Your Old Town Autopilot 120: Basic Maintenance

You know what makes your Old Town Autopilot 120 different from (pretty much) every other fishing kayak out there? It’s rigged for power with a built-in electric motor.

This makes it faster, more convenient to use for longer periods of time, and of course more expensive. It also introduces a new dimension to maintenance as a result of the electronics.

Here are a few basic maintenance tips to make sure she keeps putt-puttin’ in the long term.

The Rinse-Down
Whether you use your Old Town Autopilot 120 in fresh or saltwater (but especially if you use it in saltwater) always rinse it down thoroughly after every trip.

This includes the trolling motor. Salt deposits can accelerate corrosion that can damage the hardware that constitutes the motor, and also deteriorate the electronic connections, causing shorts.

The Importance of Shade
Your Old Town Autopilot 120 is made from a single layer of polyethylene, and while it’s tough enough to leave in the sun, over the long-term, UV will damage it. Keep it somewhere in the shade when you’re not using it.

Inspect the Rigging
Before every trip, inspect the rigging; this includes any bungee tie-downs you use on your craft. UV will work (bad) wonders on this. The last thing you want while you’re on the water is a cord to snap, and then lose all your tackle.

Be Gentle with Landings; Use a Cart for Transport
Don’t drag your Old Town Autopilot over the rocks, seriously. This will gouge the hull and will diminish the craft’s lifespan. Also, when moving to and from landing zones, use a kayak cart. It will pay for itself.

Disconnect and Remove the Battery
Whenever you’re not using the kayak, disconnect the battery and place it somewhere cool and dry, in the shade, where there won’t be wide temperature swings. Hook it up to a maintainer when not in use, and never allow the battery to remain dead for long. This will help ensure higher battery longevity and prevent parasitic drain.

Protect the Terminals
Your battery terminals – as well as any exposed electrical connections on board – are at the highest risk of corrosion which can cause a short in the circuit, incapacitating it.

Here’s the quick fix. Get a tube of dielectric grease and use it to cover your battery terminals as well as any other exposed connections. This special grease will both insulate the connections and protect them from corrosion.

Tighten the Prop Nut and Check the Blades
Before and after use, inspect the prop blades for nicks, scratches, and gouges. Sand them smooth where you find them. Remove any weeds or fishing line that have become tangled in the prop.

Also, take this opportunity to tighten the prop nut – both before and after going on the water.

Lubricate/Protect
The shaft on your Autopilot’s motor is short, but it can still benefit from a little lubrication with a water-based silicone lubricant. Lubricating will ensure smooth operation/extension/retraction of the motor, and where it contacts any exposed metal parts, will protect against corrosion as well.

Time for a New Fishing Kayak Like an Old Toan Autopilot 120? Visit No Bad Days Kayaks
Don’t have an Old Town Autopilot 120 yet? No problem – visit No Bad Days Kayaks online. They carry these, plus other Old Town fishing kayaks and canoes.

Plus, they also carry a wide range of other fishing kayaks from Hobie, HOODOO, Jackson, Hammerhead, NuCanoe, and other top brands, as well as a full line of fishing kayak accessories and tackle.

Check out their website and if you have any questions about anything they sell, contact them at 512-229-0560.

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