Spotlock GPS puck placement - where is yours?

[Junger]

I have an Ultrex and the GPS puck was placed next to the driver console. I was trying to spotlock on a windy point today, and my boat was moving all around. I did the sensor calibration, and boat size offset. But I think the Ultrex was trying to pivot the boat around the GPS puck location, which was the center of the boat. 

 

I'm thinking that maybe moving it to the bow would be better, since once the bow is pointed into the wind it would probably move less.

[jbsoonerfan]

Mine is on the bow.

[Russ E]

This was from minn kota tech support, when I was having problems getting the puck to calibrate.  "The puck does not control spotlock. Its only purpose is to orient the front of your boat, for the spotlock jog function"

My puck was next to the console and getting magnetic interference from something in that area. I moved it to the bow and it calibrated on the first try.

It did not improve spotlock, but made the spotlock jog function work properly. 

Tech support also said if spotlock is overcompensating, adjust the boat scale setting. All of their motors are setup from the factory for a specific boat weight. If your boat is lighter it will overcompensate. If it is heavier, it will work harder trying to hold position.

My boat is a ranger z175. I have the ultrex 80.  My boat was overshooting position. I turned boat scale down to the -1 setting. Spotlock started holding position better.

[InfantryMP]

50 minutes ago, Russ E said:

My boat is a ranger z175. I have the ultrex 80.  My boat was overshooting position. I turned boat scale down to the -1 setting. Spotlock started holding position better.

This is good to know. I just installed mine on my TR-17, and I have not calibrated anything yet. Thanks for sharing!

[Tennessee Boy]

There is no Ultrex GPS puck.  The puck is a heading sensor.  Like Russ said,  it is not used for Spotlock.    It has a compass in it so it needs to be mounted away from any magnetic fields and it needs to be pointed forward. Other than that, where it's mounted doesn't matter.  Mine is mounted under my console.

[Junger]

Alrighty then...gotta figure out why my boat was pivoting all over the place.

[Russ E]

52 minutes ago, Junger said:

Alrighty then...gotta figure out why my boat was pivoting all over the place.

I would adjust boat scale. 

Down if it is overcompensating

Up if it is fighting to hold position

4 hours ago, InfantryMP said:

This is good to know. I just installed mine on my TR-17, and I have not calibrated anything yet. Thanks for sharing!

The gps receiver is built into the motors head.

I am on my second Ultrex.

I ran the first one without a puck for a year. Until I realized it would not calibrate, because of interference from my console. When I did finally get it calibrated, nothing changed on accuracy

[Junger]

43 minutes ago, Russ E said:

I would adjust boat scale. 

Down if it is overcompensating

Up if it is fighting to hold position

The gps receiver is built into the motors head.

I am on my second Ultrex.

I ran the first one without a puck for a year. Until I realized it would not calibrate, because of interference from my console. When I did finally get it calibrated, nothing changed on accuracy

 

I'm going to try and set it to -1; I'm in a Lund 1875 PVB and it's a 1500lb boat so I read it should be set to -2, which is where I had it. What would not calibrate on your puck, the heading since the puck is heading only?

 

I guess what I'm asking is, can the Ultrex spotlock accuracy be affected by the heading puck location, or is spotlock (since GPS is built into the Ultrex) independent of the puck?

[Russ E]

1 hour ago, Junger said:

 

I'm going to try and set it to -1; I'm in a Lund 1875 PVB and it's a 1500lb boat so I read it should be set to -2, which is where I had it. What would not calibrate on your puck, the heading since the puck is heading only?

 

I guess what I'm asking is, can the Ultrex spotlock accuracy be affected by the heading puck location, or is spotlock (since GPS is built into the Ultrex) independent of the puck?

My boat initially would get a failed calibration error. until I moved the puck.

spotlock accuracy  is independent of puck. 

spotlock jog uses the puck. it is basically a compass.

Once in spotlock the heading sensor. controls which way the boat moves when using the spotlock jog function on the remote.  The -,+  and 2 arrow buttons will jog the spotlock position  approximately 5 foot depending on which button you press. with out the heading sensor the motor does not know which way to go, in spotlock jog.

[Jig Man]

I have my blue tooth sensor mounted on the front deck by the trolling motor.  My gps heading sensor is in the stern next to the transducer.

[slonezp]

Maybe you're expecting too much. I always found cruise control as a better option than spotlock for wind. 

[Allen Der]

My technique is come to a stop as much as possible before hitting spotlock, point bow into the wind and put the big motor down if possible to help rudder.  If it's too shallow I use a stake out pole off the Stern in conjunction with the spot lock

[GreenPig]

Front right