looking to buy a trolling motor to use as an anchor/ spotlock

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Finaddict2

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Hello everyone, buying a 257 and wanted to know if anyone here that has a 257 have installed an i-pilot or trolling motor on their bow to keep the boat locked on a fishing spot.
1) what length did you use?
2) which model did you go with and why?


Thanks in advance
Armando
 
Finaddict2 said:
Hello everyone, buying a 257 and wanted to know if anyone here that has a 257 have installed an i-pilot or trolling motor on their bow to keep the boat locked on a fishing spot.
1) what length did you use?
2) which model did you go with and why?


Thanks in advance
Armando
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Wow, I guess nobody hear uses a trolling motor. Have you gotten anywhere> I am interested too.
 
It is usually better to get the more powerful motor and with highest voltage (36V)
One 36V LiFePo battery is the way to go, less weight and longer lasting, 100Ah is usually plenty
Integrating LiFePo in boats existing charging system can become complicated, if on a trailer just recharge at home
a longer shaft is better than a too short one who lifts out of the water by wave action
for SpotLock only, the battery size can be lower than using it also for trolling
for trolling purposes, interfacing the TM with the chartplotter is very useful that TM follows a route
for SpotLock only the remote control is in most cases enough
Choose the brand after what brand electronics you have already to integrate the TM on the MFD

Minn Kota Riptide QUEST has AutoDeploy/Store feature what comes handy if alone and/or frequently changing spot, but some reported that this feature did not lasted long.

Garmin Electronics --> Garmin Kraken
Humminbird Electronics -- Minn Kota

Chris
 
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Im thinking about upgrading my autopilot and using a furuno In "Sabiki mode" it sounds much better for holding position since there is no additional motor and it uses your existing stuff. We will see.
 
Sea Shift said:
Im thinking about upgrading my autopilot and using a furuno In "Sabiki mode" it sounds much better for holding position since there is no additional motor and it uses your existing stuff. We will see.
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It is true that you will not have and deploy a electric motor,
however the Sabiki mode is half of the Spotlock/Virtual anchor system as it can not hold position, only direction and must shift in gear manually. If a electric motor is not a option then i would do it as i always did, manually by steering and shifting as the continuously shifting in and out of gear would drive me nuts and i don't think that this is very good for the lower unit.
A electric motor is a different beast, not only because they are very silent, also because hold the boat in position or allow extrem slow speed trolling, following a route, etc, and that makes a electric motor a total game changer for any kind of fishing where extreme slow speed or holding position is the key to success.
For just a half a hour fishing for pilchards or similar Sabiki mode or electric steering will work, but fits my believe that for many hours its not the best system.
Chris
 
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36V minnkota I-pilot with the longest shaft they sell. I have had two and they are great. Buy them from trolling motors.net for the best price. Free shipping no tax. The shaft will be a bit long for storage but if you mount it correctly, it shouldn’t be in the way. The only advantage to a shorter shaft is it isn’t in the way as much when stored. Longer shaft will prevent prop from coming out the water. I have had great luck with the Wieze lithium, iron phosphate, batteries. Matching my existing electronics would be my last concern. I have Garmin electronics and minnkota spot lock. The spot lock works great so no reason to have the two connected that I can see. I have not heard great things about the Garmin trolling motors.
 
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Sea Shift said:
Im thinking about upgrading my autopilot and using a furuno In "Sabiki mode" it sounds much better for holding position since there is no additional motor and it uses your existing stuff. We will see.
Click to expand...
I used sabiki mode on my old boat for years. It does work, the problem is your stern to the waves, it doesn’t really hold your position…only your heading, and you won’t get to fish because you will be jockeying the throttles the whole time, and that is definitely abusive to your lower units. I made it work, but it was mostly for my passengers. I had to sit at the helm.
 
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Ralph163 said:
I used sabiki mode on my old boat for years. It does work, the problem is your stern to the waves, it doesn’t really hold your position…only your heading, and you won’t get to fish because you will be jockeying the throttles the whole time, and that is definitely abusive to your lower units. I made it work, but it was mostly for my passengers. I had to sit at the helm.
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My current way of dropping for Rockfish is to do exactly that, stern to the waves. But I have to run back and forth to turn the helm to keep us mostly going the same direction. I was just thinking of taking one additional input ( Steering) out of the situation. For us, we have quite a bit of current, to keeping the boat from moving to fast I definitely have to keep it in gear. So not having to steer would be awesome. It isnt really imperative that I stay in the EXACT spot, just slow the drift down with the stern upwind and lines out the back.
 
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