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spot lock
#11639512
06/01/16 01:05 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
ohmsboy
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2 |
When setting my spot lock on my minn kota I pilot it drifts erratically between left boundary and right boundary. This is very frustrating and curious if they all do the same or perhaps mine is faulty?
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11639558
06/01/16 01:23 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,582
lamoon78
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,582 |
They all will move 5-10 feet from what I have seen none hold you exactly in one spot without moving.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11639726
06/01/16 02:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,181
grout-scout
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,181 |
Mine will move 20'-30' side to side from center, I hate it and have found that I can keep it in position better than it will. Now if I'm retrying a lure then it's fine wandering around like it does.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11639954
06/01/16 04:08 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
Yes it is normal. The lighter the wind the more movement they seem to have.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11640102
06/01/16 05:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,681
Capt Craig
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,681 |
What I have found is that when moving, if I hit spot lock the unit seems to have a wider frame of reference. IF I am almost stationary when I hit it, it will often hold me to the location with much less movement.
Capt. Craig Copeland Licensed by the US Coast Guard
2019 Nautic Star 215 XTS Shallow Bay Boat Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N Nautic Star Boats Pro Staff (nauticstarboats.com) Redneck Fish'n Jigs Pro Staff (redneckfishn.com)
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Re: spot lock
[Re: Capt Craig]
#11640109
06/01/16 05:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
What I have found is that when moving, if I hit spot lock the unit seems to have a wider frame of reference. IF I am almost stationary when I hit it, it will often hold me to the location with much less movement. I agree. I tried to stop the boat first.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: Bobby Milam]
#11640650
06/01/16 08:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,181
grout-scout
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,181 |
What I have found is that when moving, if I hit spot lock the unit seems to have a wider frame of reference. IF I am almost stationary when I hit it, it will often hold me to the location with much less movement. I agree. I tried to stop the boat first. I've tried both ways and mine still sucks, I think I got a dud. Mine will wait forever to kick on and by then it has to hit turbo mode to catch up.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11641138
06/01/16 11:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,253
sandjohnny
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,253 |
It also helps to point the nose into the wind before you hit spot lock and will work like a champ. Best invention since the depth finder. I have had 2 and if you do that you get very little drift. The key is to get the boat as stopped as possible or it will go back to where you pushed spot lock. Johnny
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Re: spot lock
[Re: grout-scout]
#11641454
06/02/16 02:02 AM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
I've tried both ways and mine still sucks, I think I got a dud. Mine will wait forever to kick on and by then it has to hit turbo mode to catch up.
You might have a problem. I noticed that mine always used a slow speed to adjust, increasing only when it had to but almost never went into a very high speed unless it was in 15-20 mph wind. Do you have the just ipilot or the link? If you have the link, you might try a software update. To the original poster, another option that works sometimes is to lock it in on the heading and then dial in a prop speed that will hold your spot. Sometimes that worked better for me depending on the conditions. For the most part, I just learned to work with it. I had to sell mine when I bought a larger boat. I really miss it a lot. I knew I relied on spotlock but truly didn't realize until now, how much. Can't wait until I can afford another one.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: sandjohnny]
#11641508
06/02/16 02:18 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
TCK73
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413 |
It also helps to point the nose into the wind before you hit spot lock and will work like a champ. Best invention since the depth finder. I have had 2 and if you do that you get very little drift. The key is to get the boat as stopped as possible or it will go back to where you pushed spot lock. Johnny This^^^^^ They will get a mind of their own when there is a very light wind swirling around from different directions. I get aggravated at mine sometimes, but I would miss not having it.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11641529
06/02/16 02:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,181
grout-scout
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,181 |
Bobby, I have the original small remote model without the link system. When I first bought it, it held pretty good; but now it is plumb ridiculous. There's days that I want to rip it off and throw in the lake. I've thought about the Xi5; but I don't want to spend more money.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11641549
06/02/16 02:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,773
bronco71
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,773 |
Wow, I'm glad everyone posted about this, I have been thinking of upgrading just for the spot lock but haven't wanted to spend that kind of money....this settled it, I'll keep what I have!
1987 Nitro MX185/Mercury Black Max 150 1999 Triton TX21/225 Mercury Optimax
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11641916
06/02/16 12:24 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
ohmsboy
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2 |
Thanks for the feedback y'all. I do believe that I have been moving when I set it each time so I will work on stopping the boat first! As mentioned it is not as noticeable in rougher water just light to no wind. I was hoping this would help me when sitting on a brush pile trying to pull some crappie but it isn't as tight of a lock as I had hoped for. I still have the bouy for that.
Bronco you are missing out...as frustrating as the spot lock is for me I do believe if given the choice to throw the ipilot or graph over the side of the boat I would throw my graph over.
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11642230
06/02/16 02:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,773
bronco71
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,773 |
Thanks ohmsboy, if I was upgrading from a standard trolling motor I would probably do it but I have the MK autopilot with the wireless copilot that works well, just doesn't have spot lock. Currently waiting on a new coil cord from MK as a squirrel chewed mine up Its been 2 months and they haven't come up with the correct cord so if it isn't fixed soon I doubt I will buy another MK product just due to their service....
1987 Nitro MX185/Mercury Black Max 150 1999 Triton TX21/225 Mercury Optimax
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Re: spot lock
[Re: ohmsboy]
#11643424
06/02/16 11:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,452
UJC
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,452 |
My experience is the same as grout-scout. I also have the smaller remote. One thing you can do if the TM is off-tracking, is press the 'go to' spot lock button before it drifts too far.
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