Question for Old town Autopilot Owners

[Jeffrey Walker]

Do you ever miss the pedals? 

 

wondering if there is a situation where i would be left wishing i had pedals. Aside from a motor failure, have there been any instances where you have missed it?

[casts_by_fly]

I’ve never had pedals and can’t see a single situation for me that I would ever want them over the motor. 

[Scott804]

The reason I didn't go to a motor is stealth factor. Your water displacement in a kayak is already incredible and a massive advantage, I have always felt like having a motor running all the time negates some of that. That being said, same could be said about your sonar constantly pinging... I turn that off in shallow water too. 

[casts_by_fly]

57 minutes ago, Scott804 said:

The reason I didn't go to a motor is stealth factor. Your water displacement in a kayak is already incredible and a massive advantage, I have always felt like having a motor running all the time negates some of that. That being said, same could be said about your sonar constantly pinging... I turn that off in shallow water too. 

 

the turning motor noise is the only thing in the AP that I think I would change. It’s a whiny higher pitched sound when you’re making a manual turn of the motor over more than about 30 degrees of turn. If the boat is in heading mode then it does it in short little corrections and you don’t hear it. I use that most of the time so not as big of a deal. Going down the bank in 15’ of water and 30 yards off the bank I don’t think is a big deal. At that point I’m on super slow constant prop speed which I don’t think is a major factor for the fish.