wind overcomes the GPS version.