Auto Pilot

It all depends on the steering system, if its a cable your choices are limited, Last I knew Raymarine had suspended sales of thier unit for cable systems, Not sure if Simrad still makes one or not, check defender .com as I think i saw a new auto for cable steered boats, No way in he!! should you have to spend that kind of money unless you convert to hydaulic steering at the same time

Last year i bought a 22' walkaround with an i/o, it's a 1991 and has an autohelm-sportpilot on it.I thought this would be great for trolling so i could step away from the wheel to set lines and net fish for my kids,but it won't keep the boat straight at trolling speeds.It works great at faster speeds but i don't need it for that.I have the original book for it and tried every adjusment in the book but still no luck.You can hear it working but always ends up in a large turn,so i just stopped using it.I do use trolling bags to get my speed down for trollng and I'm not sure if thats part of the problem. Hope this helps.

I've got about $5k in my 9.9 Pro-kicker and TR-1, but if one got a decent used late model 4 stroke and a good deal on a TR-1, you might be in business for under $3,500.

Good to hear, let us know how it works. So far I've been able to resist the urge to add the autopilot...

the auto piolet does not respond fast enough at slow speeds i have a sport piolet works better at 15mph or faster if you need one for fishing i would have to agree a kicker with a push pull auto will not cost but 1500 or some where around that not inc the kicker

The response time I have been told, is related to the position of the rudder (outdrive). The systems now have smart rudder technology that remeblers the position and can react immediatly. The other option is the installation of a rudder (outdrive) sensor. This tells the computer the position of the steering at all times regardless of speed (so I am told) The complete system I purchased should arrive tomorrow and I will install it this weekend. My first up to the big pond will be around the 15th of May. It will either work, or take me over Nigra falls. Time will tell. I am going to write a book, "how to build a $20,000.00 fishing boat for $60,000.00)Only guy's will understand what I mean.

If the response time is too slow at trolling speeds, then either the autopilot is undersized, has the wrong control mechanism (made for a different application), or something is wrong (either with the gain setup or the unit is malfunctioning), IMO. Trolling into heavy winds at low speeds is the only scenario I can think of that would cause a problem holding a proper heading...however, it's hard to hold a steady heading under these conditions at low speeds steering manually.

ORIGINAL: Like2Fish
 I am going to write a book, "how to build a $20,000.00 fishing boat for $60,000.00)Only guy's will understand what I mean.

I'm with ya on that one Clem.  I have 3 of those to my credit and a fourth sitting in the yard.....just not on that large of a scale!  Mine are more like build a $2,500 boat for $5,000!  The one Matt bought off of me, I sold for a loss AND helped him build it!