Is Ipilot Link worth the extra price for Bass fisherman vs. plain ipilot?

[tcbass]

Wanting to get a new Ulterra but not sure if it's worth the extra money to get the Ipilot Link vs. just plain Ipilot. I know walleye fisherman like the Link for for contour fishing and other reasons but not sure if it's worth it for bass fisherman. 

 

Is ipilot Link worth the extra price for Bass fisherman vs. just Ipilot?

[slonezp]

Are you  bankbeater? If so, save your money. If you spend time fishing deeper than 6fow, it surely is something to take a look at. My favorite option is I have the ability to mark a waypoint while, idling with the big motor, at the console and then have the trolling motor take me back to the waypoint by just hitting a button.

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

Are you  bankbeater? If so, save your money. If you spend time fishing deeper than 6fow, it surely is something to take a look at. My favorite option is I have the ability to mark a waypoint while, idling with the big motor, at the console and then have the trolling motor take me back to the waypoint by just hitting a button.

 

I know that the sonar with Ipilot or Ipilot Link hooks up to a fish finder, but will it work with any fish finder or does it have to be a Hummingbird?

[Wayne P.]

The US2 transducer is 2D sonar-only and can be adapted to most any brand.

iPilot does not connect to any sonar unit.

iPilot Link is an Ethernet connection only to Ethernet capable Humminbird units.

["hamma"]

I finally got my helix 9 working and made some tracks last 2 times out, I cant wait to fish those 2 lakes again, so I can push a couple buttons on the remote and allow the two to take me fishing for a day without much from me.

 I think even if you do bankbeat, this is a godsend to people with injuries hindering trolling motor interaction. I got the ulterra because stowing my old powerdrive was too much for my back. The I-pilot link was and is a bonus.

[Further North]

Even as a "bank beater" Link can be pretty great:

1. There is a feature that lets you follow a contour at an offset:
   1. You pick a depth, then tell it to follow that depth at a distance of sixty feet (or whatever you're comfortable with).
   2. When I started this, I used the zero ft. line, experience taught me that 1 ft. or 2 ft. gave me better results...I just set the offset for a little less.
2. Spot Lock.
   1. Run from the HB unit. Go there, stay there...'Nuff said.

There's other stuff...I've had both, wouldn't go back to just iPilot unless I had to.

[tcbass]

4 hours ago, Further North said:

Even as a "bank beater" Link can be pretty great:

1. There is a feature that lets you follow a contour at an offset:
   1. You pick a depth, then tell it to follow that depth at a distance of sixty feet (or whatever you're comfortable with).
   2. When I started this, I used the zero ft. line, experience taught me that 1 ft. or 2 ft. gave me better results...I just set the offset for a little less.
2. Spot Lock.
   1. Run from the HB unit. Go there, stay there...'Nuff said.

There's other stuff...I've had both, wouldn't go back to just iPilot unless I had to.

 

Is this a bow mounted or console mounted unit?

[Further North]

7 hours ago, tcbass said:

 

Is this a bow mounted or console mounted unit?

Both/either.  My units are networked to my Ulterra.

[tcbass]

2 hours ago, Further North said:

Both/either.  My units are networked to my Ulterra.

 

So you can control your Ulterra from either unit?

["hamma"]

As long as they are connected via ethernet cable, and said units are compatible,... yes. Pretty cool huh? You will actually have the option of, say,... pulling into a creek, shut down the gas motor, touch a few prompts on the finders screen, and the tm will be deployed and already following your commands before you even stand to head up on the castingdeck.,..I,... think thats cool,...furthermore,.. when its time to leave said creek,.you can just sit down, few more touches to the finders screen, and the trolling motor will stow itself for you.

[Further North]

7 hours ago, tcbass said:

 

So you can control your Ulterra from either unit?

Yep.

7 hours ago, "hamma" said:

As long as they are connected via ethernet cable, and said units are compatible,... yes. Pretty cool huh? You will actually have the option of, say,... pulling into a creek, shut down the gas motor, touch a few prompts on the finders screen, and the tm will be deployed and already following your commands before you even stand to head up on the castingdeck.,..I,... think thats cool,...furthermore,.. when its time to leave said creek,.you can just sit down, few more touches to the finders screen, and the trolling motor will stow itself for you.

Nailed it.  Thanks.