Garmin Force trolling motor - pros and cons?

[Bill Babler]

For the life of me Bobby, if it ain't broke don't fix it.   Don't tinker with it and stay off the Active Captain App.  I'm not fussing at you, but, every Garmin person has told me don't mess with it especially thru the AC App. 

As I said, mine is 2 yrs old and I have not touched it or installed any updates other than had the anti- bounce and the water guard put on. I'm sure your motor already had that done as it was newer. 

My Garmin tech that installed it said use it and don't mess with it. If there is a problem, then get it fixed and have any software updates installed, by the tech that does the repair at that time.  The updates 99% of the time have zero to do with day to day motor operations.  If you get into AC and start trying to install for the most part useless updating or messing with it your getting yourself in a world of $--t. 

This tech is running one that is going on 3 yrs. old and he has done 2 things to his motor. Put on the anti- bounce lock and the water gasket. Gasket was last year, he updated the software at that time. First update since install in 2019. 

I have been  told by the local pro's that are running Garmin. Don't do a darn thing to that motor and get rid of the Active Captain App. Always, always if you want an update for some reason unknown, take it to a Garmin center and let a tech do it. 

Phil Lilley has had his for at least 3 years and not had any problem and he rents it out. I'm sure he has not even installed the anti-bounce or water guard. I saw one of his renters driving down the lake on plane a couple of weeks ago with it still deployed throwing water over the entire boat. Doty has guided out of his most every day for the last 3 yrs. without a single issue and I'd put money on it he has not been near the AC App. 

End of rant. 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I actually rolled my graphs back to the original software when livescope first came out. All the new stuff just caused issues.  I had to get the file online from a guy and put it on a card and then put it in the graph and do a hard update. IT was a pain but worth it

[bobby b.]

30 minutes ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

I actually rolled my graphs back to the original software when livescope first came out. All the new stuff just caused issues.  I had to get the file online from a guy and put it on a card and then put it in the graph and do a hard update. IT was a pain but worth it

Pretty gutsy - I'm impressed

I don't understand why they cannot replace the electronic (computer) guts of the Force rather than junk the whole thing - maybe the electronics are so sealed up that you can't get to it.

[Ron Burgundy]

3 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

For the life of me Bobby, if it ain't broke don't fix it.   Don't tinker with it and stay off the Active Captain App.  I'm not fussing at you, but, every Garmin person has told me don't mess with it especially thru the AC App. 

As I said, mine is 2 yrs old and I have not touched it or installed any updates other than had the anti- bounce and the water guard put on. I'm sure your motor already had that done as it was newer. 

My Garmin tech that installed it said use it and don't mess with it. If there is a problem, then get it fixed and have any software updates installed, by the tech that does the repair at that time.  The updates 99% of the time have zero to do with day to day motor operations.  If you get into AC and start trying to install for the most part useless updating or messing with it your getting yourself in a world of $--t. 

This tech is running one that is going on 3 yrs. old and he has done 2 things to his motor. Put on the anti- bounce lock and the water gasket. Gasket was last year, he updated the software at that time. First update since install in 2019. 

I have been  told by the local pro's that are running Garmin. Don't do a darn thing to that motor and get rid of the Active Captain App. Always, always if you want an update for some reason unknown, take it to a Garmin center and let a tech do it. 

Phil Lilley has had his for at least 3 years and not had any problem and he rents it out. I'm sure he has not even installed the anti-bounce or water guard. I saw one of his renters driving down the lake on plane a couple of weeks ago with it still deployed throwing water over the entire boat. Doty has guided out of his most every day for the last 3 yrs. without a single issue and I'd put money on it he has not been near the AC App. 

End of rant. 

Bill, the anti-bounce you’re referring to is that the stabilizer rod that came with motor or something else?

my stabilizer rod will not get tight, zero stabilization.

[Bill Babler]

It's totally different feature. Both my water seal and the anti-bounce were installed by MRC after I had, had the motor for a while. There were bullets  on it emailed to me from Garmin. The parts for the upgrade were also sent to me, without charge and even without asking. 

If you have one of the older motors that needed the upgrade parts I'm sure you would have gotten the bulletin. 

I took the parts up for the scheduled repairs and told them to install any updates at that time, that was May of 2020 and its worked perfect. 

At that time Garmin had just been hacked and the Active Captain was not working properly.  They told me at MRC if I get updates they need to install them for me free if charge, but would not mess with it except if a repair was needed. 

They neither installed it or was it purchased from them, they are just my repair center. 

I've been told at least a dozen times by people that know to not mess with the Active Captain or I would regret the day I logged on. 

So I don't, and everything is great. 

I will also say this, I don't care if I have a small air leak around a home window, I don't care if a door drags a little bit when its humid outside. I don't really sweat small stuff. If you do or you are a guy that likes to tinker or just have it flawlessly perfect. I don't know what to tell you as I'm not that way. 

That being said, my Garmin is flawlessly perfect. 

[Ron Burgundy]

My issue with spotlock I can deal with and sounds like I need to if updates are that big of a nightmare. Thank you 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Man you guys suuuuuck.   Just finally bit the bullet  mine is on its way

[bobby b.]

The good news is that Garmin has already shipped a new Force - it will be here tomorrow, no cost to me.  The BAD news I just talked to Ulrich - they are 2 plus months out on repairs but I whined and they will get me in in mid August - they have 130 boats awaiting service.  Garmin will cover the cost of the repair.  If you are wondering why I just don't replace it myself, read on.

Some advise regarding the Force:

1. if you are buying new, have it installed by a Garmin approved dealer - the warranty is 3 years versus 1 year if you install it yourself or an unapproved dealer installs it.
2. as Bill said, avoid the software updates or have an approved dealer do it - if it ain't broke, don't fix it (I struggle with this as I like perfection in these kind of things, ,i.e. I had gotten use to the boat backing up when I spot locked but I thought I might as well fix it when I was doing the graph updates - bad decision
3. Now I'm wondering if I want to do anymore graph updates?    

The one plus out of this - I getting a whole new unit and I think the 3 year warranty starts over.

Bobby

[Bill Babler]

Bobby, call Scott at Marine Repair center and see if they might get you done quicker. They just do electronic and trolling motors and may not have a 100 boats in front of you. 

Probably still at least 3 weeks out but I’d try them. Ulrich Marine won’t care they are completely covered up. Great folks and I’m sure Kelly would not mind you switching if you could get back on the water sooner. 
 

Great team over there, that’s why they are so busy. My trout boat is sitting at their shop and it’s been there2 weeks with multiple issues.  It will be done depending on parts on August 20th. 
 

Good Luck

[Travis Swift]

36 minutes ago, bobby b. said:

The good news is that Garmin has already shipped a new Force - it will be here tomorrow, no cost to me.  The BAD news I just talked to Ulrich - they are 2 plus months out on repairs but I whined and they will get me in in mid August - they have 130 boats awaiting service.  Garmin will cover the cost of the repair.  If you are wondering why I just don't replace it myself, read on.

Some advise regarding the Force:

1. if you are buying new, have it installed by a Garmin approved dealer - the warranty is 3 years versus 1 year if you install it yourself or an unapproved dealer installs it.
2. as Bill said, avoid the software updates or have an approved dealer do it - if it ain't broke, don't fix it (I struggle with this as I like perfection in these kind of things, ,i.e. I had gotten use to the boat backing up when I spot locked but I thought I might as well fix it when I was doing the graph updates - bad decision
3. Now I'm wondering if I want to do anymore graph updates?    

The one plus out of this - I getting a whole new unit and I think the 3 year warranty starts over.

Bobby

Bobby me and a friend installed mine in under a "six pack" ahahahha.  They send easy to follow instructions and that Force is the most consumer friendly trolling motor on the market for putting together.  I bet you could do it in less than an hour.