Thread: I-Pilot Controller design

Well, I've had my I-Pilot for almost a year now. Yesterday I took my first "shake down" trip of 2011. Had been out a couple of hours and went to use my I-Pilot controller and the left directional button pushed all the way into the unit. I could hear it rattling around in there. I also noticed the rubber pads on the top four most used buttons (direction arrows, and -/+ speed) were showing signs of cracking around the edges. Had to break out the foot control for the Terrova ...first time I have even used it. Upon getting home , I took the controller apart and found the problem to be the set of plastic control buttons that are under the rubber pads. They are molded together and connected by very thin strips of plastic...which is where the problem is. Looks like the connecting strip got weak and broke.

Please tell me that MinnKota has recognized this as a problem and has redesigned this weak link? Who designed this button molding? Must have hired some of those engineers from that school up in northern indiana, lol.

Looks like I will be making a call to MinnKota. Also planning to buy a back up controller. I love my I-Pilot....just dissapointed in the design of this controller.

HHD