Expidia
Commander
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,368
Thanks to the input from several posters in this thread that I started which helped me in my decision for the bow mount vs the cavitation mounted motor.
The thread was moved from where I opened it in the boating forum. But I thought it odd that it was moved to the "outboard" forum when it should have been moved to the electric and trollers forum since both the motors I was comparing were electrics. Either way here is the thread which helped me decide:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...ilot-bow-mount
So the new Ipilot 55 thrust should arrive fri or sat. I'll post back as to how my installation went.
Ordered the pilot 54 inch shaft which I'll cut down if too long for $1192.
Picked up two Walmart group 27 109 amp Everstart batteries (group 27's 12 inch width is about the largest I can fit in my built into the Lunds upfront battery box). I don't have power in my rented garage across the street from my house, so I bought two batteries so I can swap for a fresh one (which I can charge in my basement) after each trip. Too bad no power as installed a sweet 2 bank Genio charger onboard last year. But the charger is still good for re-charging batteries when I'm staying at motels.
Not to start a battery discussion but the Walmart batteries are printed right on the top as made by Johnson controls one of the only two U.S. battery manufactuers.
Walmart has toughened up their warranty policy and this deep troller is only one year. But I take proper care of my batteries and I buy everything on a credit card that extends all warranties out another year. For $79 each its better than the over rated Optima's in my opinion and a lot cheaper than a $1200 Lithium battery or 2 for a mere $2400 . . .Yikes. And there is always a Walmart nearby for a quick warranty replacement. Keep your receipt with your boat registration on board.
I also added a $33 Minn Kota 60 amp circuit breaker for those times one gets caught in the weeds. Better the breaker trips than burning out a $1200 troller. MK breakers are a few bucks more but, better if you get into a warranty claim with MK that you used their recommended breaker,
Bought the MKA 21 quick release composite bracket around $68. I installed the MK 16 aluminum one on my daughters rig several years ago. Its 1/2 the price and works great, but my custom trailer cover fits tight on the bow and I remove the troller for traveling. The puck part that remains on the boat is real small and low can't rip the canvas like the aluminum model and I won't have to have the canvas shop alter my cover. Both brackets can lock with a pad lock. The con that I see and read about with the MKA 21 has this locking handle that slides in through the base which locks the troller base to the puck style base on the boat. Amazingly, MK makes this part with plastic in the middle which a pad lock goes thru a metal pin but a tap with hammer or a screwdriver and your troller is stolen off the rig in a heartbeat. I'm going to have the local metal shop fabricate this part out of all metal. Probably cost $20-30 dollars.
I'll have the same metal shop fabricate a 1/4 inch or so aluminum plate the size of the MK bracket to mount under the decking to give it better support as the torque from these trollers can eventually damage the plywood bow deck. Probably $20. Since it will take a few days for the plate I'll install with 4 really big fender washers under the decking for added temporary support.
I already had upgraded the boats wiring to 8 gauge years back since its a long run from the bow battery box to the external charging receptacle I mounted back in the transom battery area.
All of my above comments were gleaned from searching around various sites for troller installation tips. It takes awhile to compile this stuff since most sites are mostly ads for their units.
Check out this Youtube video demonstration of what one can use the pilot feature for when launching alone, so you don't come back from the parking lot to find your fishing gear or a $1000 GPS fish finder gone as you left your "unattended" rig tied to the dock!
This vid alone is something that you easily sell the wife/other on for your $1200 cash outlay haha . . .
You say Honey,. . . in the long run this ipilot will save us big dollars on potentially stolen equipment, so in essence it pays for itself
For those Wife's/other that swallow this explanation of why you need to spend the $1200 on a new ipilot you can thank me later if it works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edb2F85UAvY&app=desktop . .
The thread was moved from where I opened it in the boating forum. But I thought it odd that it was moved to the "outboard" forum when it should have been moved to the electric and trollers forum since both the motors I was comparing were electrics. Either way here is the thread which helped me decide:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...ilot-bow-mount
So the new Ipilot 55 thrust should arrive fri or sat. I'll post back as to how my installation went.
Ordered the pilot 54 inch shaft which I'll cut down if too long for $1192.
Picked up two Walmart group 27 109 amp Everstart batteries (group 27's 12 inch width is about the largest I can fit in my built into the Lunds upfront battery box). I don't have power in my rented garage across the street from my house, so I bought two batteries so I can swap for a fresh one (which I can charge in my basement) after each trip. Too bad no power as installed a sweet 2 bank Genio charger onboard last year. But the charger is still good for re-charging batteries when I'm staying at motels.
Not to start a battery discussion but the Walmart batteries are printed right on the top as made by Johnson controls one of the only two U.S. battery manufactuers.
Walmart has toughened up their warranty policy and this deep troller is only one year. But I take proper care of my batteries and I buy everything on a credit card that extends all warranties out another year. For $79 each its better than the over rated Optima's in my opinion and a lot cheaper than a $1200 Lithium battery or 2 for a mere $2400 . . .Yikes. And there is always a Walmart nearby for a quick warranty replacement. Keep your receipt with your boat registration on board.
I also added a $33 Minn Kota 60 amp circuit breaker for those times one gets caught in the weeds. Better the breaker trips than burning out a $1200 troller. MK breakers are a few bucks more but, better if you get into a warranty claim with MK that you used their recommended breaker,
Bought the MKA 21 quick release composite bracket around $68. I installed the MK 16 aluminum one on my daughters rig several years ago. Its 1/2 the price and works great, but my custom trailer cover fits tight on the bow and I remove the troller for traveling. The puck part that remains on the boat is real small and low can't rip the canvas like the aluminum model and I won't have to have the canvas shop alter my cover. Both brackets can lock with a pad lock. The con that I see and read about with the MKA 21 has this locking handle that slides in through the base which locks the troller base to the puck style base on the boat. Amazingly, MK makes this part with plastic in the middle which a pad lock goes thru a metal pin but a tap with hammer or a screwdriver and your troller is stolen off the rig in a heartbeat. I'm going to have the local metal shop fabricate this part out of all metal. Probably cost $20-30 dollars.
I'll have the same metal shop fabricate a 1/4 inch or so aluminum plate the size of the MK bracket to mount under the decking to give it better support as the torque from these trollers can eventually damage the plywood bow deck. Probably $20. Since it will take a few days for the plate I'll install with 4 really big fender washers under the decking for added temporary support.
I already had upgraded the boats wiring to 8 gauge years back since its a long run from the bow battery box to the external charging receptacle I mounted back in the transom battery area.
All of my above comments were gleaned from searching around various sites for troller installation tips. It takes awhile to compile this stuff since most sites are mostly ads for their units.
Check out this Youtube video demonstration of what one can use the pilot feature for when launching alone, so you don't come back from the parking lot to find your fishing gear or a $1000 GPS fish finder gone as you left your "unattended" rig tied to the dock!
This vid alone is something that you easily sell the wife/other on for your $1200 cash outlay haha . . .
You say Honey,. . . in the long run this ipilot will save us big dollars on potentially stolen equipment, so in essence it pays for itself
For those Wife's/other that swallow this explanation of why you need to spend the $1200 on a new ipilot you can thank me later if it works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edb2F85UAvY&app=desktop . .
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