Which trolling motor to buy?

[Pa Pa Catfish]

I am going to buy a new salt water trolling motor. I crappie fish 95 % of the time and salt water fish 5 % of the time. I ruined my old trolling motor by using it in salt water on my summer vacation. I have a 16 ft Big Jon with a 25 Hp 4 stroke on it. Minn Kota, Motor Guide or other suggestion? I want a Bow mount foot control unit, but most of the units I found on line were hand or frequency units. With all the new features, what will give the least of problems. How does the new Auto Hand held frequency units work? The reviews I found on line were not as helpful as I needed, more sales driven or no reviews at all.

Thanks for your help!

[chuckauten]

I am selling my hand held and going to Minn Kota 70 AutoPilot V2. Just returned from Talquin and many boats, the driver was walking around the boat, catching fish and the boat was going in a straight line. Me however, when reeling in a crappie, my boat would have a tendency to go to the left, right and eventually a circle.

Cabelas is running specials until the 31st.. Minn Kota is giving a $30.00 Cabelas gift certificate.

Chuck

[Jeepster04]

I have a Terrova 55 lb w/ ap and recently added wireless co pilot. This is one awesome unit for crappie fisherman. You can get up and walk around the boat without having to worry about the boat swinging around on you. However the ap only works well in low wind conditions unless you constantly adjust the speed for when the wind tries to blow you off course. Just added the co pilot on Friday and fished with it on Sunday. Worked great except for the speed adjustment was not infinite. Just one click and it seemed that it jumped up a little too fast. Steering worked fine with remote. Walked around the back of the boat piddlin around and adjusted motor to keep straight from there. Little on the pricey side, but well worth it. My catch ratio has definately increased since.

[luvpt]

I have the exact same unit as Jeepster04 is describing. I have had it about a year when I replace the older MG unit on my 16' F&F. It is unbeatable in my opinion. The speed control with the remote is not so much of an issue with me because I spider rig and never go the same speed for very long at a time. I am mostly speeding up and coasting and zig zagging. I keep the AP on 95% of the time and usually let it run slow when bringing in a fish to keep the boat pointed in the right direction. 90% of my fishing is done with just me in the boat but I also like to sit in the back of the boat and watch my son or wife sitting up front with the trolling rods while I watch the Humminbird and run the trolling motor from the rear with the remote. That is more fun to me than catching them myself. The only problem I have (and this is very minor) is when you want to make a drastic change of direction (like backing up over a school) it is not quite as fast as a foot or hand control.

[MThook]

I have the MinKota auto pilot with co pilot. Love it great for trolling, when I hook up I'll turn the boat away from traffic and land the fish or speed up to pull down rod up shallow.
Speed control on wrist unit is limited, but over all I'd go that route again.

[chuckauten]

ScooperDude, what is the problem with the wrist unit? I am ordering mine tonight.

Chuck

[Shellback]

Hello Chuck, The speed control on the foot pedal is a rheostat which allow infinate speed settings. The speed control on the co-pilot has 10 settings. Sometimes you can't quite dial the speed you want. You still have the ability to use the foot control with the co-pilot hooked up. I haven't tried it, but possibly you could dial in that perfect speed with the foot control, and then still steer with the co-pilot. I personally haven't seen it as an issue. I guess the lighter the boat you have, the bigger the difference is. You have a fairly heavy rig, so maybe you won't even notice it.

[JABBO]

Darn,problem solved!!!!!!!!

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fishi...te-update.html

[rockmike]

Darn,problem solved!!!!!!!!

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fishi...te-update.html

Sure wish you could come up with one for the Terrova.

[MThook]

ScooperDude, what is the problem with the wrist unit? I am ordering mine tonight.

Chuck

only problem is the limited speed settings. I really only use a couple and don't have a provblem as I'm not as picky as some that troll (better) than I do.
I'd buy it again in a heart beat because I'm tired of the cord (for the foot control) on the deck for me to trip over. Plus if you have a fish on and you're at the back of the boat you can touch your wrist and the boat turns or speeds up. Way cool.
I don't think you can use the co pilot and the foot control at the same time, either must be plugged in to work.