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smart pilot x-5 opinions?


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I'm considering picking one of these up, and just wanted a few opinions on the system. My boat comes in at under the recommended maximum of 16,500lbs. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with cable steering and outside of spendng at least $3200 to convert and choose a different AP system, this seems to be my best option.

Opinions from those who are familiar with the unit??

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When mine has worked it has been great. I had some issues with the first ones but since everything setttled down after the change of ownership my new one has been good. And I can't complain about the service, I've sent it to them twice and they sent me new ones within a week. Hopefully I don't have to send it a third time.

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$3200 to convert ?!?!? Thats about twice what it should be.

You can do a Garmin GHP-12 or a Raymarine X-10 and an octopus pump and spend about $2500 in parts to get an excellent autopilot while not having to convert.

The Sportpilot is ok when you get a working one does not handle strong winds or decent sized waves very well but i guess thas ok considering the price.

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Mine works fine in most any weather, my biggest complaints are that its noisy and it makes the boat hard to steer manually. If you can afford $2500 follow Hondam's advice. The extra money is worth it in my opinion.

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  • 3 months later...

I have one and I like it, mine is the SPX-5 corepack with the P70R controller I can fish all day with it and run in and out with it as well. I have not tried docking with it but bet I could do it. With the P70R controller you can turn the heading knob just like a steering wheel so for a 5 deg change to port you turn it till it beeps 5 times. The other reason I got the P70R is it lets me use trolling patterns once I hook up the plottter. The one thing I have noticed is when it is rough you have to increase the response level to hold course which holds a tighter course but runs the unit more. So on calm days I will set the response to 2 or 3 which is fine and the unit hardly runs Fishing in 2 to 4 ft waves I run it on 5 or 6 trolling in the channel I set it on 9 so it does not drift at all. I have not even finished the install on mine I hooked it up got it to work and started using it so my setup still needs to be fine tuned but all I wanted was a roughly straight course which it does fine.

Now the rest of the story this is the unit that was packaged into my boat purchase 5 years ago however Raymarine canceled release several times and I never got the unit. I ended up getting my money back for the AP and waited to see if the ever got it together while I looked at every other option. If I had the extra money it would not be on my boat for a couple of reasons one it is noisey and and as stated it makes the boat harder to steer when not using it. My first choice would be a Octipus R series drive mounted below decks with a Garmin GHP12. But if I had went with it this year the boat would sit at the dock as I would not have gas money to go fishing.

Advantages

1. I could afford it this year

2. It does actually work

3. Now I can fish instead of drive or yell at the driver

4. I can fish by myself in a 26ft boat in any condition I am willing to fish in

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