Super User OkobojiEagle Posted March 3, 2017 Super User Posted March 3, 2017 I'd like to know the effective maximum operating distance from the trolling motor head of the I-pilot remote. If I spot lock anchor the boat away from the launch dock while I park the trailer I'd like to feel secure that I'll be able to remotely retrieve it... What distance from the dock can I safely count on? Anyone willing to share their experience? oe Quote
Super User Scott F Posted March 3, 2017 Super User Posted March 3, 2017 Before I'd take the word of anyone, including Minn Kota, I'd do an experiment. Have one person stay in the boat while you operate the trolling motor from the shore. Once the motor is out of range, you'll know and then the person in the boat can bring it back to you. One other question. Would your trolling motor be in the operating position while you are launching? Unless you have an Ulterra, how do you deploy the motor with no one in the boat? 1 Quote
Super User OkobojiEagle Posted March 3, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 3, 2017 Thanks for the reply Scott. Except for my young grand daughters, I haven't had another person in my boat with me for quite a few years. I guess people don't like fishing with me. Short of someone coming forward with their experience, I'll have to find a non-fishing friend to experiment with me after the ice melts. I launch my boat before I would deploy the trolling motor. Normally I launch, drive the boat to a dock next to but not in the way of others waiting to launch, tie up and park my vehicle/trailer, then return to the boat. I'm contemplating eliminating the 2nd dock by remotely anchoring the boat out of the way. Just was wondering how far "away" the remote would reach. Thanks oe Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 3, 2017 Global Moderator Posted March 3, 2017 Do what ScottF said. My brother in-law used to work at Motorguide here in Michigan (boy I miss those days) and he said they could get 30 foot or more this was a few years ago. I buy one of these and I can't get it to work from the back of my boat....I have a 14' boat! Like I said this was a few years ago maybe things have changed but I'd see for yourself to be safe. Quote
Super User Further North Posted March 3, 2017 Super User Posted March 3, 2017 Both my Terrovas and my Ulterra work fine at 100 ft. YMMV, I'd suggest the test above...and I'd guess it varies with battery charge... 57 minutes ago, Scott F said: One other question. Would your trolling motor be in the operating position while you are launching? Unless you have an Ulterra, how do you deploy the motor with no one in the boat? With a Terrova, you launch the boat as normal but rather than tie it off to the dock, you deploy the motor, jump to the dock, move the boat off to the side and spot-lock it. Lets the next guy in line launch his boat while you park your vehicle. Quote
Super User OkobojiEagle Posted March 3, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 3, 2017 I'm sure 100' is farther than I'd actually trust it. Thanks oe Quote
Super User Further North Posted March 3, 2017 Super User Posted March 3, 2017 15 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said: I'm sure 100' is farther than I'd actually trust it. Thanks oe Me too. That's max tested distance. Quote
Super User Scott F Posted March 3, 2017 Super User Posted March 3, 2017 If you don't have any help, drop the trolling motor while the boat is on the trailer like in a parking lot, and walk around with the remote. 1 Quote
Super User OkobojiEagle Posted March 4, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 4, 2017 Scott... my motor drops along side of the trailer winch bracket and only has a couple inches to turn in either direction. I wouldn't want to do something dumb with the remote and damage the motor. Ice out is not far away and I'll get on the water soon. oe Quote
MI.Kayaker Posted March 4, 2017 Posted March 4, 2017 I've tested it to over 100 yards with my Ulterra. Quote
Super User OkobojiEagle Posted March 4, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 4, 2017 1 hour ago, MI.Kayaker said: I've tested it to over 100 yards with my Ulterra. Considerably farther than I'd push it... thank you. oe Quote
Super User Further North Posted March 6, 2017 Super User Posted March 6, 2017 On 3/3/2017 at 2:50 PM, Scott F said: If you don't have any help, drop the trolling motor while the boat is on the trailer like in a parking lot, and walk around with the remote. That's how I did mine with my Terrovas. But...I'd advise against it with an Ulterra. You can't manually deploy the motor and odds are that it'll hit the winch when it deploys...you don't want that... By the way...a not-so-technical friend had several of us install a Terrova on his boat...while we were at it, we all chipped in and bought an extra remote and linked it to his trolling motor. We'd keep it in another boat, often passing it from boat to boat during a trip... When we'd get close enough, we'd send his motor off in all kinds of directions, or start running it at top speed... Best thing was to wait until he wasn't paying attention...point the Terrova at the other side of the lake at about 2 or 2.5...he'd often not notice until he was 100 yards away from where he'd set his lock... At one time or another we had him convinced he needed to cover the motor with foil to stop solar flares from getting to it...another time we told him it was picking up satellite transmissions...we had him convinced it was interference from his other wiring...and his cell phone Bluetooth. 3 Quote
sully420 Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 I have the ulterra and I've used my remote at 50 yards away before I wouldn't go much farther than that. I lauch my boat with the ulterra on let my boat float out of the way and spot lock it and I can control the boat from 50 yards easily. Make sure you have extra batteries for the remote in your boat and in your truck I learned this the hard way? Quote
Ohio Archer Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 On 3/6/2017 at 2:01 PM, Further North said: That's how I did mine with my Terrovas. But...I'd advise against it with an Ulterra. You can't manually deploy the motor and odds are that it'll hit the winch when it deploys...you don't want that... By the way...a not-so-technical friend had several of us install a Terrova on his boat...while we were at it, we all chipped in and bought an extra remote and linked it to his trolling motor. We'd keep it in another boat, often passing it from boat to boat during a trip... When we'd get close enough, we'd send his motor off in all kinds of directions, or start running it at top speed... Best thing was to wait until he wasn't paying attention...point the Terrova at the other side of the lake at about 2 or 2.5...he'd often not notice until he was 100 yards away from where he'd set his lock... At one time or another we had him convinced he needed to cover the motor with foil to stop solar flares from getting to it...another time we told him it was picking up satellite transmissions...we had him convinced it was interference from his other wiring...and his cell phone Bluetooth. And you guys are still friends? If it were me I'd drill small holes in your drain plugs. Then watch you pulling you hair out trying to find the "leak". ? Quote
Super User gim Posted March 25, 2017 Super User Posted March 25, 2017 That's a funny story. Good practical joke to play a friend. I think there's a commercial out there about this very subject. I don't know if its legit or not, but Minn Kota sure does make it look like you can launch your boat, park, and then get picked up at the dock by an un-manned boat. Quote
Super User Further North Posted March 25, 2017 Super User Posted March 25, 2017 9 hours ago, Ohio Archer said: And you guys are still friends? If it were me I'd drill small holes in your drain plugs. Then watch you pulling you hair out trying to find the "leak". ? Of course we are...stuff like that builds friendships. Want to really have fun? Find a reverse prop that fits your buddy's motor... 20 minutes ago, gimruis said: That's a funny story. Good practical joke to play a friend. I think there's a commercial out there about this very subject. I don't know if its legit or not, but Minn Kota sure does make it look like you can launch your boat, park, and then get picked up at the dock by an un-manned boat. It works. Quote
Super User MickD Posted March 26, 2017 Super User Posted March 26, 2017 Hit the wrong button, or mistakenly cancel spot lock, then find someone to take you to your boat. That's probably what would happen to me. I think I'll use mechanical means to control my boat's position. Different strokes. 1 Quote
Ohio Archer Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 On 3/24/2017 at 9:42 PM, Further North said: Of course we are...stuff like that builds friendships. Want to really have fun? Find a reverse prop that fits your buddy's motor... It works. Quote
Super User Further North Posted March 27, 2017 Super User Posted March 27, 2017 12 hours ago, MickD said: Hit the wrong button, or mistakenly cancel spot lock, then find someone to take you to your boat. That's probably what would happen to me. I think I'll use mechanical means to control my boat's position. Different strokes. Yup. It's not something you want to try for the first time without a back-up plan...or if you don't have confidence it'll work. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted March 27, 2017 Super User Posted March 27, 2017 On 3/24/2016 at 11:59 AM, Choporoz said: I had (brother in law's) boat out last summer with his fancy new Humminbird (with seemed bigger than 24 inch TV) that was tied to his brand new remote controlled trolling motor. Somehow, on the way out, I marked a waypoint on the gps. Couple hours later I managed to convince the remote control TM to head back to the waypoint.....at top speed. Only problem was this little rockpile the size of a VW bug up out of the water that just happened to be between me and the waypoint. Panic-stricken, I could do NOTHING to convince that boat to go some direction - ANY direction other than right for the rocks. I managed to pull the plug on the TM before we put a hole in my BIL's Tracker. Me and technology pretty much rarely see eye to eye. Your idea probably wouldn't work for me...my boat would be halfway across the Potomac before I even talked someone into helping me go get it Quote
Squigglypotamus Posted July 21, 2019 Posted July 21, 2019 ...or you could always test it in your yard. Deploy the motor and use the remote to either trim or steer the motor. You can watch it move, from a distance, thereby indicating that the remote range is good. Quote
Super User Further North Posted July 30, 2019 Super User Posted July 30, 2019 On 7/21/2019 at 7:59 PM, Squigglypotamus said: ...or you could always test it in your yard. Deploy the motor and use the remote to either trim or steer the motor. You can watch it move, from a distance, thereby indicating that the remote range is good. You can do that...if the motor doesn't run into something on your trailer when it's deployed. Quote
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