News on updated i-Pilot for 2012

[Jason Halfen #511]

A number of people have asked me about the upcoming release of the updated MinnKota i-Pilot. Here are some of the details:

The most significant differences vs the current i-Pilot include a new remote that features a larger LCD display (20% larger), and larger, more durable, and more tactile function keys. The remote is slimmer and has a more ergonomic design. Access to the battery compartment is also improved.

In addition, the updated i-Pilot will be capable of storing 6 recorded tracks and 6 spot lock locations.

The new remotes are backwards compatible with current i-Pilot head units. However, the combination of a new remote + old head unit will not provide the additional storage capacity.

Hope that helps! Feel free to post questions and I will be happy to answer them.

[Barnacle Bill]

Thanks for the info Jason.

[Corker]

6 recorded tracks and 6 spot lock locations

How many releases before I'll be able to offload tracks/spots to a SD card, manipulate them on my PC, and then reload the most promising tracks/spots to the SD card? I'd love to save the data from week to week and year to year.

[Crappiegirl1]

A number of people have asked me about the upcoming release of the updated MinnKota i-Pilot. Here are some of the details:

The most significant differences vs the current i-Pilot include a new remote that features a larger LCD display (20% larger), and larger, more durable, and more tactile function keys. The remote is slimmer and has a more ergonomic design. Access to the battery compartment is also improved.

In addition, the updated i-Pilot will be capable of storing 6 recorded tracks and 6 spot lock locations.

The new remotes are backwards compatible with current i-Pilot head units. However, the combination of a new remote + old head unit will not provide the additional storage capacity.

Hope that helps! Feel free to post questions and I will be happy to answer them.

Jason,
i was getting ready to buy an i-pilot this week. i naturally will wait until the new one comes out. when do you expect that to be, i hope for this winters florida crappie season. bass pro has a great deal going on right now, 6 months to pay for anything over $250.00 in case anyone is interested in the current ones. this is for over the phone or internet ordering only.

[Jason Halfen #511]

I don't think that we'll be seeing the new units until after the 1st of the year.

[Crappiegirl1]

I don't think that we'll be seeing the new units until after the 1st of the year.

Gee Jason! the winter fishing season will be half over by then, cant you put the pedal to the metal on this?

[Mkling]

New guy to the forum here. I was just about to buy myself a new Terrova 80 us2 i-pilot for my new to me boat. thankfully I found this post so I can wait for the new one to come out. I wanted to use it for some fall walleye and crappie, but I may as well wait to get the new version. any word on if the price is going up? hopefully there will be some rebates again when the 2012 models are out.
I e-mailed Minn Kota to try and find out when the new model will be released and here was their reply:
"The i-Pilot will be updated for the 2012 line-up. The remote will have a different style and the controller will be able to store 6 tracks and 6 spot lock locations. These will be available in October of 2011. We have stopped production on the current design and will not be shipping the new models until next month."

sounds like we should be able to get our hands on these fairly soon.

[Jason Halfen #511]

MSRP on the updated iPilot units (remote + head unit) is $449

[Mkling]

Cant find a thread on this so thought I'd ask here. Will the US2 Transducer be the same in the 2012 models? Or will they be using one that will work with SI and DI locators?

[Jason Halfen #511]

No changes to the US2 transducers as far as I know.