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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Anybody use these? Thinking about getting one for next year or a Maxxum. Anything anybody can forward on would be helpful.
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Posts: 5874
| Do you mean AutoPilot? The Pinpoint is no longer made, although I have heard that MotorGuide is introducing a new model this coming year. PST or something like that.
As far as the AutoPilot, I've had one for 2 years. Works good, except for sometimes when I point it SSW, it loses it's brain and will turn 360 and shut off. Kind of a pain in the Cady. I will be taking it to my local Minn Kota service center to get it looked at after this season. |
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Posts: 32892
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | MotorGuide has a number of new products coming out this year using the Pinpoint technology. I am pretty sure Minn Kota has some new products too, I am contacting them today. I have used the Auto Pilot for years. Good motor. The only time I actually use the auto pilot feature is releasing a muskie. I turn it on, set the motor at a speed that will hold the boat near still, and go to work. |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Thanks Guys - yes I meant the Autopilot. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I've heard of lots of problems with the Autopilot and zero with the Maxxum. I have a 74# Maxxum and it's worked flawlessly all season. The only thing I don't like is that the footpedel is too big IMOP. Still it's bullet-proof and it doesn't matter how wet or dusty it gets unlike the AP.
I will say that when the AP is working there's nothing better...WHEN it's working. |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | I have had 3 auto pilots with my last 3 boats...when I go to boat #4 (as soon as my Ranger sells), that too will have an Auto-Piolt.
I love that feature, don't know how I could get used to fishing with one foot raised in the air and working the pedal. I like to put it in AP, occassionally change the direction or speed and keep both feet firmly planted on the deck.
Heck,I even got the Genesis, the biggest so-called "Voo-Doo", "Dont buy it, it's too quirky", "You'll be sorry" Auto pilot motor out there.
The nay sayers in my boat think it's the most awesome thing they have run.
Go with AP, you will like it. You will also hear some negative press cuz someone had a bum one. Everyone will make a bum one sometime.
If at the very least you decide not to use the AP feature, you still then have a low profile pedal to deal with instead of the "higher" one.
my $.02 and opinion.
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Posts: 20230
Location: oswego, il | Dave, we have an auto pilot and like it. Every once in awhile it freaks out and does a 360 but for the most part it's easy to operate and not cumbersome. |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Todd,
What are the specs on yours? # Thrust and Shaft length? If I remember correctly you are fishing out of an 1850 Fish Hawk?
Thanks |
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Posts: 5874
| Heard Minn Kota is coming out with a 74# AP this year. |
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Posts: 20230
Location: oswego, il | Dave, not sure about shaft length but we have the 65lber. As far as I know that's the biggest autopilot. |
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Posts: 172
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio | Hey Dave, I would consider the way you fish most of the time. If you are working tight to cover and small to medium size structure most of the time, making small corrections to boat postion, I would definitely get a Maxxumm. Nothing can touch it for precise boat control. If you fish alot of open water, big structure, and don't need minute adjustments to the boat position, I'd jump on one of the Auto-Pilot models. There are alot of advantages to them in open water. Good fishin', Tyler |
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Posts: 32892
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I disagree. I am a boat control freak (ask anyone who has fished with me) and can hold my rig exactly where I want it in a big wind, even going in reverse against the wind. The Auto Pilot will do exactly what I need without the high profile pedal. It takes some getting used to, but I have had both and find the Powerdrive/Auto Pilot models perfect for my brand of precise boat control with less abuse to my legs, feet and body. I used a 65 APD last year and literally could make my boat dance. As with most products, see if you can find a way to try before you buy, giving both models a fair shake. |
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Posts: 172
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio | Hey Steve, I think you might just be a bit mad at me for the perceived Merc bashing... =) I sitll stand on what I had to say. There is no way an auto-pilot can respond as firmly, quickly, as a cable unit. You and I fish very different waters, and I think that is where the difference lies. But I respect you're opinion as always, and will give them another shot in tight quarters and see if I can get acclimated to them. I'm sure alot of it is anticipating changes in cover and stucture rather than a last second reponse. Of course there are many times when a last second adjustment is all that you have to keep in position. I really like the Genesis, and the Maxxumm pedal is a bit tiresome after a good 10 hours on the water. Tyler
Edited by Tyler Campbell 11/6/2003 12:16 AM
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | I'm with what Sworral said,
the Genesis with 74# thrust is(was) the biggest AutoPilot out there. With it's availability being discontinued, Minnkota has brought out a 74# Auto Pilot powerdrive to replace it. 74# thrust will still be the largest auto pilot..
If you are in 18' boat or under, 65# should do OK. If you are in an 1850 fishhawk, I had one and the 54" shaft was plenty. |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Anyone who knows me at all knows I'm an AutoPilot freak! I operated my 1st one 6 years ago on a rental boat at Muskego Point on Lake Vermilion. About 4 years ago I got ahold of a second hand tri-hull bassboat and had the freedom to "trick it up". I found a used 36#er in the Trader and bought it for $300. It was about 5 years old and I haven't had a single problem with it. Not a scratch on it either! It made that dumpy little bass boat into a real fishing machine. I bought my own boat last fall and it already had a 1994 AP (42#) on it when I bought it. The boat is 19' long, 7 1/2' beam, alum, 125hp, 5 onboard batteries (3 in parallel 12v for trolling motor) and I haven't had any complaints about my boat control from anybody. I would like to step up to at least a 65#er in the future but for now I've fished in 30+ mph winds and whitecaps and managed to keep her where I want and still fish hard. 65 pounds would definately be better though. Keep the batteries charged up and ALWAYS unhook your trolling motor from your batteries when charging. More people cuss their compass and circuit boards because they fried them with a voltage spike when charging. And for the junk ones that will inevitably be made...MinnKota will take good care of you. |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | good point Stephen about unhooking the trolling motor before charging. I had one that was "quirky" out the 3 I have owned, bit still wasn't that bad and that was the culprit. |
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| My Minnkota AP purchased in 1996 worked flawlessly for the 1st year. Then it began to wander off course. The compass board was changed twice under warranty. But the same problem would return every so often. Over time I noticed it occured more often when the temp was over 75-80 degrees outside. Last winter, our musky club had a speaker, Chuck Brod, owner of The Sportsmans Repair Shop in Mosinee, WI. He discussed his fix for the AP. Check voltage on the wiring at all connections leading up to the motor. You should have a minimum of 12.7 volts or the AP may act up. Clean and tighten all connections and if necessary, replace any crimp-on connectors that may be suspect. Over time, corrosion builds up degrading the circuit. Worked for me.
(Even though it's a 24 volt motor, your trolling motor plug has 4 pins, 2 power and ground for each battery.) |
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Posts: 32892
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tyler, I fish river systems that are big, river systems that are not, stump infested systems that have just enough room to get a boat through the channel, and stump infested rivers with easy to follow channels, tiny lakes, small lakes, mid-sized lakes, and huge lakes. I even have a very small river or two I hit for Smallies in the 1690, and the 40 PD does a great job there, too. I think it mostly boils down to personal preference. A couple years ago Minn Kota increased the adjustment speed on the PD and APD models. The newer models really repond quickly; plenty fast enough to control the rig in current and tight quarters without the oversteer/correct I sometimes get from the cable models. Most of the folks I have met who didn't like the APD or PD just couldn't get adjusted to the foot pad. Don't get me wrong, I have had and liked the Maxxum models too. I get a new rig every year (sometimes two) so I get lots of chances to try new product. My favorite model was the Genesis. I had two, and both were great motors. |
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Posts: 172
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio | Hey Steve, My buddy just put a newer one on his boat and loves it. I think alot of it for me is that I'm just not as familiar with their feel. I have to have that cable connected to my foot or I get lost. If they turned up the adjustment speed that is a big plus. That was the big problem I had with them. How do you feel about the Genesis reliability over the long term? Do you think that it's dependable enough to really count on it over the course of a few years? I haven't really heard any complaints about them at all after the first year they came out. Thanks, Tyler
Edited by Tyler Campbell 11/11/2003 10:22 PM
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | I have a New Minn Kota Genesis 74PD/AP/US 60" shaft sitting in my garage,I will mount it on the Targa 2000 next spring.
Capt. Larry |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | I was talking to a sales guy regarding the auto pilot. He told me that they don't do what new buyers expect them to. He explained (and I will try to put it in words) that if you are heading north with a wind out of the east and trying to stay 100 yards from shore (to your east) that the auto pilot will keep you going north but will not keep you on that 100 yard mark and you will continue to drift further away from your target. Doesn't this defeat the purpose of the autopilot?
My understanding was that you pointed the autopilot at a landmark and it will keep you in line with that landmark?
Do I have it wrong or does the sales guy? |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Youv are both right. You're just saying it different ways. Airliners have to manage the same crosswind issues that anglers manage while following structure. Your compass will always be pointing north but the stong west wind will be blowing your boat "sideways" to the east at the same time. It's referred to as "sideslipping" by most. Pilots also have to manage the rotation of the Earth. Glad we don't have to factor that in too! So, to maintain your bearing as you travel north you have to compensate for the westerly wind by establishing a NW heading with your Autopilot. This will position your boat somewhat sideways to the stucture you're trying to hold on but your general heading will now be following the structure you're trying to stay on. Imagine the computer monitor in front of you is the target you're trying to move towards in your boat (let's call this North). Imagine a strong westerly wind coming in from the left. Place your hand on the table in front of you and have your fingers pointing at about 10 o'clock. Now, push your hand straight towards the monitor. This is "sideslipping". You should point your Autopilot at the 10 o'clock landmark (this is approximate of course) and this will make your boat travel towards the monitor because you factored in the crosswind. Subtle changes in crosswind speed and changing the speed of your trolling motor all affect the result of where your boat will ultimately go. Sounds confusing at times but still beats the thunder out of having to constantly steer the trolling motor while fishing. I only have to make small periodic adjustments to speed and direction with the autopilot. Love it! Wouldn't trade it for anything! Hope this helps a little....
Edited by stephendawg 12/3/2003 10:13 AM
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