What do you think of the Minn Kota 55 AutoPilot?

[Black Bass]

I'm looking at the Minn Kota 55 AutoPilot Motor with Weedless Wedge II Prop. The two reviews on Cabela's website are 5 stars, but even on sale: $569.88 is a chunk of change. Do any of you have opinions on this motor?

Thanks.

[HPBB]

never had a auto pilot, have a power drive 55#, which is the same motor just not with autopilot. The motor reacts to slow. if you fish in tight heavy cover you will not like how slow it turns always feel like your a step behind where you want to be.

[Pa Angler]

I'm looking at the Minn Kota 55 AutoPilot Motor with Weedless Wedge II Prop. The two reviews on Cabela's website are 5 stars, but even on sale: $569.88 is a chunk of change. Do any of you have opinions on this motor?

Thanks.

I have the 24V 74 AutoPilot - CoPilot and I like the idea of using the autopilot feature when running the shoreline on rivers and lakes. I would buy another if and when I upgrade to a bigger boat.

[cart7t]

The only good thing about any of the MK power drive trolling motors is the flat foot pedal but even that will give you problems (electronically) after a few years.

They turn to slow.

They're stow and deploy system sucks (though I've heard they've changed it)

Unless you buy a model with a built in transducer, running a depthfinder transducer cable on those things also sucks.

They use more battery power since they're not only sucking juice to run the motor but to turn it as well.

Did I mention they turn w-a-a-a-a-y too slow?   ;D

Great motor if you're fishing in open water situations, terrible for bass fishing applications.

[Pa Angler]

The only good thing about any of the MK power drive trolling motors is the flat foot pedal but even that will give you problems (electronically) after a few years.

They turn to slow.

They're stow and deploy system sucks (though I've heard they've changed it)

Unless you buy a model with a built in transducer, running a depthfinder transducer cable on those things also sucks.

They use more battery power since they're not only sucking juice to run the motor but to turn it as well.

Did I mention they turn w-a-a-a-a-y too slow? ;D

Great motor if you're fishing in open water situations, terrible for bass fishing applications.

Don't know what your talking about......But, I fish around floating docks and the turning has never been an issue with me I have used mine on a lake were there's no powered docks and have run a full week on one charge the PowerDrive I have has a battery maximizer only using as much juice that's neccessary granted the stow and deploy on my 2004 could use improvement but I don't run and gun so it's not an issue. I have no issues fishing for Bass with this motor.

[RatONaStick]

I recently bought a MK Terrova 55lb with autopilot to replace the old worn out 30lb MotorGuide on my Bass Tracker. Supposedly MK fixed all of the problems with PowerDrive on the Terrova. Although I havent mounted it or used it yet I did hang it off the side of the boat to run it. It seems to turn pretty fast, much faster than I thought it would. The autopilot seems to work pretty good too, with the autopilot engaged I picked the unit up by the base and turned it back and forth real quick and it corrected as fast as I could turn it.

The stow and deploy system was redesigned on the Terrova (seems to work pretty good) and the footpedal has both left and right buttons as well as traditional foot pedal steering.

Granted the Terrova is more money, I paid $900 for the 55lb with autopilot. The standard version without autopilot can be had for a little over $600 I believe.  

[cart7t]

Don't know what your talking about......

I was the unfortunate owner of a power drive for 6 years. The best day of my life was the day the removeable mount broke and the whole thing went overboard.

Go back through this boating board. There's a couple threads on the MK power drive.  Previous owners and many current have given them a big thumbs down for most of the reasons I listed.

Great open water TM's or for waters where you can only use a TM to get around with and you want to go a far distance without having to leave your foot on the motor to steer it.  They suck for most any other bass situation.

[bassboy1]

STOP SAYING THAT CART!!

I just bought a 4 year old one from the BBC.  My wish is, that since I have never operated, much less been on a boat with one, I won't know what I am missing.  Then, when I can afford another one, I will get something better, and look back on the PD.  But, until then, I won't know what I am missing.

Funny thing is, another forum that I am a member of, one centered more on boating in general than bass fishing, everyone says good things about them.  On here, they are all bad.  Keep in mind, these are hardcore bass, crappie, and walleye anglers.  

[cart7t]

STOP SAYING THAT CART!!

I just bought a 4 year old one from the BBC.  My wish is, that since I have never operated, much less been on a boat with one, I won't know what I am missing.  Then, when I can afford another one, I will get something better, and look back on the PD.  But, until then, I won't know what I am missing.

Funny thing is, another forum that I am a member of, one centered more on boating in general than bass fishing, everyone says good things about them.  On here, they are all bad.  Keep in mind, these are hardcore bass, crappie, and walleye anglers.  

If you go to the BBC Trolling motor forum there's a thread on the Power drives over there.  It got equally ugly marks from most there as well.  Most of it due to the slow head turning speeds and the stow and deploy system.

BTW, I recently tried to help a member here who was trying to run his depthfinder transducer cable on his power drive TM.  He unfortunately was finding out another bad point of the motor, there's really no way, due to the design where the entire TM shaft slides through the control head, that you can keep the transducer cable snug up against the TM shaft.  you have to leave slack so the the TM can be deployed and that translates into loose cable floating around under water just waiting to snag on just about anything.

Been there, done that unfortunately.

[bassboy1]

SHUT UP!! ;D

What I don't know, cannot hurt me.

[Pa Angler]

Don't know what your talking about......

I was the unfortunate owner of a power drive for 6 years. The best day of my life was the day the removeable mount broke and the whole thing went overboard.

Go back through this boating board. There's a couple threads on the MK power drive. Previous owners and many current have given them a big thumbs down for most of the reasons I listed.

Great open water TM's or for waters where you can only use a TM to get around with and you want to go a far distance without having to leave your foot on the motor to steer it. They suck for most any other bass situation.

I don't have any said problems with mine but everyone has their likes and dislikes on everything. Without question I would buy another best thing to do is find someone that has one on their boat and ask to operate it and you can learn for yourself. This one has been a touchy subject in this forum and has lead to some on going debates I like them someone else doesn't that's what America is all about freedom of choice.

[Pa Angler]

Hey Cart7, I can't help but notice your using the Male Enhancement guy for your avatar what's it called Enzite. I guess you must be living large and laughing easy.

[FlipnFanatic]

I had one on my old boat, and I loved it, especially the flat foot pedal.

When I bought my new boat I replaced a Motor Guide with another Power Drive. That MK was junk, so I raized hell with Cabela's and they gave me a new one. The second one worked great, but I got tired of bending over to pick it up out of the water.

Another thing with the AutoPilot is that it can actually be calibrated. I never went throught the frustrations, but a local guy told me it could be done to keep it from over-compensating when it is being used.

Just a couple weeks ago I had a Maxxum Pro put on, and I am in love with it. Don't think I will be going back to the PowerDrive, but I love MK and have already junked two Motor Guides. Unfortunately, trolling motors are my fishing pet peeve.

[RecMar8541]

I have an mk ap65.  I love it.  I fish very tight cover alot of times, and have had no issues with it.  I would only make on suggestion to anyone buying one, get the co-pilot add on, it is awesome.  No more foot pedal!!  Keep the footpedal as a back up plan, but try the remote!

The only issues I had with the unit is that because I fish almost daily the foot pedals wear out.  The inner electronics board will wear.  The cost of the new pedal was only 55 bucks, but since I went co pilot not an issue any longer.

As for the head turning speed, it dosent turn lightening fast, but I fish tight in in alot of situations, and this has never been an issue for me.

Battery longevity is excellent, I can fish for days on end without recharging.  Power is great!

By the way, mine is about 7 years old, if memory serves me.

As for the stow and deploy.  It seems ok to me, but I am used to it.  Mounting a transducer on it isnt that hard.  i have had one on mine since day 1 and have never gotten hung up on anything.  The shafts are strong and have had no water penetration issues.

I would give mine the complete thumbs up.  

Just my .02

Recon

[Pa Angler]

I have an mk ap65. I love it. I fish very tight cover alot of times, and have had no issues with it. I would only make on suggestion to anyone buying one, get the co-pilot add on, it is awesome. No more foot pedal!! Keep the footpedal as a back up plan, but try the remote!

The only issues I had with the unit is that because I fish almost daily the foot pedals wear out. The inner electronics board will wear. The cost of the new pedal was only 55 bucks, but since I went co pilot not an issue any longer.

As for the head turning speed, it dosent turn lightening fast, but I fish tight in in alot of situations, and this has never been an issue for me.

Battery longevity is excellent, I can fish for days on end without recharging. Power is great!

By the way, mine is about 7 years old, if memory serves me.

As for the stow and deploy. It seems ok to me, but I am used to it. Mounting a transducer on it isnt that hard. i have had one on mine since day 1 and have never gotten hung up on anything. The shafts are strong and have had no water penetration issues.

I would give mine the complete thumbs up.

Just my .02

Recon

I failed to mention in my previous posts that I too use the rod mounted Co-Pilot feature as my front deck on my Tracker Targa 17SC is shorter than a Bass boat to have wires running on it for the foot pedal I fish for Walleyes at night and I almost triped over the wire and went overboard although I do wear my PFD all the time I'm onboard. This feature must be popular because Motor Guide came out with their own wirless motor as they say Monkey see Monkey do.

[RecMar8541]

PA a buddy of mine has the wireless mg, and well....he has a 20 foot boat, and the remote wont work from the back.  Mine works from as far away as 40 feet.

The wireless is the only way to go IMO.

Recon

[Pa Angler]

PA a buddy of mine has the wireless mg, and well....he has a 20 foot boat, and the remote wont work from the back. Mine works from as far away as 40 feet.

The wireless is the only way to go IMO.

Recon

I hear ya, Me too I actually ran my boat from the dock to see how far it would work I was surprised. I did have another angler onboard just in case.