autopilot

I have a 21' open cockpit boat with a 225 merc and a 9.9 kicker. The kicker is steered by the big motor and an E Z steer rod. I would like to get an autopilot mainly for when I troll with the kicker. Anyone have a simular set up with an auto pilot that works well trolling? I would appreciate hearing from you. I'm looking for facts, not opinions. Thanks!

Wow totally missed the replies to this thread. Do you use your S1000 for trolling? I I use it for salmon trolling. It doesn't work well (At all) at walleye speeds. Anything under 1.5ish MPH and doesn't work. Did the $1200 dollars include installation. If not, would it be difficult to install the autopilot? No that did not include installation. The installation isn't too difficult. You need some general electrical and mechanical capabilities. Grey Beard is correct about rough seas. When it gets to 3-4' waves it has a hard time keeping up. This is due mostly to the slower reaction to NMEA data vs. having it's own gyroscope like the TR-1. I have not had any issues with mine not staying on course. I've come back in from 4+ miles out at 40+ MPH and never had an issue not getting me exactly to the waypoint I was heading to. Also, I recently changed from Lowrance to Humminbird electronics. The autopilot seems to work better on the newer locators. I am now spoiled and really dislike having to steer the boat while trolling. The autopilot is really a big help when fishing solo with a little wind. I can stay on course and reel in/net fish without ever having to worry that the boat is changing directions. I just need to remember to look in front of me now and then to make sure there are not obsticals in front of me. Here are some good prices on the S1000.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I believe I'll take a second mortage on my house and go with the TR-1.

I have a small boat (16.5'). I put an Minn Kota I-Pilot on it. I use the rear motor to push a little slower than I want to go and use the I-Pilot to make up the difference. It has a speedometer with cruise control that adjusts in 1/10 MPH incriments.There are 4 ways to steer with it: 1-Manually (least preferred). Via Wireless Remote. 2-Compas heading via GPS (better but with wind and or current the boat can slide sideways). Course adjustments with remote control are easy. 3- Compass heading, This works the best. you can tweak your heading by just taping the remote control. Makes turns in a small boat very easy. 4-You can retrace a route. The memory will only hold a 3 mile course. If you get on a pod you can record the route and the boat will make the circles for you. Hope this helps. Can't wait to get out for the first time. My Walleye fishing has been crappy this spring.

I have a S1000 on my 21' Wellcraft Steplift. I'm not thrilled with it but it functions OK most of the time. The issue wrt speed is that I must be going about 3mph SOG when I first lock it in for the day. Once that is done it works well down to about 1.5mph ie doesn't work well at LT speeds. It does reasonably well in 3' seas but once we are up to 4s I like to take over so I don't take one over the bow. It has a number of software features but the focus is saltwater with automatic courses that cirle or cloverleaf. They do have a zig zag mode which I could only use for our style of trolling in one of 3 settings. When underpower on the way home it tracks to the right slowly and doesn't correct the course. I need a 15yo to hook it in with my GPS and would expect it to do better if toward a destination. Installation wasn't that difficult but admit brother-in-law assisted. One requirement is hydraulic steering because it functions by taping into your existing hydraulic line. There is auxillary motor that pushes the fluid and the steering wheel does not turn. This unit is over all much quieter than my old SportPilot+. I think autopilot is a good investment so spend what you can. There are threads on Great Lakes Angler that discuss autopilot. I've read positive remarks re Simrad and TR. "Otto" listens much better than most of my crews and doesn't mind steering even when bites come between long lapses. Grey Beard

ToddJ, Did the $1200 dollars include installation. If not, would it be difficult to install the autopilot? I have a 21 footer with I/O. Thanks, Hockeypl17

I use a 101# 36 volt Minnkota Ipilot for autopilot. It works very well for me on my 620 Ranger. Then you have a lot of other great features like spot lock that you can use when fishing, or you can also use it to lock in your speed down to the tenth of a mile an hour for trolling. I use my 9.9 kicker for thrust and I drop the Ipilot down at the same time to steer with. It makes my batteries last a full 8 hours when doing so. The Ipilot has a wireless remote control that I use to make all my adjustments with. It also has a feature where you can record a path for up to two miles that you are fishing and hit the button on the remote and it will follow the same path that you just recorded. It's a pretty slick set up in my opinion.

TODDJ Do you use your S1000 for trolling? I heard from one guy that it didn't work well at trolling speeds below 4 mph. Any comments on that? I appreciate the imput. Whitey

I run a Raymarine S1000. It's not as feature rich as the TR-1Gold, but for ~$1200 it is a good alternative. I LOVE my autopilot!

tr-1 gold on the kicker would be no.1 . I have fished on several boats that have them..AWESOME ( similar set ups 22' 150 main,9.9 kicker.