Autopilot for Bass Boats: Spot-Lock and More

What an autopilot does for a bass boat

A bass boat autopilot is a powerboat autopilot. It works with the boat's existing steering, which on a bass boat is usually hydraulic steering, and holds a heading so the boat keeps its course while you run between spots, work a rod, or handle gear. The maker's line and pack name tell you what the listing is for: Raymarine's EV-100, EV-150 and EV-200 Power Pilot names are described as autopilots for powerboats with hydraulic steering, and Furuno's NavPilot line includes outboard versions of the 711C. Start with the powerboat autopilot guide.

The autopilot does not replace the trolling motor's position-holding features. If the boat has a trolling motor with a spot-lock style function, that function holds the boat in position and belongs to the trolling motor, not to the helm autopilot. This site compares complete autopilots and packs for the main helm.

Hydraulic steering decides the pack

The first question before choosing a bass boat autopilot is what steering the boat has. Raymarine's drive unit page says the drive unit is the part that interfaces with the vessel's steering system, and that the Evolution autopilots accommodate hydraulic, mechanical and power assisted stern drive systems. Hydraulic steering is common on bass boats, and the pack you pick lists the pump for that steering.

The names on a listing tell you the steering type: a power pilot name carries the hydraulic pump for powerboats, and an outboard-marked NavPilot model is described for outboard installations. If the listing does not state the steering type or the drive in the box, ask the seller, and check the maker's page. The drive types article explains how the drive names read.

To find out what steering your boat has, consult the boat maker's manual and a dealer; this site gives no installation steps. The hydraulic autopilot guide explains the pump choices, and the article on autopilots for hydraulic steering answers the buying questions.

Course holding and fishing modes

An autopilot holds the heading you set, so the boat keeps its course without someone on the helm. On a bass boat, that covers running at cruise and slow trolling, and the fishing modes built into some lines help while you fish. Furuno's NavPilot page describes these modes by name: Sabiki mode steers while drifting astern, FishHunter mode performs maneuvers around a target, and Point Lock maintains a fixed boat position by controlling rudder and throttle. The page notes that Point Lock requires a rudder reference unit or compatible steering with a built-in unit.

Furuno also names Fantum Feedback as a menu-selectable feature for outboard and sterndrive installations, described on the NavPilot 300 page. The page explains what the feature is for; it does not give this site a basis to compare one autopilot's holding behavior against another. The buying decision rests on the stated details in each listing: the pack name, the drive in the box, and the control head.

Spot-lock and the trolling motor

Spot-lock is a feature name used for trolling motors that hold the boat in position. It is not a helm autopilot feature and it is not part of the listings compared on this site. If you want both on a bass boat, you plan for two different products: a helm autopilot for the main outboard and a trolling motor with its own anchor function.

A listing that names a trolling motor brand or a spot-lock style feature is describing a trolling motor product, not an autopilot pack. Read the title and the bullet list to see what is in the box before you compare it with an autopilot listing.

Complete pack or core pack

A complete autopilot pack includes the parts named on the listing: the control head, the drive unit such as a hydraulic pump, and the sensor parts. A core pack leaves the drive out for a boat that already has one. On a bass boat with hydraulic steering, the hydraulic pump is the drive, and a core pack is for a boat where a pump stays in place. The core pack versus complete pack article explains the difference.

The control head in the box matters because the head is how you set and adjust the course from the helm. Some listings name the head in the title, and others say the head is not included. Compare the complete packs, the core packs, and the autopilots with control head on what each listing states.

Reading a bass boat autopilot listing

Read the first words of the title: a power pilot name signals hydraulic steering for a powerboat, an outboard name signals an outboard application, and a core pack name signals no drive in the box. The bullet list then tells you what is included and what is not stated.

A missing detail is a question, not a clue. If the listing does not state the steering type, the drive in the box, or the control head, ask the seller before ordering. The same product name can appear more than once with different contents, so compare each listing on its stated details. The main autopilot guide explains the ordering rule used on this site.

Keeping watch

An autopilot holds a heading; it does not watch the water. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety division works to reduce loss of life, injuries and property damage on U.S. waterways, and it directs boaters to safety courses and float planning. The operator's duty to keep watch stays with the operator.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Is spot-lock part of the autopilot?

No. Spot-lock is a feature name for trolling motors that hold the boat in position. A helm autopilot steers the main outboard; the two functions are separate products.

What steering does a bass boat autopilot need?

Most bass boats use hydraulic steering, and the autopilot pack carries a hydraulic pump for that system. Check the listing for the power pilot name and the pump in the box, and confirm the steering type with the boat manual or the maker's page.

What does core pack mean on a listing?

A core pack leaves the drive unit out of the box. On a bass boat with hydraulic steering, the drive is the hydraulic pump, so a core pack suits a boat where the pump stays.

Does an autopilot hold position like a trolling motor?

Furuno's NavPilot page describes Point Lock as a feature that maintains a fixed boat position by controlling rudder and throttle, and notes that it requires a rudder reference unit or compatible steering. Position-holding for fishing is separate from the trolling motor's spot-lock function.

How do I compare two bass boat autopilot listings?

Compare the stated details: the pack name, the steering type, the drive in the box, and the control head. What a listing does not state is a question for the seller.

Do I need a control head?

The control head is how you set and adjust the course. Some complete packs include one; some listings sell the head separately. Decide whether the head stays in the box before you order.