Auto pilot

[BCinerie]

I have a 23.5 Grady with single outboard and a kicker. Looking for a Auto pilot for trolling the Great lakes etc. Any suggestions good or bad ??

THx
BC :)

[Gerry Zagorski]

No first hand experience but I've always heard Simrad is one of the best.

If you plan to interface it to your GPS, you might want to stay with that brand to make sure it's easily integrated.

I've heard the set up has become a lot less troublesome these days since the heading sensors can be installed just about anywhere.

[Capt. Lou]

Simrad or Furuno top of the line , same brands are the way to go easily intergrated . Good deals at boat shows I would buy from an installer get package deal unless u know how to install yourself .
However that being said if ur just using on Grt Lakes then u may find lesser known brand OK since ur not covering ground , that is a lot of long runs .
Also no currents albeit deeper ones do exist however topside mostly wind issues, so ability of unit is less compromised then ocean applications .

[Finprof]

I fish on Chesapeake Bay with a buddy who has a Lowrance auto-pilot running with a Gen2 and an HDS-7. The auto pilot cost around $900 and works very well. Current is not too bad on the Bay but the chop is difficult. I have been thinking about getting one myself because Casper has to run the boat when I am landing a fish in Spring

[Slip It In]

If your using the kicker motor for trolling, cant you just adjust the tension of the steering to go straight? When I was younger I had a smaller boat with 9.9 motor and would lock motor with steering tension adjustment and then if I wanted little left, I would move over to port side. Then release steering tension and steer my way home. Worked for years.

Now I have a Simrad autopilot on my cc and wouldn't buy a boat without one. Had an issue with the brushes dirty caused it to stop working but a simple cleaning of the brushes fixed it. The system works great in the slop and with heavy wind. It has its own display and is also linked into my Simrad NSS evo2 to adjust direction or to head to waypoint.

But there are other systems less complicated that you might want to look into, which would cost way less and easier to setup. Head to a boat show this winter and shoot some ideas off a few venders. Might find the answer your looking for.

Pete

[Gerry Zagorski]

Yes boat show is a great idea http://jerseyboatexpo.com/new-jersey-boat-sale-and-expo/

If you go during the week you'll have vendors undivided attention.

[BCinerie]

I am going to venture to a few boat shows. My season starts in mid march so I want to pull the trigger soon to buy and get installed etc. thanks for the feedback.

[BCinerie]

Finally pulled the trigger. Raymarine EV 100. Hope she goes straight. Lol.

[BCinerie]

Splashed boat Friday go down Sunday and a puddle of hydraulic fluid from new auto pilot pump !!! They are going to fix today but so far season has been cursed lol . Can only get better

[Gerry Zagorski]

Oh brother :rolleyes:

Always something.. Will be interested to see how you like it.

[Gerry Zagorski]

PS... Make sure they do a good job cleaning up the fluids. If that stuff mixes with water and sloshes around your bildge it makes a real mess and could also mess with your bildge switches. We had an oil leak they didn't do a very good job cleaning up after and both bildge switches went a short time afterwards. I don't think that was coincidence.

[BCinerie]

Thanks for the tip, Thankfully nothing reached the bilge area. Maiden voyage was Sunday. The auto pilot is not perfect with a cross winds and current. I have to say it did better then I could do!!!! No tangles while trolling and was nice to land a fish and not have to worry about the boat going off course. I tested it as 35 mph and same thing , will take some getting used to but a nice addition to the arsenal.

BC

[Gerry Zagorski]

Glad you got it all hooked up and working correctly. Did you do the install yourself and if so how difficult was it??

[BCinerie]

I know my limits and had it professionally done. It took him 4-5 hours plus having all the tools and knowledge etc.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I know my limits and had it professionally done. It took him 4-5 hours plus having all the tools and knowledge etc.

Smart move, I'm in the same boat :)

[BCinerie]

Auto pilot update, Have had it fixed a few times now. They have now put in the High pressure fittings ? I am not sure what was in before but it was leaking 1 -2 drop every 6 hours. Performance has been very good to fair. Seems when there is little to no wind has a hard time but a little wind and current it is perfect. We have been playing with the settings and it is getting better. Switch to performance mode and reaction time much better. At speed 24-30mph holds a straight line but every once in a while falls off, but it does come back eventually. It is a work in progress.