MinnKota-Looking for the real truth.

Afternoon fellas-

I have been storing acorns all winter like an ozark mountain fox squirrel. I got about 1800 of them and looking to buy a new TM. I don't want to spend them all unless I have to and that is why I'm calling on y'all. I have researched a ton and but have a questions. I have a few questions and was hoping to get some "crappie" answers from the group.

1. Is it still true that if you go ipilot on a power drive that the foot pad don't work. If that is so then Im gonna go Terrova.

2. What are the real "crappie" reasons that I should upgrade from Ipilot to Ipilot link? I run a 20 foot xpress, with a 798 si di, spider rig and pull cranks in shallow water that is ussually not on the Navionics chips so why should I go with ipilot link.?

3. Never had trouble trolling with a 70 pound thrust regular TM so why should I upgrade from the 80 to the 112 pound thrust? Is it just faster ( I don't need that) or does it last longer than the 80 pounder?

4. I need a removable bracket for duck season. I see there are 4 styles. Which is strongest and quietist?

Thanks as always for your "crappie" advice.

Just my experience here but I had used cable drive TM since the 70s so I bought a Terrova because I felt I needed the pedal. Turns out the response time is much slower with the electronic steering than with the cable. I used the pedal one time and now I carry it only as a back up in case my remote dies. I find I can adjust speed and direction quicker using the hand help remote than I could with the foot pedal.
Hope this helps. Be best if you could go out with someone who has the foot pedal on a power steer boat and see how you like it compared to the remote.

3. Pulling crank baits, it lasts longer.

Think they are coming out with a program where you can create your own charts on waters not charted. You could create your own chart as you fish and use the link to rerun those routes. Using the IPilot on auto pilot frees you up to think about what's going on besides running the troller.
112 would last longer because you got three batteries. You could use 80 and get golf cart batteries for longevity.

Navionics doesnt work with the ipilot link, lakemaster does though

If the 798 is non hd, and you want the link to interface with the sonar, you will need to upgrade your sonar to one ethernet capable.

There are other reasons to have the link then being able to hook it to a Bird

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Originally Posted by Rees Guide

There are other reasons to have the link then being able to hook it to a Bird

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what are they ?

I'd buy the Terrova just for the way it deploys. The V2 can be a real pain to get loose. I'm prolly not as skilled as other folks but I frequently find myself with 2 rods in hand and needing to change speed or direction, the pedal has saved quite a few rods from dock collisions.

As far as the standard or the Link, I think Johnson outdoors has under developed the Link. From looking at the controls a couple of the guys on here have designed the Link is lacking a lot of features which could easily have been added. HB(or most other) GPS units output enough information to make a nearly hands free unit which could work with most major brand GPS units wirelessly and it could easily work via the standard copilot unit. I'm sure a lot of it is business plan and not technical issues, but my guess is that within 2-3 years there will be a much more robust unit on the market.

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Originally Posted by Rees Guide

There are other reasons to have the link then being able to hook it to a Bird

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Without linking to a bird you are basically wasting your money..... you get a cool remote that will store 16 tracks rather than the 6 that any of the gen 2 I pilot remotes will and you can store a whooping 16 spot locks and waypoints!!!! If you are not hooking up to a bird to have the capibilities of storing 50 tracks and 2500 spot locks or waypoints (not to mention being able to hook up lakemaster charts) you are wasting your money!! But hey, its your money. Its called an I LINK for a reason.

The new program that allows you to make your own maps will work with the I pilot link deal. And will be sweet for waters that are not on the charts now. If I every replace my 80 lb it will be with the 36 volt link. But I do fish below Pickwick dam and the 80 lb will not pull my boat there like the 101 will.
Plus I have to out do Billbob..
Pete

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Originally Posted by "G"

what are they ?

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I pilot Gen 2
Track record 6
Spotlock. 6
I Link
Track record 16, go to feature as well by a waypoint on that track
Spot lock/waypoint 16, go back feature as well
Advanced auto pilot, copilot, and cruise the same
Go to feature let's you return to way points and tracks, hopefully not in the rabbit mode as with the I pilot gen 2
Remote has a larger color screen, we all know how much color is better than grey scale and a rechargeable battery.
Hooking it to a Bird adds it to 2500 spot locks/waypoints, 50 tracks, and the the Link is update able. Contour following and map making is gonna make it nice but I don't think its a deal breaker if you don't have a bird, way more stuff than the original I pilot.:twocents

write me a damn book, but it's dam fishin for heavens sake.....

Not feeling no pain huh windstone?? :Rofl

after 16,874 post you probably aren't either.:Rofl

Prolly not, ready for some time on the water.

I have the PDV2 and 998s. It works well for me but I don't tourney fish and it suits my fishing style. I haven't found a need for a foot control yet because I use a different boat jigging the cypress lakes.

The Link is awesome for it's tools and ease of use. Yes, with a Humminbird it is more than awesome. Yet, for me, the foot pedal and a good depth finder with gps and maps is better. This is just because I can't get used to having to use the remote only (PDV2) while trying to tie on rigs/catch fish/net partners fish/or anything else requiring one or more hands. This is why I have a Ipilot Link for sale in the Classifieds for the PDV2. I am saving up for a RipTide ST with foot pedal and the Ipilot Link. The Terrova would be the best of both worlds for freshwater only. I have used the regular Ipilot and like the Link remote better. As for lbs of thrust, get the most lbs you can afford or have battery room for in your boat. Shop around as much as possible before you purchase as deals do pop up regularly.

Oh, and the removable mount puck style is what I have. Sturdy and easy to use. I can pull mine off quickly for when I want to hit the saltwater flats.

If you are gonna remove your TM on certain occasions, I would recommend using nutserts, or RivNuts to mount the unit to the boat. You don't need a bracket then. Much cheaper to do. I use the 1/4-20 RivNuts and use the 1/4-20 screws that come with the unit. Just screw the TM on and off this way. If you have an Xpress, that's how your factory TM is mounted.

Both my buddy and I used the MK mounting bracket which is easy to mount and remove. The unit is predrilled to match the TM and you drill 4 holes in your deck to mount the center piece. Takes about 5 seconds to remove, which is why it has a place for a lock on it. If you need to move your motor back and forth to clear a cover or similar, the MK47 will work but it is more expensive. Mine for the 12volt I-Pilot was about $80.
We bought extra center pieces and put on a 2nd boat so we can move it back and forth in a jiffy. I've since sold my pond boat that I used it on, but my bud uses his on 2 larger boats. He has the 24 volt model.

http://store.minnkotamotors.com/dimg...657391a24c.jpg

get a minn kota maxum cable steer and you wont have to worry about getting anything else.