Electric Winch or Minn Kota i-pilot

[ant1971]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has experience in either of the above?

A mate told me about the i-pilot.....it looks good, but after chatting to a guy in BCF, he thinks id need the 80lb thrust model, which is expensive.

The guy who sold me the boat will sell me a free fall winch at a good price, which i think will be cheaper than the i-pilot.

When i go fishing, its only to the Reef.....my boat is a 5.45m half cabin fibreglass

Any advice is appreciated

Ant

[scorpo92]

A lot of blokes I know have an ipilot. You never need your anchor again unless you want to anchord over night. Anchor winch ia good but just not as handy

[stevej]

2k for a whinch installation
ipilot plus two deep cycle batteries t get 24v plus specialised charger

[Camhawk88]

I'd go the I pilot plus an anchor ball for when you do want to anchor.
Then again that is a deckies job and as skipper you should not concern yourself with such trivial matters as anchor pulling.
Unless your wife is the regular deckie of coarse!

[Still_Dreamin]

I went down that track but couldn't get a shaft long enough to reach the water continuously. Ie as the boat goes over waves the Minn would come out of water. At least that is what I as told. Let me know how you go. There was one available that goes on the horizontal cavitation plate above prop.
minn.jpg

[hazza80]

Just put a 55lb 54" on lay-by. BCF have Club discount (20% off ) - $1839

[rayken1938]

Just be aw2are that your boat will swing in an aprox 30 foot radius depending on wind and tide
cheers
ray

[perko]

Bow mount I Pilot would be a pain on a half cab, but they are brilliant on open/console boats.

[LittleSkipper]

Bow mount I Pilot would be a pain on a half cab, but they are brilliant on open/console boats.

Why would an iPilot be a pain on a cabin boat? Would you have to feed it Nurofen or Panadol?


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[Lovey80]

Imagine having to go forward every time you pulled up to drop the leccy down? Bugger that. Great on a centre console or similar but a cabin boat you'd sure want a stern mount?

[LittleSkipper]

Imagine having to go forward every time you pulled up to drop the leccy down? Bugger that. Great on a centre console or similar but a cabin boat you'd sure want a stern mount?

Imagine! I can imagine some being too lazy, that's what I can imagine. Geez! If that's one of the hardest things someone has to do then imagine someone having to do something easy?


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[perko]

LittleSkipper, it is very hard to mount them up there for starters, they would be a nightmare trying to put them up and down standing up the front on an uneven cabin section especially when rough. You would find most would not have a long enough shaft to keep the motor in the water. I am yet to see one on any half cab (seen a few on little runabouts). But seeing you are such a clever person, go and put one on your boat and prove us wrong.

[LittleSkipper]

LittleSkipper, it is very hard to mount them up there for starters, they would be a nightmare trying to put them up and down standing up the front on an uneven cabin section especially when rough. You would find most would not have a long enough shaft to keep the motor in the water. I am yet to see one on any half cab (seen a few on little runabouts). But seeing you are such a clever person, go and put one on your boat and prove us wrong.

I'd be up for the challenge! Now I just need to save my coin.


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[Still_Dreamin]

As I said and now perko has said you won't find a shaft long enough. As for going forward I reckon it would be easier than pulling in an anchor and heaps quieter than dropping all that chain especially when chasing snapper in the bay. Watched a few YouTube video of the electric on the cavitation plate and would be the way to go for a half cabin.

[Force3]

Hi Ant, For a 5.4m FG half cab you would need the 80lb thrust minn kota system, as recommended by BCF, which means 24V - 2 X 12V batteries.