MinnKota iPilot Link: Information Resource

[Doug Vahrenberg]

The 788ci HD and 898c are both Ethernet Compatible so they will work with the MinnKota iPilot Link. Here is the Complete List: http://www.minnkotamotors.com/_docs/...ity7-16-12.pdf

To have both units and the iPilot Link all networked. I would remove and sell the InterLink you can't use Ethernet and InterLink at the same time and you'll get more features and functionality by adding a 5 Port Ethernet Hub and hooking both units and the iPilot Link into the hub and then it can be controlled by either unit.

[Diel11]

Tracking said it would be here this Tuesday but somehow it got here early!!

[Doug Vahrenberg]

Please share your experiences! Simple and Easy to Install!

[Diel11]

Will install Monday or Tuesday. Been playing with the remote and it's very easy and straight forward to use. Really cool that it's rechargeable and the display is color.

[Jason_Halfen_#511]

Ready to learn all about i-Pilot Link? Check out this free instructional webinar which will help you to appreciate all of the ways that i-Pilot Link can be used for navigation and boat control, allowing you to put your focus back on fishing:

i-Pilot Link seminar from Jason Halfen Outdoors

[Diel11]

Crappy 360 wouldn't work today but was able to mess with the I-pilot link. Spot Lock was all over the place, was hoping it was better than the regular I pilot but it didn't seem that way. I have a 24' Sea Hunt bay boat so it catches the wind pretty good, and it was blowing around 15mph today. Main thing I noticed was the response to movement was way slow. So I would set the spot lock and it would find that pretty quick, but when the wind would blow me off the spot, it would take enough time for the motor to figure it out that by that time it had to go to almost full speed (8) to catch up. Then it would go past the spot lock location, shut down and it would start all over again. Lots of movement also, boat would go into the wind, then sideways, then into the wind, then other side but the wind direction was not changing.

One other thing I didn't like is the minute you put the spot lock on, the 1198 would change the bottom boxes to navigation and even though I tried to change some of them, they wouldn't. So one says XTE and I was trying to change it to temperature, it would show in the menu you could do it but when you applied it, it would stay on XTE.

[gtdon777]

diel11 I had ipilot on my terrova on a 17 foot bay boat and it worked amazing... now i installed it on my 19 foot fish and ski and it was all over the place untill i upgraded from a 55lb to a 80lb terrova.... I'm not sure of your setup but you should have a 101lb thrust maybe that would help.. also diel11 and anyone else where can i buy the ipilot link i'm looking everywhere and its out of stock i've emailed minnkota and they told me they have been shipping for weeks I just cant seem to find one

[gtdon777]

doug vahrenberg i've been thinking of a new video , If you could show us useing your side imaging and then cursor over to some structure about 100 ft away and have ipilot link take you there that sounds pertty cool to me

[Diel11]

I run a 101 Terrova on a 24' Sea Hunt bay boat. Gets that boat up to 3mph in setting "10". Not sure what the deal was but it was surprising that it wouldn't just keep the bow into the wind. Some times the boat would be completely sideways from the wind direction, which would get it out of location even faster. Going back tomorrow to work on it more.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

doug vahrenberg i've been thinking of a new video , If you could show us useing your side imaging and then cursor over to some structure about 100 ft away and have ipilot link take you there that sounds pertty cool to me

Already on the list once I get my new boat. Didn't have SI installed last fall on the Terrova but will be doing it for this year.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

I run a 101 Terrova on a 24' Sea Hunt bay boat. Gets that boat up to 3mph in setting "10". Not sure what the deal was but it was surprising that it wouldn't just keep the bow into the wind. Some times the boat would be completely sideways from the wind direction, which would get it out of location even faster. Going back tomorrow to work on it more.

I ran the 101 on my 20' Skeeter and didn't have much issues but they are very wind resistant designed boats. But I can tell you there are alot of difference is boats and the bigger, taller sides and flatter they float the more wind could have effects. Might check with MinnKotaif there is anything you can do to help.

[Diel11]

Will do. And yes, this boat of mine sits a lot higher than my Skeeter used to. I ran a 101 Maxxum on my ZX225 and it was almost scary how fast it would go. Thanks for the help.

[Diel11]

Went back out again today with 10-12mph winds. The Link handled that no problem. I used a landmark, waypoint and marker in the water to see how much I'm moving and today it kept me within 5 feet. Couple of times the wind changed direction and it pointed the bow quickly into the wind. More testing tomorrow, it will be windy again.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

I finished up editing some footage last night on the iPilot Link Controls available with the Remote, Terrova Foot pedal and withing the Humminbird.

[Diel11]

Just back from the lake, it was crazy windy today. Steady 15-20mph with up to 30mph gusts. Some spots we were able to keep the boat within 10-15 feet of the lock, other spots we were completely blown off the location, to the point the motor was at 10 and couldn't stay. I think the Link works ok at 10mph or below, but on my boat with the high side gunnels and all that, above 10mph it goes nuts and won't keep up. Did the same thing today where it would put the boat sideways into the wind, instead of bow first. So I had to get off spot lock and manually put the boat back.

I don't remember my regular I-pilot having such problems so I am going to install it back and test it this afternoon. Most likely will take both and change them on the water to make a fair comparison.

[fsae99]

Diel, are you getting max gps reception bars? I'm running 6.6 on my 998 with the gps-hs and it gives me enhanced fix but sat 46,48, and 51 are grey not black.

I hope you get link sorted out. I have regular i pilot now and it is bad azz, holds amazing. I want the link but I'm going to hold off until a couple more folks report on it.

[Diel11]

Thanks for the suggestion, will check next time. The only thing is I think the GPS signal for the Link comes from the Link module, not the GPS-HS. But not sure about that. I will check it tomorrow.

[fsae99]

A quick test would be to unhook I pilot link from head unit and try hold. I'm thinking the both the new gps's and the gps in the i pilot link share same gps software and may be less than ideal for near stationery operations.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

iPilot Link uses the GPS Receiver in the iPilot Link Module to control the Navigation.

[Diel11]

Tried changing modules on the water (from Link to regular Ipilot). The Link is almost too sensitive or something, just always working. The regular ipilot just pointed us into the wind and kept us in the spot. Sad to say but for spot lock the regular Ipilot is much better right now.