What would your choice be?

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Originally Posted by venomcustomrods

cabelas has the 55lb pd2 with ipilot for $659

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Do you have a link to the page on Cabela's site showing this price? The cheapest I can find is $950.

I have a HB 1197 and an 80# 24v Terrova w/ iPilot. If you made me give up one or the other, I'd fight you for the Terrova. SI's a good tool, but I could find plenty of fish before getting it. My previous motor had co-pilot, but after getting the Terrova/iP it became much easier to work the fish and my catch increased.

Another noticeable improvement was trips to the repair shop. Before the Terrova, my TMs made quite a few trips & my repairman kept pushing me to step up to a heavy duty 24v or 36v motor. As usual, his advice was spot-on. Sunday was the Terrova's 156th fishing trip and it hasn't been down for repair once!

It may seem like a small issue, but the shaft design of the PD2 forces you to make a loose attachment of your transducer cable (assuming you keep your working DF up front.) The Terrova's shaft has a slot that allows you to attach the cable securely (with some type of adhesive.) By keeping the cable stuck to the shaft, it can't wrap round-and-round until the wire breaks.

While we're on the topic of DFs, be warned that US2 only works with certain types of DFs and you'll need to shell out extra $$ for an adapter cable. Most notably, US2 does not support any unit with SI. If SI's in your future plans, skip the US2 feature if you can.

Anyone who longlines will LOVE the iPilot's 2 autopilot features (original and "advanced"), cruise control, and track record/playback. These features give you the equivalent of a clone who does nothing but run your boat! Spot Lock has been discussed in this forum extensively. The MK promos make Spot Lock look like a panacea, but users have mixed results. Those who specialize in jigging BPs are disappointed with the amount of drift--an inherent limitation of any GPS-enabled device. Those of us who drift corks, spider rig, or otherwise present a pattern of baits, find Spot Lock to be extremely helpful until the wind kicks up.

If you can find a clearance price on a 2011 model Terrova/iP, grab it. The "new & improved" version offers very little additional value at a higher price. Given the Terrova's toughness, I'd even consider buying a lightly used motor from someone who can't live without the "new" model or wants to step up from 24v to 36v. Unless the used motor is damaged, it should provide many many trouble free trips for years to come.

See if you can find a recon Terrova without US2, might be less than $1000. You can buy a pretty decent D/F only for $300 to $400.

Corker, i apologize i made a typo. those motors were $759 + $20 off, not 659....and they are sold out of them today. last time i looked was monday and they still had some of the 2011's left.

bass pro actually had them for $649 in store ( not on web) back before Christmas. they had 3 left but i chose to walk around for an hour and look at other things and when i came back they had all been spoken for. they looked on the computer and the st louis store still had a couple left but the stores wont ship.

if you look hard enough on the web you can find them for 700 - 750 but you have to jump on them pretty quick because they are the discounted 2011's so the stock is limited. here is a link to one at $729 PowerDrive V2 55PD V2/IP 48" Shaft, MinnKota PowerDrive V2, 228359:The Sports Center Store

Trolling motor. You will catch more fish with a good tm & cheap df than the other way around if you longline. Upgrade df later.

Get the TM you want and get the best DF you can with what you have left. The advanced features of the new motors makes fishing effortless.

Nothing wrong with refurb. I buy used and refurb stuff all the time. Nothing wrong with the V2. I have had one 7 years and no problem with it. If I found a good deal on a Terrova, I woun not hesitate to get it (after I saw it work). You can do that in the parking lot. Just follow Shellbacks checkout proceedure if you are getting one with Ipilot.

PS

I don't consider a 1000 bucks a "good deal". I am frugul. Still got my first nickel.

The Terrova w/ IP you can keep the foot pedal if you want or remove it. The PD w/ IP= no foot control/pedal. HB xducer wires fit in the groove mentioned above on the Terrova, but Low xduer wires don't fit.

The US2 won't work with DI or SI from what I've read, and make sure the US2 will work with the DF you have or the one you want. That is why I didn't go with the US2 as I was unsure what DF I was going to get. check out ebuyersworlddotcome, might find something you like there. I got my IP unit from them while I got my Terrova 55 from cabelas, total for mine was ~$850, both on sale/clearance back in Oct '11.