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| Iam looking to purchase a new Minn kota Terrova 80pd thrust with universal sonar and I don't know if I should get the autopilot option for the extra $200. Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you. |
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Posts: 619
| i would definetly get auto pilot!!! |
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Posts: 444
Location: Duluth, MN | Everyone that i know that has one has had it break. Sending it in is a pain. Maybe if i fished walleyes and wanted to stay at a certain depth...but i don't see it useful for the constant stopping and starting of muskie fishing. But i'm sure alot of people have them and will disagree...maybe they are built better now and don't break down. |
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Posts: 386
| I use mine almost constantly, though perhaps I rely on it too much. In any case, I'd never get one without it b/c I've always had it and am used to using it. It's never failed on me. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | The Auto Pilot has nothing to do with staying at a certain depth. I believe you are thinking of the Pin Point.
Definitely get the AP! I have been running the same one since 2001, and the auto pilot hasn’t failed me yet. I do know on occasion some have issues with the compass.
This year I am stepping up and getting the same Terrova you are looking at, but without the universal sonar.
In my opinion you spend too much time correcting the motor without the AP.
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Posts: 443
Location: Indiana | Once you use auto pilot, you will almost consider it a must have. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I loved mine when it worked; which was for about 2 years the first time (then sent it in) and for a little less than a year the second time. Now I essentially have a Power Drive w/ an extra button on the top...  Works really good if I want to 'Autopilot' some random direction though.
If I had an authorized service center close by, I'd get it fixed for sure, but I have to send it in to Mankato, Mn. (from Utah) which at the time just isn't worth it for me anymore.
S. |
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Posts: 1270
| My original power drive with AP had the AP go out once but I just took it to the local warranty center and they fixed it up ASAP. I got my Terrova 2 years ago with AP and use it all the time and never had a problem with it. I would not buy a trolling motor without AP. |
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Posts: 163
Location: lake st clair michigan | another vote for the a/p ...i love mine .....well worth the extra loot |
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Posts: 307
| The Terrova AP's are much improved over the older powerdrives. You can concentrate much more on fishing when using AP. Adjust direction, cast, reel, figure eight, then check direction again once you are in the boat. In my opinion there would not be any point in getting a Terrova without AP, you may as well buy the cheaper cable steer then. |
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| I would never get one. I never run my trolling motor on constant, and auto pilot is just another thing that will break and go wacko.
I would suggest not getting one. |
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| I do appreciate your inputs. I think I will get the autopilot option because if I don't I will probably regret not getting it.
Thank you. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | when autopillot comes with a rope and a cable |
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| hey Sled, how'd cable and rope do for ya on Eagle 2 yrs ago...good thing someone borrowed you their spare!!! ; )~
I'd never be without autopilot...i've run power drives in boats without it and you dance on the pedddle 50% more than you would if you had autopilot..those that don't think it's worth it clearly don't know how to use it... |
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Posts: 80
Location: Clintonville, Wi | i agree with bn if you don't think its worth the extra money you've never used it or don't know how. I could never go without it. I've had autopilot on all 3 of my minnkota's in the last 8 years and had only 1 issue with my first one. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | and have a spare in the truck if you need it.
and some extra rope in the boat ...
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | bn - 3/5/2009 9:03 AM
I'd never be without autopilot...i've run power drives in boats without it and you dance on the pedddle 50% more than you would if you had autopilot..those that don't think it's worth it clearly don't know how to use it...
Well, it basically just comes down to economic reality of continuing to get it fixed. Like I said, I loved it when it worked, but even under warranty (which it was the first time it went out) it cost me just over $40 to ship it. Now I'd be facing shipping plus some unknown repair cost. I also have to figure in the obligatory replacement of the foot pedal each year (at least that's approximately my personal average).
Maybe I never did know how to use it right, but I just can't afford throwing money at something that I now view as more of a convenience than a necessity. Things like gas, boat ramp fees, licenses, etc. are necessary for me; in these economic times, having a trolling motor that follows a compass heading (until it breaks again) has been slid into the 'luxury' category.
S. |
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Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | I love my AP. I've had two of them on two different boats since the mid-nineties. I had to have the compass on the first one repaired once. The current one does the crazy spin about every other time out, but by just turning the head it settles back down.
What I like is to set the motor on a slow, constant speed and use the AP to follow my fishing line. I adjust the direction between casts like someone else mentioned, but otherwise I don't have to fiddle with the TM at all.
AP is really nice for releasing fish solo. Point it into the wind and go to work on the fish. No more blowing into shallow water or rocks. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Ap has it’s advantages even when you are not on continuous. For instance (and how it always comes in handy for me). Let say it is a very windy day, and you have found that the best place is a long weedline that has the wind blowing into at an angle. Just letting your boat drift causes you to keep going into the weeds. But, by using the AP function you can find where you need to have the trolling motor pointed to keep you running down the weedline perfectly. As you get close to the motor you just hit the “gas” to move back out, and no need to worry about constantly turning the head. I know everytime I hit it that I will move back out and not screw up the boat positioning. Very critical when fishing a deep milfoil weedline in windy conditions!
Same would hold true on not so windy days. Point the bow in the direction you want it to stay, and all you ever have to do is hit the “gas” for corrections either in your drift, or as you work into the wind. Don’t have to worry about adjusting the head direction nearly as much as if you didn’t have AP.
Have any of you that think using AP is only for continuous use ever have a motor with AP?
RPike brought up a great point for using it while releasing fish! I've done it many times.
Edited by CiscoKid 3/5/2009 12:44 PM
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | CiscoKid - 3/5/2009 11:42 AM
Ap has it’s advantages even when you are not on continuous. For instance (and how it always comes in handy for me). Let say it is a very windy day, and you have found that the best place is a long weedline that has the wind blowing into at an angle. Just letting your boat drift causes you to keep going into the weeds. But, by using the AP function you can find where you need to have the trolling motor pointed to keep you running down the weedline perfectly. As you get close to the motor you just hit the “gas” to move back out, and no need to worry about constantly turning the head. I know everytime I hit it that I will move back out and not screw up the boat positioning. Very critical when fishing a deep milfoil weedline in windy conditions!
Same would hold true on not so windy days. Point the bow in the direction you want it to stay, and all you ever have to do is hit the “gas” for corrections either in your drift, or as you work into the wind. Don’t have to worry about adjusting the head direction nearly as much as if you didn’t have AP.
Have any of you that think using AP is only for continuous use ever have a motor with AP?
RPike brought up a great point for using it while releasing fish! I've done it many times.
Yep, that's exactly what I used to do when fishing long reefs/submerged points on reservoirs. Worked great - gave me a couple less things to think about so I could concentrate on the retrieve. I just have to do a bit more of a dance now...
S. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | let's say it's a very windy day and you're fishing upwind of a big pile a rocks ... and your boat partner chucks his bait into them and continually gets hung up? gimme the power, the rope and the cable ...
and, for the one time in 22 years i've broken a cable gimme a nickel for every footpedal that's gone out on an auto-pilot. and all the time to fish when you're out there with a broken pedal. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | If my boat partner kept getting hung up in the rocks he will quickly learn to either reel faster, or cast away from the rocks. When it comes to stupidity I won’t retrieve his lure! 
If I do run up shallow I simply adjust my shaft up so that the prop is just in the water. If the prop it’s the rocks at that point I am to shallow anyway as my boat will be getting hung up on the rocks, and I shouldn’t be there.
The foot pedal deal is a different issue altogether. Whether you get AP or not has no bearing on the foot pedal. The question was asked about a Terrova, and you don’t have the cable option there.
It would be nice to have a more sturdy pedal though, but perhaps the newer motors have an improved pedal design. Again, I wouldn’t know that as my motor is from 2001.
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| I agree with Travis....I've had very good luck I guess with my APs..we have a 2000 yr model on our cabin boat..hasn't gone thru a pedal and has never had an issue with the AP ...
gone thru a compass or 2 with my current on my Ranger but I fish about 500-600 hours per season so to me, having AP is far more beneficial than the $80 -100 I might throw at it a year...
the benefits just simply far outweigh any negatives..but if you only fish 20 x a yr and have issues then the dollar amount might become spendy for a foot pedal here or there...to me, i'll take it's flaws..
standing up on the bow with a Maxxum looking like Capt Morgan and having to never really have your feet set is pretty silly to me....
I never ever run mine on continuous either...unless I have a fish in the net and I point it out and away and turn it on slow while we deal with the fish....boat control will put more fish in your boat. period. of the guys who I have fished with that don't use their AP's to their advantage I would say their boat control is lacking.
my 2.02 rubles |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | travis ... there are things you can do with a rope and cabe that you can't with electronic ... and, there are things that you can do with electronic you can't with a rope and cable. there is no right or wrong answer.
sometimes you gotta throw into the crud to get a shot. not everyone fishes the abyss ... some like to fish in the trash and the tools you want may differ from baits, rods, boats and trolling motors.
the answer to this question is that there is no answer, only personal preference.
if i remember right jim saric runs a cable ... wonder if he has any legitimate reasons? |
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| yes, it does come down to personal preference Sled but have you ever spent any real time running a boat with AP? how about if you want to fish from the back and let your guests have the bow...
another nice thing is in the real big waves, I can fish in the back and the guy up front can fish from the deck...it's smoother in back where I have to run the boat and the guy in front can just concentrate on casting..not running the boat..lots of pro's and cons to both
the thread was about AP or no AP
not Maxxums vs. AP |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | to answer the questions ...
i ran an ap for 2 years and gave up on broken pedals of-course this was awhile ago when they were new.
usually fish alone and if it's my boat i'd rather be in front
good point on smoother in the back, but i like to look for rocks from the front especially when it's rough out
... just answering questions and one-sided commentary from above.
carry on
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| look for rocks? that is what your gps is for... ; ) |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | prior to the distraction ....
autopilot or not? ... given that selection absolutely choose the autopilot |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Sled, my comments had nothing to do with fishing the abyss as that is not the only place I fish. As I mentioned fishing structure (deep weeds on windy day) precisely is where I saw it coming in handy. My comments also strictly were pros for why to get an AP. They had nothing to do with why not to get a cable driven motor as this thread was asking about AP or not on a Terrova/Power Drive style trolling motor.
I would suggest if you want to argue pros and cons of cable versus electronic control to start another thread.
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Posts: 415
Location: madison wisconsin | Could you get the co-pilot instead of AP? Would co-pilot keep you on the straight path? Never used either so just asking. |
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