Which Minn Kota to buy...

[sac-a-lait]

I know yall were discussing this but I can't find the thread. Which MINN K is the best to buy? The Terrova or the PowerDrive. I'm looking at the 70# Power Drive and add the ipilot to it later. Is this the way to go? The only difference I can see is one as AutoPilot and one doesn't and the Terrova's look a little beefier.

[jimfish]

I am on my second power drive and i love it. First one was auto pilot could never get it to work right and it finally crashed. Been using the plain power drive ever since with no problems. I have the 55lb.

[slimeyslab]

I know yall were discussing this but I can't find the thread. Which MINN K is the best to buy? The Terrova or the PowerDrive. I'm looking at the 70# Power Drive and add the ipilot to it later. Is this the way to go? The only difference I can see is one as AutoPilot and one doesn't and the Terrova's look a little beefier.

Are you getting back into crappie fishing???? Thought you were moving South... I have a Terrova and I am still trying to ge used to it. I have alway's had Maxxum's or like motors(cable driven) in the past. For trolling I like the Terrova much better but that is about it for me. For single poling or casting give me my Maxxum back any day.

[Wannabe...]

From what I can tell, get the Terrova.

Comparing the Terrova and Powerdrive v2 (regular power drive is no longer made) - Terrova has heel to toe steering on the foot pad - V2 has rock left and right. Terrova has finer steering adjustment and a better mount. Also, can turn on and off the Auto Pilot with the foot pad rather than having to go to the motor head. With the terrova, you can use the remote (co-pilot) and the foot pedal at the same time. Most never use the foot pedal if they have the co-pilot.

You'd prolly be better off going ahead and ordering a Terrova with I-pilot installed. It'd end up being cheaper in the long run and you'd get the autopilot and co-pilot at the same time rather than adding ap, co pilot seperately later or plopping down the big bucks for the I-pilot.

Best I can tell, without the remote co-pilot, the thing would flat out stink. Auto Pilot makes it very useable for spider rigging or long lining, possibly cranks if you've got the juice.

BTW, aren't you in salt water now or soon to be? If so, you'll want the Riptide version definitely. Difference being stainless bearings and sacrificial annode. Only like $30 - $50 more.

This from a fella whose never actually touched a Powerdrive, Power Drive V2, Terrova, Auto Pilot, Co-Pilot nor I-pilot. Never stopped me from forming an opinion though.

Let me know if you need shopping advice for Plasma cutters, Nuclear Reactors, Steam Locamotives or Long Line Cranes. Got plenty of opinions on them too.

Wannabe...

[Wannabe...]

Oh yeah, what Slimey said too. If you're gonna single pole, hang on to your old one and get a quick detach plate for both. They flat out suck for anything other than when you're using pole holders of some kind.

Wannabe...

[Wannabe...]

OK, the above is good for your Masters degree, but to obtain your Doctorate, you will need to memorize the following:

Go ahead and spring for the US2 universal built in sonar and appropriate patch cable. You can get away without it, but the design of the mount will prevent you from securing an external tranducer cable to the shaft. And besides if you go with an external, in the words of a prominate local poster - that'd look jinky.

Wannabe...

[sac-a-lait]

I am planning on moving to the coast just not sure when. I sold my crappie boat and been looking for another and a deal came down the pipe I couldn't pass up..So fer now I'm BACK on the sac-a-lait. Should have boat this weekend, out of town next week, the week after will rig out for trolling both spiderriggin and long lining.

[jimfish]

OK, the above is good for your Masters degree, but to obtain your Doctorate, you will need to memorize the following:

Go ahead and spring for the US2 universal built in sonar and appropriate patch cable. You can get away without it, but the design of the mount will prevent you from securing an external tranducer cable to the shaft. And besides if you go with an external, in the words of a prominate local poster - that'd look jinky.

Wannabe...

If the transducer goes out in that thing you are out. I would want the ability to change transducers to fit my needs.

[Wannabe...]

True dat Mr. Jim. My thinkin is that the built in ducer is about the same cost (little higher) than a regular ducer, so why not get it built in to start with and if it goes out, you can always add one later. Funny thing is, I would think that'd be a pretty common occurence, but as long as the PD US, then US2 has been out, it hasn't seemed to be a common occurence. Guess they've got that part down pretty good.

Wannabe...

[biggerjigger]

I think with the ducer built in to the motor housing and the wiring being internal theres much less of a chance for it to go out.