Ulterra AutoPilot jerking back and forth

[Ranger Rod]

My new to me Ulterra wants to jerk back and forth on AutoPilot and it really does not keep a straight line.
It's the blutooth model. My Terrova was non bluetooth and it worked much better than this.
Any ideas guys?

[joe3buck3]

How fast were you going? My Ulterra tends to wander/search if it is going very slow the (#1-2.5 on the remote). Faster than that and it stops. I would not describe it as a JERK just a gentle back and forth motion.

[Ranger Rod]

How fast were you going? My Ulterra tends to wander/search if it is going very slow the (#1-2.5 on the remote). Faster than that and it stops. I would not describe it as a JERK just a gentle back and forth motion.

Hmm. Ya I use the slower speeds as I'm fan casting. I'll try it faster, but I'd rather have it work as slower. Yes it's not really jerking, but it's noisy and I feel it might scare the smallies.

[bobcoy]

You might try adjusting the boat scale to a setting one more - from where it is set now.

[Ranger Rod]

You might try adjusting the boat scale to a setting one more - from where it is set now.

Please explain.

[bobcoy]

Do you have ipilot or link? I will get you a link to the manual and a page #
I also need to know if its Bluetooth or not(before 2017 or after?)

[Ranger Rod]

Do you have ipilot or link? I will get you a link to the manual and a page #
I also need to know if its Bluetooth or not(before 2017 or after?)

Link and bluetooth. Thanks!

[bobcoy]

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoo...k-OM-BT-EN.pdf
Page 71

[Ranger Rod]

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoo...k-OM-BT-EN.pdf
Page 71

Thank you so much! I have the manual in the boat so I'll give it a shot.

[bobcoy]

2 other possibilities. If your big motor is turned to one side or the other the rudder affect will make the autopilot fight the turning of the boat. Another fix could be putting the "legacy autopilot" on instead of the "advanced autopilot". Not as true to a straight course but, also won't fight as you are describing. That usually helps when you have a side wind. Bob

[TomP.]

2 other possibilities. If your big motor is turned to one side or the other the rudder affect will make the autopilot fight the turning of the boat. Another fix could be putting the "legacy autopilot" on instead of the "advanced autopilot". Not as true to a straight course but, also won't fight as you are describing. That usually helps when you have a side wind. Bob

^^^^^ This was having the same issue changing to legacy cleared it right up.

[joe3buck3]

I did an experiment this morning while on the water with my Ulterra. I was traveling SLOW at a speed setting of 2 and my TM was doing its usual mild search thing. I'm used to it now so it doesn't bother me but I thought I'd test the Boat Scale setting. I keep mine on the lightest setting -2. I changed it to the highest setting +2 and the TM got much more excited with the Search routine. The head was moving quite a bit more than usual so I switched it back to -2 and it immediately calmed down. I have also tested it on the Legacy Setting which just uses the magnetic compass and there is no wandering at all.

[ntslam]

Use the cruise control in conjunction with the advanced autopilot, you can set what speed you want to travel at. This works really well at keeping you at a constant slower speed

[granite]

Another advantage to legacy mode is that it gives you a clean SI image from a TM mounted transducer, since the motor always stays pointed in the same direction with no side to side movement.

[bobcoy]

Ranger Rod is probably on 0 as he did not know of the setting. I bet -1 or 2 will settle it down. Boat weight is the key to that setting. Bob

[mwdilday]

Use the cruise control in conjunction with the advanced autopilot, you can set what speed you want to travel at. This works really well at keeping you at a constant slower speed

My suggestion exactly. For slower speeds use the cruise control then the motor can adjust blade speed to keep on course.