Spot Lock

[Fishscale]

Does anyone have experience with this anchor-less system? Contemplating adding to my 25ft walk around but the idea of running the boat and burning gas all day seems to be costly. If i have to keep the boat running to use the system while drifting it might not be so ideal. Correct me if I’m wrong I did not do much research and just thought I’d share here for live interaction

 

[WhatKnot]

With all due respect, I believe that you have answered your own questions.
Keep it simple and enjoy. Good Luck.

 

[Fishscale]

I see so it’s ideal for those with disposable income ?

 

[PropellerJohnII]

Does anyone have experience with this anchor-less system? Contemplating adding to my 25ft walk around but the idea of running the boat and burning gas all day seems to be costly. If i have to keep the boat running to use the system while drifting it might not be so ideal. Correct me if I’m wrong I did not do much research and just thought I’d share here for live interaction

Was way out east black fishing for 2 days last month on my friend's center console with remote control spot lock. He also uses the spot lock center console upstate NY at Lake George. We fished for the 2 days without ever dropping an anchor. Damn thing is like magic, it keeps you on the GPS anchor spot continuously adjusting for wind, current, so you do not move off the piece or swing off it. Crazy good, dead on. Never seen anything like it. You can wear the remote control around your neck too if u want as u move around your boat. Since it is a modified trolling motor you cut your engine off and run it off deep cycle marine batteries. You can recharge the deep cycle batteries as u move from spot to spot, recharge at a dock side hook up or from your house if you trailer. He says the spot lock trolling motor set ups can handle boats to 30 feet. Boats in Florida use them and fish in spots hundreds of feet deep. Kal, they are a little pricey but if you do serious tog and reef fishing, you need to buy this. You will never regret it and will wonder how u ever fished without this system.
Check this out:

 

[george]

Does anyone have experience with this anchor-less system? Contemplating adding to my 25ft walk around but the idea of running the boat and burning gas all day seems to be costly. If i have to keep the boat running to use the system while drifting it might not be so ideal. Correct me if I’m wrong I did not do much research and just thought I’d share here for live interaction

I know two people well that use spot lock and swear by it. One has his on a 26 footer and he's a great bottom fisherman. He swears by it and said he'd will never look back. John Skinner got one last year and he features it on a few of his videos.

I'm considering one for my 18 Robalo.

 

[Stevepanther]

Get it it’s a little pricey but well worth it if I had a smaller boat I would get it. The only drawback I here is when it’s rough it doesn’t always stay in the water

 

[jpd]

Between this and the self docking setup - who needs a captain?

 

[BrycePoyer]

I have a 84" Rhodan 36V mounted on my 23' Parker center console. Simply put, it has been a game changer.
Both the anchor mode (spot lock) and manual have been invaluable. The only issue I have had is cavitation during high sea states, usually when I shouldn't be there anyway. Between those of us that work here at White Water we own 4 Rhodan trolling motors, fair to say we are convinced.

 

[Capt13]

I have researched them ...... Rhodan seem the way to go right now. Looking forward to setting one up on my boat.

 

[Roccus7]

Besides cost weight is a factor, talking 150 lbs for batteries alone.

 

[Fishscale]

As I seriously contemplate adding it the only time I anchor is in Spring for bass and then in late fall for togging. But come to think about it I wouldn’t want to spook the bass with the trolling motor running when I’m chunking so it would only serve me in the fall really. I will pass for now but if my bottom fishing outings pick up I’ll consider adding in the future.

 

[NoFlukenName]

As I seriously contemplate adding it the only time I anchor is in Spring for bass and then in late fall for togging. But come to think about it I wouldn’t want to spook the bass with the trolling motor running when I’m chunking so it would only serve me in the fall really. I will pass for now but if my bottom fishing outings pick up I’ll consider adding in the future.

For those that fluke, you can also use the jog feature to drift with the current during wind against tide conditions and/or to create a drift if the current is barely moving.

 

[Fishscale]

For those that fluke, you can also use the jog feature to drift with the current during wind against tide conditions and/or to create a drift if the current is barely moving.

I didn’t think about that right on

 

[missberylcharters]

Fishscale, I have a Minnkota Ulterra on my 19' Maritime skiff - a 24v system. You do not have to keep your main engine running when using the trolling motor. It is a standalone system. For a 25' boat as Bryce Power related, a 36 volt x 84" system is probably what you want. That means 3 batteries. Some of my buddies tell me that Minnkota has a long backorder on their motors now although they do make a great product. I would take hard look at the Rhodan. I would definitely include a built in battery charger to take care of the batteries. Besides using the "spot lock" to "anchor" the boat when togging, it has helped me to improve my fluking.... on real calm days you can slow troll and place your troll on a track line if you wish-or spot lock over some sticky fishy stuff and flip bucktails in the stuff you can not easily drift over.....Yes I agree when ruff and bouncy the prop will pop out of the water and you can lose some position when spot locked.....but not a big deal.
To me it is a great thing to have, you need to evaluate how much you like your current boat and how long you plan to keep it before investing the bucks. Also consider the weight of the batteries. For a 25' boat i am thinking around 225# pounds of batteries in bow should not matter much, but for smaller boats like mine, it can effect the self bailing aspects. I keep a couple of buckets of water in the stern to offset that when tied up. Another side benefit, it give you an emergency motor in case your main should crap out, you can slow troll home or to help if all else fails.
All in all very cool thing to have.

 

[BennyV]

For those that fluke, you can also use the jog feature to drift with the current during wind against tide conditions and/or to create a drift if the current is barely moving.

That’s awesome

 

[george]

Fishscale, I have a Minnkota Ulterra on my 19' Maritime skiff - a 24v system. You do not have to keep your main engine running when using the trolling motor. It is a standalone system. For a 25' boat as Bryce Power related, a 36 volt x 84" system is probably what you want. That means 3 batteries. Some of my buddies tell me that Minnkota has a long backorder on their motors now although they do make a great product. I would take hard look at the Rhodan. I would definitely include a built in battery charger to take care of the batteries. Besides using the "spot lock" to "anchor" the boat when togging, it has helped me to improve my fluking.... on real calm days you can slow troll and place your troll on a track line if you wish-or spot lock over some sticky fishy stuff and flip bucktails in the stuff you can not easily drift over.....Yes I agree when ruff and bouncy the prop will pop out of the water and you can lose some position when spot locked.....but not a big deal.
To me it is a great thing to have, you need to evaluate how much you like your current boat and how long you plan to keep it before investing the bucks. Also consider the weight of the batteries. For a 25' boat i am thinking around 225# pounds of batteries in bow should not matter much, but for smaller boats like mine, it can effect the self bailing aspects. I keep a couple of buckets of water in the stern to offset that when tied up. Another side benefit, it give you an emergency motor in case your main should crap out, you can slow troll home or to help if all else fails.
All in all very cool thing to have.

What batteries are you using and do you need 3 also? I'm looking to get one for my 18 Roballo.

 

[NoFlukenName]

What batteries are you using and do you need 3 also? I'm looking to get one for my 18 Roballo.

Not directed at me but I can tell you it’s hard to beat the Sam’s Club every day price on Duracell Group 27 and 31s. I paid 179 for the Group 31s. Again, almost impossible to find cheaper and they are quality batteries.

 

[missberylcharters]

There are 3 set ups 12v, 24v or 36v (1 battery/2 batteries/3 batteries). More batteries equals more operating time. For my 19' skiff I installed a 2 battery system. I would want high quality batteries (batteries are heart of system) - Sealed Marine AGM Batteries/Hi Performance. I chose the "VMAX" (MR137-120) brand for my application. I have yet to run out of juice on my trips. The best of the best AGM to me are the LIFELINE brand of batteries, however they are expensive (I have in my big boat-they have lasted 10 years so far still going strong). The choice of a single battery system or 2/3 battery set up depends on your usage/budget/weight/room/location considerations of the batteries. Attached is pic of my install, located in the forward anchor locker of the boat - 2 batteries/charger fit in there perfectly. Had to make some adaptations to mount the motor as the skiff had an open bow. Minnkota has their own brand of charger and it handles charging the multiple batteries quite well. I run the charger every week or 2 when not using to keep them topped off, and day before my trip to make sure they are fully charged.

 

[Jack_Daniels]

I have a Minnkota Ulterra on a 27Rambo, and as has already been said by Bryce and Rick, it's a game changer. As your pulling up on a piece, you deploy, and hit spot lock once your over it, turn around and start fishing. Not enough life? Hit Stow and be on your way in literally seconds. Makes it quick and easy to bounce around to many more pieces.

You want to move a little to get on it better? With the heading sensor, you can jog the boat 5' at a time forward, back, left or right.

Got a bad drift with wind against, or across the tide? With the heading sensor, use the auto pilot to counteract the wind drift and just go with the tide. Or if you have no drift at all, make one for yourself, controlling direction and speed.

The motor runs off 3 deep cycle marine batteries, that are charged from a built in battery charger i plug in when im back home. It doesn't charge off the motor. Supposedly I could get a pair of lithium batteries that could be charged off the motor, but it's beaucoup bucks for the batteries, and these work fine for a full day. A full charge has lasted me all day blackfish fishing.

I do have issues with the spot lock "slipping" position in heavy current, like 1.5-1.75 knots or more. I'll raise the outboard out of the water to reduce drag. My trolling motor has 112-lbs of thrust. Go with the biggest motor you can to avoid this problem. Coming out of the water in rough water is also a way to cause it to slip back, or shut off completely.

If i had Humminbird electronics i could integrate it with my helm.

We have affectionately named it "Johnny 5" from the movie Short Circuit. I think my crew loves it more than me, for saving them from pulling 2 anchors all the time ? Here I was using it to make a drift while tile fishing. My buddy Joe was quite relaxed as you can see lol.

 

[missberylcharters]

Hahaha Chris, that may be a first for the Minnkota, tile fishing... you gotta love it!