For those of you that already have one.

Did you go with link or non link version and for what reason?

Im wanting to order a 112/52 and not sure I would use the link very often.

I have the non link, not comparable with my graphs so no point for the link version to me.

I have the link and would be fine without it. I rarely use the link features. In fact, I only use them when I am trying to find ways to use them. The link features would probably be more useful if I was ever on an actual school or was more familiar with the lakes I fish and had more brush piles located or tracks saved.

In short, the link is cool to have but if I could go back I would save the money.

What is the difference in the link and non-link version?

Do you have to have the link for it follow a particular contour line on your map chip?

Yes. That's about the only difference besides being able to go to a waypoint from your graph. Only compatible with birds and lakemaster chips. I got the link version because that was all I could find at the time. It's definitely not necessary for 95% of fisherman.

I went with the iPilot Link.....because it was IN STOCK! Duh.

The other to consider though is that the I pilot link remote is different then the non-link remote. Again, I dont use the remote that much either, but there are more features in the link remote than the non-link remote.

Just picked up the 112/60 w iPilot

I have the Link version as well as Humminbird unit and Lakemaster chip. The Link version allows you to follow contours but also allows you to hold on or go to a specific GPS spot stored on your graph. Your non-Link unit will store 20 spots and you can direct yourself there with the remote but you can't actually see a visual representation of the spot. The Link unit will store hundreds of GPS spots as long as you have the Humminbird.

Also, you can control the trolling motor off of the Humminbird unit if you want.

99% of my use is tied to simple spotlock. But there are times that I use the Link features as well. I figured I was going to spend a ton of money on one anyway and that I might as well get one that I was not going to regret later. Buy once, cry once.

What size shaft on the ultrex do most of you guys prefer?

I have the 52. I wouldn't go any shorter but I fish offshore a lot.

I have a 52 as well but I think it depends a lot on your boat. My Skeeter and most skeeters that have been on would not work with a 46", other boats I would assume might work fine or else they wouldn't be making 46" units. There are times in high winds where my 52 still comes out of the water (but it is rare), and the most I have had to raise when trolling shallow was maybe 6-7 inches.

What do you drive? Maybe someone will have the same boat and can tell what worked for them.

I have a Triton and I'm going with the 52".....I'm gonna use spot lock more than anything the most. Might just go without the link even though I have new helix units....

Link. More is better.

Shallow, I have a ZX225 and a 60" shaft Terrova i-Pilot. I spend a fair amount of time in swells on Falcon and Amistad with water crashing over the front of the boat and my trolling motor rarely comes out of the water. I'm about to upgrade and have been thinking about the 52" for shallower water applications. Assuming you spend time in swells, does your trolling motor come out of the water often?

Thanks,
Joe