MakoMatt
Angler
In another discussion, on another topic, Captain Mike brought up the subject of trolling motors with Spot Lock. I have been thinking about getting one too.
These things are a game changer. In a small fraction of the time it takes you to set the hook with your traditional ground gear, you can be soaking a line fishing. And on the reverse side, it takes once again, a small fraction of the time to pick up your lines and be on your way to perhaps more productive piece.
Spending at least 6 months and a day in Sunny Florida each year, I can tell you that they are extremely popular down there. And so are center consoles, which these are easily deployed from.
But I have some concerns……….
My last vessel, that I kept down in SW FL was a 31’ Steiger Miami. It had a great anchoring system with a level 5 commercial drum, 45 pound anchor, 600’ of line, and 30’ of chain. It worked very well, but took forever to set the hook and retrieve it. There were plenty of times after going through all that there was no bite on the piece, ledge, whatever we were on, and killed considerable time setting, picking up, and moving on to another piece.
All that work, and seeing other vessels come and go in minutes really peaked my interest in getting a spot lock. I researched on line, got some real life testimonials from people that had them, and had a couple of estimates as well.
I didn’t pull the trigger on having one installed. My issue was I wanted a self deploying unit. If I had to send someone up to the bow to deploy, and set it back in its cradle it defeated one of my main objectives. I had not heard very good things about the self deploying units. Lots of problems at the time with them, and at least one major marine supply store that sold trolling motors, stop selling the self deploying units. In my mind it was not an inexpensive add on. Estimates started north of $10k for the unit, battery, etc., and that didn’t include the modifications that would be needed to the bow rail.
Roll the calendar ahead 3 years, does anyone have any information on how the self deploying units are working today? Does anyone have one? Have they worked out the bugs? Would love to have one on the 28’ Albin.
These things are a game changer. In a small fraction of the time it takes you to set the hook with your traditional ground gear, you can be soaking a line fishing. And on the reverse side, it takes once again, a small fraction of the time to pick up your lines and be on your way to perhaps more productive piece.
Spending at least 6 months and a day in Sunny Florida each year, I can tell you that they are extremely popular down there. And so are center consoles, which these are easily deployed from.
But I have some concerns……….
My last vessel, that I kept down in SW FL was a 31’ Steiger Miami. It had a great anchoring system with a level 5 commercial drum, 45 pound anchor, 600’ of line, and 30’ of chain. It worked very well, but took forever to set the hook and retrieve it. There were plenty of times after going through all that there was no bite on the piece, ledge, whatever we were on, and killed considerable time setting, picking up, and moving on to another piece.
All that work, and seeing other vessels come and go in minutes really peaked my interest in getting a spot lock. I researched on line, got some real life testimonials from people that had them, and had a couple of estimates as well.
I didn’t pull the trigger on having one installed. My issue was I wanted a self deploying unit. If I had to send someone up to the bow to deploy, and set it back in its cradle it defeated one of my main objectives. I had not heard very good things about the self deploying units. Lots of problems at the time with them, and at least one major marine supply store that sold trolling motors, stop selling the self deploying units. In my mind it was not an inexpensive add on. Estimates started north of $10k for the unit, battery, etc., and that didn’t include the modifications that would be needed to the bow rail.
Roll the calendar ahead 3 years, does anyone have any information on how the self deploying units are working today? Does anyone have one? Have they worked out the bugs? Would love to have one on the 28’ Albin.
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