I got really lucky...lesson learned!

[DaubsNU1]

Love the new boat, and the MK Ulterra.

 

Super easy to launch and recover the boat with the remote deploy and stow feature...

 

...however...

 

...you can see where this is going....

 

With the colder weather and water temps, I have been using rope / line to launch boat instead of relying on the Ulterra's electronics. Still using spot lock when loading out.

 

Yesterday water temp was 49, atmosphere was 65...I was calling it quits, ready to pull the boat out.

 

Stepped off the boat on to dock...moved the boat about 20 feet off the dock and hit spot lock. Something felt a little a miss, so I waited a few minutes to make sure spot lock was all good and the boat was holding steady. Looked okay.

 

I walked the 40 yards or so, jumped in my truck and pulled around toward the ramp...and noticed my boat was heading ACROSS the lake(!!!!).

 

Quickly drove down the ramp, jumped out, ran to end of the dock and pointed the remote toward the boat.

 

I was able to gain control of the boat, turn, and remote drive it back to the dock.

 

WHEW! Lesson learned!

[GRiver]

Holy cow… thank goodness the remote had some range. Kinda funny now ain’t it, but at the time it was happening it was probably pretty intense. 

[casts_by_fly]

Did you tell it to go a previous track/mark by accident?

[12poundbass]

I know people love that feature but I could never trust it. The lakes I fish typically don’t have anyone else on them and quite a few have less than 10 houses on them so help wouldn’t be readily available. Ive gone swimming for my boat before. I don’t want to do it again.

[Woody B]

I've never got up the nerve to trust my remote while I'm not in the boat.  I don't have an Ulterra so mine doesn't deploy on it's own.  Earlier this year I took a guy 1/2 mile across the lake to retrieve his boat when his Ghost decided to go somewhere instead of coming back to the dock.   

 

When it's not crowded I just tie my rope to a cleat, back the trailer in the water and "send it".   One time the cleat broke off the dock.   A guy in a kayak near by saw it happen, and came pedaling up with my rope in his hand.   I would have been swimming if he wasn't there.  

[TnRiver46]

If only robots could think straight……….

 

I know a guy that had his TM auto deploy while rolling down the interstate, he had to get another TM 😂 

[DaubsNU1]

@GRiver, yes, it was a PUCKER moment for sure!

 

@casts_by_fly, I have not used tracks. Not sure what went wrong. I have used the spot lock like this probably ~20 times since getting the boat in early August. This is the first time something has gone a miss. 

 

@12poundbass, another boat just pulled out, and there were several kayakers around. Father's day weekend I had to swim for my brothers boat...cables on his Ulterra got hung up and the deploy feature stalled. Thankfully water temps were in the low 70's, and early morning = no breeze...short swim. Clearly I did not learn my lesson : ) 

 

@Woody B, cleat break...Ugh! 

 

@TnRiver46 Ouch! Good reminder to unplug my TM when traveling! 

[Susky River Rat]

Man that’s no good at all glad you didn’t have to go swimming. 
 

I have had people at electric only lakes get in my boat and accidentally hit the constant mode on the pedal. And the boat take off. I always be sure to have it stowed or the dial to zero now.

[ghost123123]

I have a 2018 Ulterra and have used it on spot lock at the dock, both unloading and loading. I have never had an issue, but there is a first time for everything. Not sure which remote you have but mine shows when it is spot locked. The remotes are sensitive and if you bump a button it will change the command. I constantly look at the remote while parking or retrieving the truck to load to ensure it’s still spot locked. On the flip side about a month ago I decided to use cleats and a stretchy rope with built in loops for the cleats. Came back with the truck to put the boat on the trailer and the boat had floated away from the dock. Of course I had shut the power down on the TM, left the remote in the boat and taken my life jacket off. I swim like a rock so that was not a solution. Luckily a life ring with a rope attached was on the dock. I was able to throw the ring in the bow and slowly pull the boat to the dock. I won’t be shutting down the power to the TM anymore and I will have the remote with me when parking or retrieving the truck. Guess bad things can happen regardless of which method you choose. Glad it worked out for you in this instance.

[DaubsNU1]

@ghost123123, yep, bad things can happen no matter how careful we are. Glad you were able to rope your boat.

 

I grew up next to a public pool, and while not a great swimmer, I can get it done when needed.

 

My TM has the iLink remote

 

 

Normally I hit spot lock...confirm on the remote...watch for a few seconds to make sure it's holding steady...then walk to the truck. When I walk back, the remote takes a little while to see the TM.

 

I may have inadvertently hit a button while walking away from the dock this time.

 

I still get a queasy feeling in my gut just replaying the scene in my mind...watching my boat moving away from the dock. 

 

 

[Choporoz]

Several years ago, I took my brother in law's boat out, which had a brand new remote controlled trolling motor.  On the way out, I marked a waypoint on the gps.  Couple hours later I managed to convince the remote control TM to head back to the waypoint.....at top speed.  Only problem was....there was a rockpile the size of a VW out of the water between me and the waypoint.  Panic-stricken, I could do NOTHING to convince that boat to go some direction - ANY direction other than right for the rocks.  I managed to pull the plug on the TM before we put a hole in my BIL's Tracker.  Me and technology pretty much rarely see eye to eye.  Nothing much remote on my boat....an extra trim switch up front...some cool deck lights which usually work, though not always.....an automatic bilge pump which rarely works right.  Same with my car....power windows and locks....that's about it.  I dread buying next car