Has anyone had an issue with their I-pilot not holding a straight course. I was using it to troll in 1.5 mph in around 10-15 mph winds and the stearing was very irractic, ie, trying to correct itself frequently. Any ideas what I could do to fix the issue or is this normal> Thanks guys for the help.

I'm finding the same thing happening. I try to troll harnesses with the waves at 1.3... and when the boat is pushed faster than what the ipilot is set for, the prop shuts off, and then the boat starts to turn sideways as if in a drift.

I have to use the big motor as a rudder to keep her straight, but that gets difficult when trying to reel in fish, set lines, etc.

I have rigged up a small drift sock to use out the back to keep the boat straight, to see if that helps on windy days.

I'm curious to see some replies too, because I don't remember ever having this difficulty with the ipilot in past years....maybe it's an easy fix?

For the record, I use the N (compass) and not the N with the circle around it (GPS) when trolling....if that matters.

Juls

Been using mine for over a year and never had a problem. I do have to kick up the speed if it gets windy so it will counter the boat drift, but I think that's normal with any motor.

I get the same problem with AP......seems to drift up to 90 deg off designated direction, then corrects to same. I can deal with it on a lake as this gives a nice S curve troll.....but is no fun on a river, close to shore or in a crowded boat area. I use the GPS AP. This is a new 2nd gen I pilot.

Be sure you're not using the advanced auto pilot. This will do what you are saying. It kinda draws a straight line when you set it and if you drift off it will turn and get you back on the original line. Regular auto pilot will just keep the boat in the general heading regardless of drift.

Thats what im trying to do is pull harnesses. I didn't know there was a different N on the remote.

Hold the N button down a few seconds and it will switch to the N without the circle. You get the magnetic based autopilit that way instead of GPS based.

Hold the N button down a few seconds and it will switch to the N without the circle. You get the magnetic based autopilit that way instead of GPS based.

Thats the only way mine works, I think the gps based autopilot on mine is usually 4-5 beers down.

Been using mine for over a year and never had a problem. I do have to kick up the speed if it gets windy so it will counter the boat drift, but I think that's normal with any motor.

But, if you kick up the speed, how do you keep the speed down low enough to run crawler harnesses?

I do not have this problem when pulling cranks, because I am usually faster than the waves can push me.

Juls

I have hit the 'ole jackrabbit button when it starts veering off to see how long it takes to correct at max speed....pretty quick, and.....surprising the number of fish one finds at the end of the line during those maneuvers.

But, if you kick up the speed, how do you keep the speed down low enough to run crawler harnesses?

I do not have this problem when pulling cranks, because I am usually faster than the waves can push me.

Juls

Hi Juls,

I usually just plan my route so I'm heading into the wind as much as possible.

But, if you kick up the speed, how do you keep the speed down low enough to run crawler harnesses?

I do not have this problem when pulling cranks, because I am usually faster than the waves can push me.

Juls

Like someone else posted, I try and run into the wind as much as possible. If I can't and the wind is really humming, then I switch to a drift pattern when going with the wind and running the i-P when going into it.

Like someone else posted, I try and run into the wind as much as possible. If I can't and the wind is really humming, then I switch to a drift pattern when going with the wind and running the i-P when going into it.


I don't troll into the wind, unless it's absolutely the only way the fish will bite, which usually isn't the case, so your scenario doesn't work for me. I have a system that works for me, but I was just wondering what others did in case I was missing something that might work better.

Juls

My buddy, his son and I were fishing out of his Ranger 681T a few weeks ago on Green Bay trolling harness with the I-Pilot with the wind and he just put the 60hp Mercury is reverse so the boat would not exceed the speed set on the Terrova as the wind / waves were pushing us which would not allow the Terrova to turn off the prop. In my situation on my 619 I would run my kicker in reverse.

I'm finding the same thing happening. I try to troll harnesses with the waves at 1.3... and when the boat is pushed faster than what the ipilot is set for, the prop shuts off, and then the boat starts to turn sideways as if in a drift.



Juls

Yep... That's about the only thing I don't like, 'tho.

Was on Erie yesterday trolling harnesses and noticed the same thing when in advanced auto pilot.Was in a little cross wind and the back end was getting blown sideways. I found it much better to just point trolling motor and just use the mph auto pilot and use my main unpowered to help with course correction. Still get pushed a little sideways off course but stayed at correct speed and lines were straight.

I suppose the down wind options are.

1) Drift sock with Terrova (LOL)
2) Drift instead of troll
3) Use Plugs downwind/Spinners upwind

If the wind is pushing you nearly as fast as you want to go, or is surging you faster than you want to go you need try one of two things.

1) Put drift socks out to slow the boat so that the cruise control does not turn the prop off

Or

2) Instead of using cruise control just set the motor on constant on about 2 or 2.5. that way the prop does not stop turning so when the AP turns the head to make a course correction the prop thrust will slowly turn the boat.

I think we should all let Minkota know that they need to allow AP and cruise control to work independently so if AP says we need to correct to the left the head turns and prop turns on to give thrust regardless of forward speed. Still have to say this is the BEST TM on the market for a lot of applications.:thumbsup:

If the wind is pushing you nearly as fast as you want to go, or is surging you faster than you want to go you need try one of two things.

1) Put drift socks out to slow the boat so that the cruise control does not turn the prop off

Or

2) Instead of using cruise control just set the motor on constant on about 2 or 2.5. that way the prop does not stop turning so when the AP turns the head to make a course correction the prop thrust will slowly turn the boat.

I think we should all let Minkota know that they need to allow AP and cruise control to work independently so if AP says we need to correct to the left the head turns and prop turns on to give thrust regardless of forward speed. Still have to say this is the BEST TM on the market for a lot of applications.:thumbsup:


Agreed, autopilot needs to over-ride Cruise Control. That is not happening under current product. Cruise Control is overriding the auto pilot auto pilot and simply drifting once speed is over CC setting.

This is what i do to help keep the stern planted throw the 9.9 in reverse turn the regular ap on and no cruise.Theres your drift sock it works awesome you can go slow enough for spinners and the boat doesn't he haw.just bump your speed up little more with the kicker in reverse or the terrova to turn you usually just the kicker in reverse is enough to keep the stern.I found this is the best way for me i hate screwing around with socks.Works for me.

This is what i do to help keep the stern planted throw the 9.9 in reverse turn the regular ap on and no cruise.Theres your drift sock it works awesome you can go slow enough for spinners and the boat doesn't he haw.just bump your speed up little more with the kicker in reverse or the terrova to turn you usually just the kicker in reverse is enough to keep the stern.I found this is the best way for me i hate screwing around with socks.Works for me.

Yeah, that would all be good if I had a kicker on this boat. My buyer didn't want one, and I'm not about to use the 300 on idle in reverse for 6 hours.

I've rigged up the drift sock specific to this problem, and will try that next. (Not sure why some people find using a drift sock in conjunction with the Terrova funny?)

I'll let you know how that works out for me.....won't be any wind here till next week though. :thumbsup:

Juls