The skinny on pin point

[Rick]

Someone wanted me to ask around about a pin point system for their boat such as the good and bad. Sound like they are nice but they arent giving them away either. Any help would be great.
Thanks

[Mike_Jensen]

Rick
What are you asking? Are they worth the price? Well that is something everyone has to answer for themselves. For me YES.
Mike

[Rick]

supposed to ask to good points as well as the bad if there are any.

[Mac]

I don't have a lot of time on mine, but no complaints yet. If spring ever comes, I can let you know because as of now, providing radiant heat for the fisherman is not one of the options.

[Hans]

There have been a lot of discussions here about the PinPoint products.

You can view the remarks by clicking the "search" Icon above below , then type in Pinpoint, select "all boards" and "last 3 months".

I bought a system in January, and couldn't wait to try it out, so spent a week on Lake Texoma north of Dallas. Absolutely love the system, and can't imagine being without it.

You should also know that I am normally a cheap SOB, and hate "gadgets" that overpromise and underdeliver. I think the system is worth every penny I spent on it.

Hans
--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[Doc_wi]

I guess for me besides the really comfortable foot pedal( I have a very arthritic hip and the ease of use makes a difference ), it's the fact that the features that the motor provides makes me a better fisherman when I am in waters away from home. I think that it's worth the money.
GO PINPOINT!
Doc

[JW]

If you fish much current and are used to an auto pilot you won't find much use for it. I have used an auto pilot for 5 years to hold my bow upstream while slipping back downstream and jigging or blading. The pinpoint is not practical for this. I also used the autopilot to conteract wind. You can set a course with the autopilot to control the boats position and maitain a constant attitude with an autopilot. So far the pinpoint has been useless in these situations. I also have tried depth track while following a contour downstream. This feature sucks in rivers. Any small undulation in the bottom and the boat turns to the right or the left instead of skipping over and continuing down the major brakeline. So far the only time I use it effectively is in dead calm water or by manually controlling the coarse.
I keep hoping it will improve as I become more experienced. I only have about 50 hours on the water with it now. I'm thinking about mounting an autopilot right beside it. Then if pinpoint ever gets an autopiot capability I'll sell the autopilot.
If you fish rivers, think twice. Jeff

[N.D.]

You know, you are the first post I have seen that is NOT satisfied with a Pinpoint...There have been dozens of postings from happy users.
Slipping current is easy if you take the time and learn how..It took me a while....and , I'm still learning new ways to use the system after three years!
Have patience and you will succeed.

[JW]

I realize the potential within the system. I had read several of the posts prior to paying $3000 for a full blown system. My only point is that if you use it in big river current the tracking features are more trouble than there worth. If I have to wait 3 years to learn how to use the system then something is wrong. I had my autopilot mastered in 3 days. If you wouldn't mind elaborating, I would like to here detailed explanation of how to use a pinpoint in river current. So far, other than manual control, I'm clueless!

[N.D.]

Yes, JW, I am still learning new ways to use my Pinpoint after three years..
It's not just the different tracking modes, but the aditional transducers that are a benefit.
For instance,try drifting a current sideways with your boat. May need help from a drift sock.Point motor straight ahead with no forward speed.
Select the center and center right transducers, and as you drift ,the center right transducer is a forward looking .I can actually see the fish before I get on top of them and do my song and dance..
This method does not work in every situation, but have used it many times..You asked for an application,here's one.Has worked on Detroit and St.Mary's rivers in Michigan.
I don't use it on deep water , but in clear and shallow depth,I feel, that boat shy fish can be caught.I use a 7.5 ft rod to reach over to the motor area..
Yes, I am a slow learner too.
Andy

[Pawalleye]

Ive been with some of the pro's in there boat. And am not totally satisfied with the pinpoints use. They seem to always have trouble with them. Had a good friend of mine who is a pro. loose out on the final day because of his pinpoint. I am a firm believer yet in the hand operated bow mount. Never had a problem in 6 years and I run a boat over a 100 days a year. When they get them down pat I probley will invest in one. I like some of my equipment trouble free.

[Chris K]

Well from my first three days of putzing around on the water with my Pinpoint positioning motor and graphs, I can say I am very impressed and I have had no problem learning how to control the unit and it's functions. The menu's are simple and I creek tracked and depth tracked some moderate current and it was awesome! I was depth tracking out on the lake and it was just like in the video I have seen. The boat went left, right and every which way to move along the depth I wanted it to track. In manual mode following a break was easy and I really liked the feel of the pedal, and being able to adjust how fast the motor moves in coordination with it. Now maybe the sonars were easy to use because I am young and stuff like that is second nature to us kids, but I preferd it to the Lowrance I ran last year. For me it was a good investment, but you also must be good at controlling the motor manually. Boat control is key in many situations and don't expect the motor to always do what is best. Learning how to manually move the boat with precision is needed in some instances. It was nice to go is straight lines when trolling flats, but drifting along breaks with the wind at 0 speed and being able to stay on them far outweighs that. I had an autopilot last year and I can't say I miss it. Hope this helps, Chris

[JW]

Thanks for your input. I have to admit that certain features of the pinpoint system are great.
When trolling downstream you can see depth changes at the bow before your lure gets there, all on the same screen with your stern transducer.
Also the view saver is cool. I have allready graphed a whisler jig in 20' and saved it. I took my 7520 into the local marine store and hooked my unit up to their display so I could show the salesman how sensitive the unit was. Pretty cool!
I also enjoy the responsive turning of the pinpoint over minn kota. I just can't wait till they get straight line course holding ability. Jeff

[Hey Hans]

Where does the quote come from at the end of your posts? Is it one of your own?? It's a good one either way.:-)

[N.D.]

Jeff, just think what we could do if or when the foot pedal could respond to NMEA siginals from a gps.. ?

[Grampa_Joe]

Jeff,
I use my Pinpoint to slip jig in rivers all the time. It works excellent. I depth track and give it just enough power so I'm keeping pace with my jig going downstream. I can't hardly believe you think it's useless for this application. It actually follows a depth and I don't turn sideways and blow downstream everytime someone catches a fish. I could see my motor not performing very well trying to depth track going down stream but that only makes sense. You can't depth track everything, you will have to use it manually at times.
Joe

[Hans]

I got it from a friend in New Zealand. Awesome place to fish!

Hans

--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[JW]

Joe, Are you slipping with your bow upstream and fishing off the stern? If so, this is how I formerly used my autopilot. I'll have to try it. I didn't think the pinpoint would alow the boat to slip backwards while in depth track. Tx for your input. Jeff

[Wags]

We'd be fools to think that this type of technology isn't right around the corner... I do not know any facts, but I have been around the business long enough to know that if you sit still any too long, someone will walk right over the top of you... Pinpoint technology is by far the leading edge of the industry - and the reason is it works... it works like your brain - you see the depth change from 20' to 22' so you turn back the direction you just came from... only now the Pinpoint system does it for you... Now if they can manipulate the technology to react to sonar signals, why couldn't they manipulate the system to react to GPS signals... Factually, the GPS routing should be easier to program, thus, taking the guesswork out of the motor "feeling" its way along the bottom... I would guess Pinpoint has a plan - and I would also guess that their plan entails this GPS technology... Good Luck!!!

[Gunga Din]

A lesson I've learned in climbing is never be dependant on any one piece of gear. Hi-tech equipment and gadgetry doesn't compensate for lack of knowledge or skills.

I was climbing Grand Teton a few summers ago with friends. On the descent there are two rapels, one of which requires two ropes because of its length. As we approached the first, shorter rapel we found a group of three stuck there not able to descend because they didn't have a rapel or belay device (figure 8, ATC, etc). So they were stuck. Had they of known a basic Munter hitch, they could have descended easily and safely with their carabiners. So we loaned them a figure 8. On the next rapel we let them use our ropes since they only had one. Idiots!

[Hans]

Until the Pentagon turns off SA, the GPS idea is only a pipe dream, unless you can put up with 110-yard errors in your trolling path!

Hans

--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[N.D.]

Hans, I cut my gps error WAY down..using differential.I lost to many good spots on open water without it.
Best,Andy

[Spence]

Read my newer post about my Pinpoint pro's and yes, even cons.

[bob oh]

It isn't going to be good enough then either Hans; GPS without SA is still not as accurate as GPS with DGPS correction. Have to decide if + - 5 meters is good enough ;-)
Bob