Autopilot for Fishing Boats: Trolling Modes

What a fishing autopilot does

A fishing boat autopilot does the same steering job as any marine autopilot: it steers the boat automatically toward a heading or along a route so the skipper can tend to rods, lines, sonar and the catch. What makes a fishing-focused autopilot different is the set of listed features around that basic job: trolling modes, waypoint navigation aids and, on some models, integration with a kicker motor or an electronic helm. The maker's pages describe these features by name, and this article explains what those names mean when you read a listing.

Fishing boats are mostly powerboats, so the steering is usually hydraulic and the autopilot drive is a hydraulic pump. The drive choice has to match the steering already aboard, not the fishing features. Start with the powerboat autopilot guide to see how listings are organized by steering type.

Trolling modes and fishing features

The most useful fishing features are named on the maker's pages. The Furuno NavPilot 300 page lists SABIKI mode, FishHunter mode, Point Lock, Speed Control and Route Smoothing. A listing that names these modes tells you the model is built for fishing; a listing that only says autopilot tells you nothing about fishing features.

FishHunter Drive is a separate Furuno and Suzuki feature. The page says it works with specific Suzuki outboards and Dometic Optimus steering, adjusts tilt and trim at designated RPM, and adds SABIKI Lock, which controls rudder and throttle to hold the boat while the angler works a jig. These are named features on the maker's page; the listing will say which of them are included.

Some fishing modes carry their own requirements. The NavPilot 300 page says Point Lock requires a Rudder Reference Unit (RRU) or a Dometic steering with a built-in RRU. Read the maker's page for the specific mode you want, and check the control head options when you compare control heads.

• SABIKI mode: steers the boat automatically while drifting astern so the angler can focus on jigging and bottom fishing.
• FishHunter mode: takes a target from a Furuno sonar or radar and runs a pre-programmed maneuver around it, such as zig-zag, orbit, figure-eight or spiral.
• Point Lock: holds a fixed boat position by controlling rudder and throttle, which the maker's page says suits fishing a wreck or reef.
• Speed Control: holds a preset speed by adjusting engine RPM against wind and tide.
• Route Smoothing: softens turns as the boat approaches a waypoint on an active route.

Waypoint navigation and route following

Waypoint navigation is a wider autopilot feature, but fishing boats use it constantly: run a route to the fishing grounds, follow the same line back, or stay on a contour. An autopilot that navigates an active route takes the route from a chartplotter and steers the boat waypoint to waypoint. The NavPilot 300 page mentions Route Smoothing, which decreases the speed of turns as the boat approaches a waypoint so the boat does not overshoot the turn.

Look for route following or active route in the maker's pages. That feature depends on a network connection to the chartplotter. For a fuller explanation, see the route following article.

Kicker motor integration

A kicker motor is a small auxiliary outboard used for trolling. A kicker autopilot steers the kicker, usually through a tilt tube or linkage, so the boat holds a trolling line without the main engine doing the work. The catalog lists kicker kits as separate picks, and the kit title names the parts.

If your fishing boat has a kicker, the drive choice follows the kicker's steering, not the main engine's. The kicker autopilot article explains how these kits attach, and the kicker motor autopilot guide compares the kits on stated details.

• Tilt tube or linkage: the part that connects the drive to the kicker's steering.
• Bracket: the mounting part for the drive on the kicker.
• Control head: the part you use to set and adjust the course, in packs that include one.

Steering and drive choice

Fishing boats usually have hydraulic steering, especially center consoles and offshore boats. The autopilot drive is then a hydraulic pump that connects to the existing helm pump. Raymarine lists its autopilot packs by steering type, with names like EV-100 Power Pilot and EV-200 Power Pilot for hydraulic systems. Furuno lists NavPilot variants with pump models in the title. The drive choice is decided by the steering system and the maker's page, not by the fishing features.

A separate named feature on Furuno pages is Fantum Feedback. The maker says outboard and sterndrive installations no longer require a physical rudder feedback unit, which simplifies the installation. That is a stated feature, not a claim this site makes. If the drive or steering is uncertain, the hydraulic autopilot guide and the drive types article show how listings name each drive.

Network and chartplotter integration

Fishing autopilots talk to the chartplotter and sonar over a network. The NMEA 2000 standard is a CAN-based network that lets marine electronics share data, commands and status over a single channel. FishHunter mode needs a target from the sonar or radar, and route following needs an active route from the chartplotter, so the network connection is part of the feature.

Makers also name their own networks, and a listing may say NMEA 2000 or use a proprietary name. Check the maker's page for what the autopilot connects to and what data it needs. The catalog cannot tell you whether a specific chartplotter works together; ask the maker or a dealer. Start with the NMEA 2000 article and the chartplotter integration article.

Helm features and the watch

Some fishing autopilots list helm features alongside the trolling modes. Furuno's NavPilot 300 page names Safe Helm, which temporarily switches the autopilot to manual steering for a set time interval and then restores the automatic mode, and Power Assist, which provides speed-based assisted steering while the boat is in manual helm control. These are stated features on the maker's page; the listing names them if they are included.

None of these features replaces a lookout. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety page keeps general educational material for recreational boaters about boating safely and responsibly, and a watch stays a fundamental duty on any boat. An autopilot is a steering aid, not a lookout.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does a fishing autopilot replace a lookout?

No. An autopilot steers the boat automatically so the skipper can move around the boat, but a lookout remains a basic duty on any boat. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety page keeps general educational material for recreational boaters about boating safely and responsibly.

What does SABIKI mode do?

SABIKI mode is a fishing feature on Furuno NavPilot models. The maker's page says it steers the boat automatically while drifting astern at a slow pace, so the angler can focus on jigging, bottom fishing and bait fishing.

What is FishHunter mode?

FishHunter mode is a NavPilot feature that takes a target from a Furuno sonar or radar and runs a pre-programmed maneuver around it, such as a zig-zag, orbit, figure-eight or spiral pattern. The maker's page says it can also be used for man overboard.

Can an autopilot steer a kicker motor?

Yes, if the autopilot is a kicker autopilot. These kits attach to the kicker's tilt tube or linkage and steer the kicker independently of the main engine. See the kicker article for how the kits are named.

Do I need a rudder reference unit for fishing modes?

It depends on the mode and the model. The NavPilot 300 page says Point Lock requires a Rudder Reference Unit (RRU) or a Dometic steering system with a built-in RRU, and the NavPilot 711C/OB page notes that FishHunter mode requires an RRU. Read the maker's page for the specific mode.

How does the autopilot get a route from the chartplotter?

Through the NMEA 2000 network. The standard lets marine electronics share data, commands and status over a single channel. The autopilot takes the active route from the chartplotter and steers along it.