Any disadvantage to autopilot?

[LaneLunder]

Hello anglers

Two years ago I bought a bow mount for my 16ft Angler. I have a 24 volt system which I like a lot because of capacity. However I bought a Power Drive with cable steering. I then used a buddys boat with an autopilot with the 18ft cable. I loved it. Any good reasons not to take it in the shorts on my old unit and buy an auto-pilot? With a smaller boat that I have, it just made it so much easier for boat control, especially verrtical jigging. Thanks for the info. and is anyone interested in a 2 year old 50 pnd thrust Minn Kota power drive 24 volt bow mount?
Lane

[AquaMan]

Cable drives are nice for bass, crappie, etc when you are casting in tight cover from the bow and need quick turns and navigation. Anything else, go with the autopilot. You already saw the advantages.

Hands(feet) free to roam while under power. Plus the AP gives you more room up front. The cable and foot peddle on the cable steer take up a lot of room. IMHO.


AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just turning cash into water!

[Reels]

I agree, with one exception, and I too am struggling with it. My auto pilot seems to go out at the worst time. Dont get me wrong, I have owned four so far and love them, but it seems that after two to three years, things start going wrong. Boards mostly in the AP unit. Not hard to fix, but hard to get parts if you up in God's country.

So, the dilema is, do I give up that convienance for reliability? Im on the edge of ordering a Maxxum but I hate the thought of always having to make corrections after being spoiled for all of these years.

Anyone else switch from AP to Maxxum? Your thoughts?

<{{}}><

[Box]

Amen Reels!

I love our AP 824, but the darn AP part is broke once again... It works with manual control just fine, but had it in two or three times to get AP fixed, and we just gave up.

Our last AP 812 worked great for years.

I sent a note to MK to see if there is an updated fix, or if it would just break again after we paid to get it fixed. I spose they will say it will be fixed, and should stay fixed... I just hate to shell out another $120 only to have it quit workig again. Oh well, I still do love it - just wish it would stay working for us!:)

-Box

[RTD]

I love my autopilot and will continue to use one but I have experienced a couple annoying traits. One is that transmitting at 25W on a VHF radio makes the head turn on its owwn. Also if my trolling batteries get weak the head will ocassionally start turning on its own. When it is working correctly it is great because it takes about 75% of the work out of running a trolling motor.

[Reels]

Ive seen them do some wacky things, but turn when transmitting? Wow, thats a new one.

<{{}}><

[ggg]

I've been running APs for 10 years and have yet to find a disadvantage. Last spring I went to the Genesis AP. Wow, What
a unit! Good fishing.

[Sparky]

My 824AP is close to tenyears old. I bought it the year I bought the boat, 1992. It's still humming along. It spoiled me so bad that I wouldn't buy a kicker until I found an autopilot for it that would do the same. I finally located the TR-1 and then I bought a kicker. If I think of any disadvantages to the AP I'll let you know.

[Silentsixty]

No problems in 3 yrs with 12 volt AP, just switched to 24. Wouldn't be without one.

The head spins on them when the battery gets low. It's probably time to go home anyway but you can turn the AP off to squeak out a little more time. When really low, you kill the speed, rotate head, then turn speed back on.

[Airwave(OH)]

Only disadvantage I've seen is when you get in a habit of not looking forward when you should be. One more would be once you get use to it you won't know how do fish without it.