new boat- now for the trolling motor

[mmillelacs]

Hi guys. Need a little feedback here. Got a new 1775 pro-v tiller and there is a glaring empty spot where the bow mount trolling motor should go. Problem is, I really don't know what type of bow mount I should have. My pockets are not very deep, but I just got my cabelas club visa with a $10,000 limit. (For Gods sake, don't tell my wife) LOL
Seriously, though, what do I really need? I'm pretty sure with this size boat I should have 24 volt, and i know there are a lot of good trolling motors in my price range, but what about Auto Pilot? Is it really worth the extra bucks? The ads say you just point it and it holds direction. That would be nice if you were trolling a straight line, but most breaklines are not straight are they? Or is there more to this system than that?
And hey, what about that pinpont? I fished with a gentleman this spring on mille lacs and his boat had the 3700? seies pinpoint, with the multiple transducers. We tried trolling the edge of the mud flats, and his unit would often lose contact with the soft face of the muds edge and we would go in circles. Is that common?
Those units are REALLY spendy.
Finally how about that genesis by minnkota? That thing is gigantic, but God, it looks really cool. I like the feature that has a recessed channel for putting a transducer cable right in the shaft of the unit.
Basically I think I could spend about 600 bucks without major fallout from the wife, but I really respect the opinions of yall on walleye central, and if someone convinced me a more expensive unit was the one thing that would take me to the next level in walley world, I might have to go for it. (Ask my wife about GPS
affair 10 years ago that became holy grail) (Had to be first one
on mille lacs lake with GPS-paid 900 dollars for first run of consumer units-now sells for 75 bucks new) But thats another story and I ramble, so if anyone REALLY likes their trolling motor of any kind I would greatly appreciate hearing about it.
God Bless

[BlackSilver]

Go fishing with someone who has a PinPoint boat positioning system. I bet you'll figure out how to increase your $600.00 limit!

I can't imagine not having mine on the boat, and I am *NOT* generally a gadget guy.

Hans

[GARYD]

MINN KOTA AUTOPILOT 65 AP 54" OR 60" SHAFT IS THE MOTOR FOR YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE THE BIG BUCKS FOR THE PINPOINT. I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 19' TRACKER TARGA SE WITH A 150 MERC. AND THAT TROLLING MOTOR KICKS ##### ! EVEN INTO THE STRONGEST WIND I CAN TROLL CRANKS. I HAD AN AUTO PILOT ON MY OLD BOAT FOR 6 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM,WHEN I BOUGHT MY NEW ONE PART OF THE DEAL WAS THE TROLLING MOTOR AT THIER COST ($636)OR I WASN'T GOING TO BUY THE BOAT(THEY DEAL WITH MOTORGUIDE).THE MOTOR TRACKS TRUE BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR CONTOURS IN THE WEED LINE.STILL IT MAKES FOR EASY FISHING.GOOD LUCK !

[Rooster]

I used an autopilot for several years. Bought one the first year they were on the market. I really liked it, even though I mainly river fish. It does not adjust for wind or current, just maintains compass heading it was set on. You can make easy manual adjustments without having to reset the autopilot though, and it is great if you like to fish back in the boat or over the transom, you just bring your pedal with you. I bought a larger boat and did not put an autopilot on it. I often miss not having it. I still have a MinnKota power drive but cut costs maybe I should not have. I have no experience with the other, more advanced MinnKotas, but would recommend the autopilot!

[Eyez]

I would say you want something with a 60 inch shaft, at least 60 pounds of thrust. Brand is not so important I don't think. I had an autopilot on my last boat, and it was completely unnecessary for me. About the only time I use my bowmount was for working shorlines casting, otherwise I run from the back of my tiller boat. It's largely a matter of preference. Pinpoint is a whole different ball game. They are excellent motors The going in circles thing can happen if you're going very slow or you are trying to follow a very minor depth change. They have a tendency to over correct if you're going real slow. I've never run one though, that's just from sitting in the boat for a day while someone else did, so take it for it's worth. If I was to make a recommendation, I would say get a 60+ pound MK with the heavy duty bracket (can't remember what it's called), or a comparable motorguide. Motorguide's support has treated me very well recently, so I'm considering getting one for myself.


Happy shopping

Eyez

[Dodge1]

IMHO, Pinpoint is the best trolling motor currently on the market.

Almost all of the problems concerning tracking are caused by improper calibration. It's critical that you calibrate the straight-ahead function, until you get it EXACTLY right.

I find that my first set of adjustments are always a little off but by reducing the power to 0 and ramping it up again, several times, you'll get it spot on. Normally I do this calibrate, reduce to 0, recalibrate, reduce to 0 routine 3 or 4 times and then it's spot on.

Sounds like a pain but it's well worth spending the 4 or 5 minutes, if you want to avoid going around in circles.

dodge

[Paul H]

I second or third the Pinpoint - finally got one after wishing for 3 years. Had 3 Autopilots and will never have another.

If Cabellas's still has the 7500 - motor only finders they are also a great deal. Also got them to throw in the extension bracket for free.

There IS a learning curve - and if it is a flat with bo good edge or depth difference it won't do much. BUT even without the assisted steering it's a great system - and I mean system you really need a pinpoint finder to go with it.


BTW service is all everyone says - great.

Wish I'd done it years ago..

BTW but it and you get those double Cabella's points :)

[Brian/MN]

Judging from your handle, you're from MN. If you can get to the northeast Metro area, e-mail me and we'll hook up for a Pinpoint demo and some fishing. Any night this week is good, including Sunday.


Brian/MN
#312

[dogfish 1]

Here's my two cents. I was in MSP last week and stopped in at the Motor Clinic (there the guys that fix trolling motors and depthsounders in the midwest) (952)881-0898 I talked to one of the Tech's and he said the new pinpoints were having problems with water leaking inside of them. He recomended a Minn Kota auto pilot model.

I figure these are the guys the fixes the things so they might know something about the units. Hope this helps.

[Eyesrfn]

Steve, I still don't know how you snuck your new boat by your wife. LOL Pinpoint gets my vote, they are a awesome unit.
maybe for a couple of days fishing I won't tell about the new card. tell grandma hi for me.

[dragger]

65# autopilot with a 60" shaft

[Sparky]

I'll chime in for the autopilot also. If like to pull cranks
quietly, it's the way to go. Mine has been humming along for
8 yrs. now. I sent it in once to have the brushes replaced. It still ran good, I read that it's better to do it as a preventive measure than die on a trip. Go with over 60# thrust and at least a 60" shaft. You can pull it up if necessary. Make sure that you have a good on board charger to keep your batteries topped off. It's cheaper than killing them prematurely.

Sparky

[mp3553]

The only recommendation I can give you is get the TM with the MOST lbs of thrust you can afford even if it means sacrificing the autopilot. You will never hear someone complain that they had to much TM thrust! Learned from my past mistake! Yea, autopilot would be nice, but being able to control the boat in the current/wind means more to me...
Just my 2 cents worth.....

[Schrof]

I've got a 1660 pro V and fish rivers quite a bit. Made original mistake by listening to sales rep and undersizing motor power. You need to decide the type of water you mostly spend your time in. If its not strong winds/current, you probably could get by with a 60-64lb thrust. I originally was going to buy Minn Kota's 74lb, but did not have the room on my deck for cables/foot pedal, so I bought a power drive 64 and wish I had more on many days. My two cents "buy as big as you can" a few extra bucks now outweigh a frustrating day on the water.

[Waterfowler]

I'm not gonna pitch one brand or another, just buy as much power as you can. There is nothing worse than not being able to control your boat on the "tough" days. As you know, there are days on the pond when the wind can really beat up a guy. Throw in a some frustration from the motor and you've just ruined a potentially good day on the lake. Good luck choosing!!!

[BlackSilver]

Don't you just love these guys with nothing positive to say about their favorite, but are so quick to repeat second/third hand trash about the one they don't have?

Hans

[espence]

I'm going to have to speak up for AutoPilot here, and, beleive it or not, I am a Pinpoint owner. Their motors themselves are pretty nice and generally work good---however, to get the most out of them, you'll need a PP sonar unit. I have had my unit for just over 3 years now, and have NEVER, not once, had everything working properly on my network. Motor has been in once, graph in twice, and after my fourth transducer, I am giving up on the whole system.

I plan on getting rid of the PP network and replacing with a Lowrance/MK rig very soon. So, if you are still sold on PP, I have a 60" shaft 2700SX (24v) motor and 7520 graph that I will give you a good deal on.

[ex lacs]

thanks everyone for all your great input. I've decide to get the minnkota 65 autopilot with the 60 inch shaft. Again, thanks for all your feed back. PS; Iv'e decide to tell the wife its the cheap one and that it was on sale for $199. If she buys it i'll just hide the cabelas bill for a few months. lol