I have been thinking about adding an electric trolling motor to my boat (for a couple years now). It sure would be handy for casting and jigging. I have been looking at the Terrova digital autopilot, something that is easy to use (meaning it doesn't require constant course corrections) from any where in the boat.
Does any one have experience with the Terrova? How well does the autopilot feature work? I'm wondering things like: you have the autopilot turned on and make a course correction does that corrected course become the new heading? or do you have to turn the auto pilot back on. How does it do in the wind, can you run at an angle to the wind or do you have to go straight into it?
Bernie has that motor and loves it. I have the Power Drive V2 with the wireless copilot (no autopilot since I don't troll) and I love the copilot feature. Now I can control the motor from anywhere in the boat. You can mount the control right on your rod and control everything with your thumb. Sweet.
I have a powerdrive with autopilot and the co-pilot. The autopilot does adjust course when you steer the motor while using it and is pretty accurate about changing to the new heading. Autopilot stays on unless you turn the motor off, so you don't have to turn it back on all the time. I bought my boat in late June, but can't imagine fishing without it and I find that it has uses beyond the usual trolling; for example I've used mine to slowly drifting and following contours and I've used it to counter current in moving water so I could maintain boat position.
As Don suggests, I also highly recommend adding the co-pilot. Mine didn't come with it and I hated spending more money, but I love the wireless nature and compact size for controlling the motor and now consider the purchase to be one of my best since I bought the boat.
The wind is a tricky question as there are so many variables such as lake basin shape, depth and orientation, wind speed and boat design (just to name a few that come to mind) - but in general I've found that you can run at your desired heading, even at an angle to the wind. I fish in some large Wyoming reservoirs that have a lot of wind and the electric can be tricky to maintain boat control with under those conditions - with or without autopilot and copilot. In moderately strong winds, the autopilot will have to make occasional steering corrections which may cause your boat to get slightly off course (for example if you are trying to follow a submerged road bed or some other linear feature), but I think it's a lot easier than constantly steering the motor without it. I don't think you'll regret it if you make the purchase(s).
I also need some dimensions, like how wide and high the base is. It will have to go under my bow rail, and deploy/stow from under the bow rail. I know it might be a bit awkward but I don't really want to cut the rail.
It will have to go under my bow rail, and deploy/stow from under the bow rail. I know it might be a bit awkward but I don't really want to cut the rail.
Unless your bow rail is like a foot and a half higher than the gunwale, I can't quite picture how that would work. I can, however, picture you cutting the rail. 8)
Exactly Don, I'm thinking of under the rail... its already 39 inches bow deck to the water. Deploy would be sliding/moving the shaft horizontally till it cleared the rail then dropping the motor, stow would be tilt to near horizontal then slide it to storage position.
I hope I don't have to cut the rail.
Here is a bigger pic of the project. I wrote Minnkota for more info also.
Your motor mounting options do look tricky (I have know knowledge or experience with this type of installation) but I can speak for the Autopilot/Copilot combination. It is indispensable! It may be hard to see how useful the combination is until you fish by yourself a few times. The only disadvantage to leaving the autopilot on when the motor is off is that it will still make small course corrections which can use battery power or twist the cord around the shaft a few times if you get spun around due to wind (this hasn't happened too often in my experience).
Moreover, I would just like to second everybody's recommendation on the combo.
The motor, when stowed, rises 10.5" above the deck. I recommend that you use this base plate to install the motor. [url=http://tinyurl.com/2a2ao9]http://tinyurl.com/2a2ao9
[/url] It makes positioning and leveling the motor base a whole lot easier. The foot print of the bracket is roughly 10" x 8.25". Then you slide the motor into the bracket and padlock it on there. Removes easily, too, just by unlocking the motor and sliding it off. Sweet!
It should be. I have the 48" shaft and that's plenty, even bouncing in the waves. You may have some issues with the prop coming out of the water if you use it in waves of any size.
I have the V2 70lb (24 volt) auto/co -pilot. Just put it on this summer am a rookie, but this set-up has made life good on the lake, as I usually am alone and I have a 21 foot pontoon. So wind is always an issue, I use the motor to hold me on a spot, control drift, and can troll all day with just the electric, of course my batteries (Cabelas) are new. I advise getting the on-board charger set-up. Occasionally the auto pilot does seem to go a little crazy, and start oscillating in the wind. I even use when coming to the dock when windy when I am by myself using the main motor in combonation with the front mounted electric I can come in sideways. Be sure to standing in a stable spot when push the start motor button, cause if you had it on a fast speed when you shut it off, that is where it starts from and I have almost taken a swim. Definitely go with the 24 volt units.
I talked to a guy at Aurora on Sunday getting off the lake that had a big center console boat...on the size level of yours...same construction...heavy boat...had a Terrova 101 and said it was incredible...that it ran all day in the heaviest of seas...granted it is 36 volts...but it was a pretty strong pro viewpoint/endorsement...
sorry it took me so long to chime in on this one. you cant go wrong with the terrova or the powerdrive motors. dont hesitate to get autopilot and co-pilot either. you will spend way more time fishing and less time fussing with steering. its like having your own chauffeur that doesnt drink your beer or crowd your half of the boat while you are fishing. you have a really high rail so it should slide under just fine. i wouldnt think twice about cutting the rail to accommodate the trolling motor though. its well worth it. i use my electric almost exclusively now and rarely fire up the gas motor. i have an 18' fiberglass bass boat and an 80# thrust powerdrive running two optima d31m's. i can troll at 1.7 - 2mph for about 6 hours off electric. i am thinking about adding two more batteries to give me a good 12 hours since i dont like to fire up the gas motor. the only time i ever used the foot pedal was when the rain soaked my remote so bad it wouldn't work. the remote is so handy its all you need. get the biggest one you can afford cause you got a big boat. wicked nice one too. i would get 6 walmart or trojan batteries. dont waste your money on anything more expensive unless you have to. get a good onboard charger too. i think with a 36volt system you need a 4 bank charger one for each battery or pair of batteries if your running 6 and one for the starting battery. good luck and again thats a wicked nice boat.
Minnkota replied and said they recommend 34 inches as the deck height above water for the 60 inch shaft. Since my boat is 39 inches (I'm going to re-measure on the lake this weekend) they didn't think it would work well.
Minnkota replied and said they recommend 34 inches as the deck height above water for the 60 inch shaft. Since my boat is 39 inches (I'm going to re-measure on the lake this weekend) they didn't think it would work well.
if its too short it will drive you crazy, just ask eyehunter. its going to depend a lot on how much your front end bounces in the waves. i know a good way to find out. take a 60" pole and paint marks on the end every couple inches. make them different colors. rig it to your bow and go play around in the waves. you should have at least 6" below the water at all times but 12" would be better. even if the prop is under water it can suck air down if it is close to the surface which will greatly cut down your thrust and also make lots of noise that will spook fish. its not going to hurt if it comes out of the water once in a while with a big wave but if it is popping out frequently it will dive you mad. i also have a 45# transom mount that we could rig to the front without permanently mounting it. i think it may have a 60" shaft. your welcome to borrow it. then you could get a true test before spending a bunch of money.
Minnkota replied and said they recommend 34 inches as the deck height above water for the 60 inch shaft. Since my boat is 39 inches (I'm going to re-measure on the lake this weekend) they didn't think it would work well.
If the minnkota wont be long enough, moterguide makes a 70" shaft in the PTSv 109 it sounds like it's similar to the autopilot minnkotas offers but you would have to buy the Wireless DRC Remote & Receiver Kit to add a wireless key fob type controller. It's 36v and 105lb thrust.
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