My buddy got one last year and he loves it, we dont tournament fish any more and the trees around our lakes are all but disappearing. The Ipilot feature really works and I can actually sit down and fish with the Ipilot no matter the wind. I take my wife and dad out some each year and being able to leave the front deck to help them out is great. (dad is 76 yrs old and has trouble getting up and down). I used to be the one that just had to be in the front of the boat and in complete control of the TM, but as I age and my back gets worse, I am trying to slow down and just enjoy being out and fishing. The Ipilot makes it a lot easier on me! My buddy put a 45 inch shaft on his 17 foot nitro and it is fine, but I am not sure of the difference in my larger boat.