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Finally got the boat wet this year!  On our shakedown run, did some fishing for a couple hours.  Boated a 28" King on a Mixed Veggies diving lure, 100 ft back on a Big Board Planer, trolling East at 2.3 mph in 50 ft of water, more specifically, East of the Donut.  My first chance to use the AP I installed last August for fishing!  Definitely a Game-Changer.  I don't know how I lived without it!


 

Thanks for the report and good to hear! Yes AP is a game changer, makes trolling 1000 times better.

Thanks for the report 

Thanks for the report. Glad to hear they are still there.

I can echo what Tmik34 said about AP. I installed AP on my Boston Whaler 210 Montauk last year and it revolutionized trolling for me. I can easily fish alone and fishing with a friend, especially if they’re not that experienced, is even easier now.

I am not seasoned nor bold enough to go out alone, at least not yet! I definitely can launch, cruise, and fish alone. Those are the easy parts. With my Steiger's Pilothouse design, I haven't acquired the skill set to dock unassisted. It's only my second season as a boat owner, although I've been boating off and on for almost 50 yrs. Just never owned one, until now. So, 2024 was a learning and re-learning year, on a used boat that needed tender loving care. In other words, a Project Boat! It's a DIY-er's dream.... or nightmare! Put a lot of time, elbow grease, and money into rehabbing her. I finished the AP install in late September 2024, then only got out once before season's end on a commission cruise. Tuesday was my first time using it fishing. You make a great point with the AP and unexperienced company aboard. That'll happen next week with my family arriving from PA to first time fish the Big Lake.

Curious about the marine electronics you run and if they are the same brand as your AP? I am Garmin'd up on all else but the AP. I went with the RayMarine AP because it performs similarly as the Garmin AP for Trolling, but at less than half the cost! It performed flawlessly, holding our heading while trolling Tuesday. I didn't get the chance to try the programmable patterns yet! For sure though next week. Apparently, the RayMarine SeaTalk network can be linked with the Garmin NMEA network via an adapter cable, allowing the AP to navigate to waypoints selected on the Garmin, but I haven't gone that route yet. Wondering if anybody has tried linking them, and if it's worth the trouble?

I have all Raymarine electronics including the Raymarine AP. Garmin makes a very good product too. The Raymarine AP works flawlessly on my boat. It’s definitely a game changer.

I've always said the autopilot is the 2nd most important electronic gizmo a fisherman (who often or even sometimes trolls) can own. Some might say their sonar is #1, some might think their GPS or chartplotter is most important. Safety oriented boaters may list their VHS, PLB or radar is #1.  But the AP is always #2. 

I run mostly Raymarine electronics (including my AP) but I didn't hook it to my chart plotter to make it run a route or to do any of the other fancy stuff it's probably capable of doing. All I want it to do is drive straight. Day in, day out, even when I'm in the driver's seat, the AP is steering the boat. 

Glad you had a good shakedown cruise and way to go on that nice king!