Question to terrova & riptide i-pilot owners

This years treat for the boat (and myself) (well mostly myself) will be either a Terrova or Riptide I-pilot. I own a Scout center console boat with a Saltwater 4 stroke motor so I can use it for either salt or fresh water fishing. I fish mainly crappie but you never know when I may try something different! I can purchase either trolling motor for about the same price between 1300.00 and 1400.00 dollars. The biggest difference other then the obvious is the Terrova comes as a combo unit and includes the foot control where as the Riptide does not.
My question for you I-pilot owners is do you use the foot control on a regular bases or are you satisfied with the I-Pilot control.
I appreciate any input and advise before making this investment, Thanks.


Kim

Kim, I bought the V2 with I-pilot so I didnt get the luxury of having both the petal and remote. But I've never seen where I wanted the petal either. YET...........anyways. The ONLY reason I would want a petal is if I had the original head unit and petal in case something happened to the I-pilot. I could switch heads and plug in the petal and keep fishing while waiting on repairs to the I-pilot. With any of 'em with I-pilot, should something ever happen with them youre gonna have to send it in for repairs som IMO youre still gonna be without a TM for awhile.


BTW, I spider rig 5% of the time and longline 95% of the time when crappie fishing and only fish for stipers & cats a dozen or so trips per year. This gives you an idea of how much of my time I send trolling and how much I depend on the I-pilot.;):)

Err...another thought...would MinnKota warrant the freshwater tm if you ran it in saltwater?!?:confused:

Hey Gabowman,

Thanks for your great input, I also seem to prefer longlining in the spring but change to spider rigging in the fall. Funny I never thought about it before and I'm not really sure why I do that!
If I purchased the Terrova I would not use it in the saltwater I would just do without it for the few times if ever I do go fishing on the coast. But if the other owners agree with you and tend not to use the foot control then I would purchase the Riptide to give me the option of using it in the saltwater.

Thanks

Kim

I have the Terrova I only use the remote but I have foot control as a back up if batt. is dead in the remote or I leave remote at home or lose the remote!! That the day is saved !!!!

Just wondering if there are any more owners of these great trolling motors I sure would appreciate your feedback, Thanks

I am looking into buying a trolling motor also. I was talking to Minn Kota Rep at Raleigh boat show and he said that if I ever had a problem with unit and they opened it up and sawe evidence of salt water it would void the warranty unless it was a salt water motor.

Hope this will help you make a decision.

Benny

My buddie has a riptide he bought a foot pad to use on his riptide! that that would the thing to do cost about $75

Kim, I have had my Riptide ST80 for just about a year now. I went with Riptide because I knew I would be using it in saltwater a couple of times a year. I am SO gald I did. You are not going to hurt a saltwater series in freshwater but using a freshwater series in the salt is very damaging. I have a foot control that I bought as a extra because I thought I might use it some when I bass fished or got into tight places. WRONG! The remote works so well I have never even used the foot control. I have it for a back up, but I know now that is all I will need it for. The remote is very,very simple to use and so much more comfortable than standing on a clumsy foot control in rough conditions. The I-pilot is the best investment I have ever made for any type of fishing I have ever done. But for trolling, I dont know how I ever did with out it. Even if it is on your boat and you don't put it in the saltwater, a freshwater series is going to rust at the coast. For a litle more, it is worth having the Riptide. Hope this helps.

I've got a Riptide with the Co-pilot and love it. I have the foot control and used to carry it as a backup but never used it. Once you have a clear front deck(no foot pedal) you will not want to use a foot pedal again. You can run your boat from anywhere in your boat. I've actually gotten on another boat to help someone with motor problem and used my remote to drive my boat back to me. The auto pilot function works well when you are fighting wind and current. I have heard the I-Pilot has had some issues. The anchor lock feature wasn't as accurate as advertised and some had failures in the remote. I'm sure MK will fix all of these problems. I have extra remotes and batteries for my remotes. They run around $50. Keeping an extra I-Pilot as a backup might be expensive. The remotes are NOT waterproof! Don't reach in your bait tank or lip a fish under the water with it on(don't ask How I know this!). I have a saltwater and a freshwater TM from Minn Kota. I have used my freshwater TM in salt but you must rinse it very good after using it. If you will be anywhere near saltwater go with the saltwater version. As said above, your warrantly is voided if you use the fresh version in salt.