New trolling motor

[icefisherman]

I thought maybe someone could answer this question for me, I am looking at buying a minn kota power drive v2, (not cable driven), I have a cable driven minn kota right now on my 15ft procraft and like to troll jigs but have to constantly keep my foot on the control, then when a fish hits on of my rods and my foot comes of the control my t.m. dives to right or left, my question is with these new power drives (without cable operation) when you take your foot of the control does will it keep going straight? so I can keep trolling while unhooking fish? Thanks

[gabowman]

Cannot answer your question but if youre into trolling then by all means splurge for the I-pilot. It's the "cream of the crop" when it comes to trolling. I know that means a bit more money but you wont regret it and getting over the pain will be ALOT easier once you see it workThumbs Up

[icefisherman]

Thanks Gabowman, just looked at it online, pretty cool. Do you have to have a gps on your fishfinder to link it with your t.m.? If so might really be spending the extra bucks(ouch)

[Barnacle Bill]

It will keep going straight or whatever direction it was pointed when you removed your foot. They do not turn on their own like the cable driven.

[jimp]

Not sure about the PD model, but the Terrova is electric steer/foot control and comes with autopilot (based on compass heading not gps), and has a constant on feature as well to maintain desired speed. You can just point the boat in the direction you want, hit the footcontrol button AP & set the speed via the speed knob, and it will maintain that compass heading & speed until you change it. Wind & current do affect it tho. I use this quite a bit and when I get a fish on, I know the boat will continue on the course I want, and will maintain the speed. You can reel in the fish w/o having to keep your foot on the foot control, just glance up and make sure you're still in a good position for fishing or not going to hit anything, etc., Your other line(s) keep fishing while you're dealing with the one hooked. You can even move the back of the boat and do whatever and come back up to the front, boat is still on the same basic course.

Check the MK website and see if you can just add the AP feature to your current TM or would need to upgrade all the way around with a new TM. I recently installed a 12v Terrova 55# 48" shaft on my Tracker PT175 and it has the AP feature with constant on so the Terrova will maintain the same heading and speed I set until I change it. I added the Ipilot as well for the spot lock and record a track, but my Ipilot is the older version with only 3 memory locations for these 2 features, the newer models have 6 memory locations. Cabelas may still have some Terrovas like I got for $550 and I paid $300 for the Ipilot, very happy with the upgrade. I did not see spending the $$ for the 3 additional memory locations for my situation.

[wilbur]

Cannot answer your question but if youre into trolling then by all means splurge for the I-pilot. It's the "cream of the crop" when it comes to trolling. I know that means a bit more money but you wont regret it and getting over the pain will be ALOT easier once you see it workThumbs Up

x2

[lcookie]

Yes it will unless wind and waves are an issue that day. As stated get the ipilot if you are serious about trolling. If you only dabble and don't really want to buy a new motor you may get by with a "TROLL PERFECT". Google it. I called it my poor mans copilot. It allows you to take your foot off of petal and still track true. It was like 30 bucks shipped when I purchased it. Wind and waves will still be an issue. Only ipilot takes care of that

[icefisherman]

Thanks for the input guys, good stuff

[sharphook]

TO danburn high fer poor folks we just now put down the paddlel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RiceRocket]

I also have the Troll Perfect and really like it , Just can't go to electric steer as I bass fish Too.