Tackleholic Posted September 15, 2019 Posted September 15, 2019 Shopping for a new 20 ft bass boat. I'm interested in opinions for a Hot Foot vs. hand throttle with a 250 Merc..
Super User WRB Posted September 15, 2019 Super User Posted September 15, 2019 Hot foot allows the driver to use both hands steering the boat in lieu of one hand on the steering wheel and one on the throttle in rough water. 20' w/250 means 70 mph @ WOT, hot foot is safer with better boat control, especially if need to adjust the trim/jack plate at high speed. Tom
Super User A-Jay Posted September 15, 2019 Super User Posted September 15, 2019 If you've not tried a Hot Foot throttle set up, perhaps you should test one before making your decision. Many Hot Foot users are very happy with them. The ability to operate while having both hands on the wheel is often promoted as a plus. I'm a total purist - Traditional hand throttle only for me thank you. Throttles work fine for me is these situations - So I'm good. Good Luck with your new rig purchase A-Jay 4
Super User iabass8 Posted September 15, 2019 Super User Posted September 15, 2019 hot foot is a "must" if you fish alot of big water/rough water. Makes life alot easier and safer with 2 hands on the wheel /w a 250 on rough water. If you do alot of idling or mid/range to slow speeds in shallow water, stump fields I prefer a hand throttle so i can stand up and look for boils/stumps. Not sure about merc / yamaha but I know evinrude has controls that allow you to switch back and forth. Unless you fish alot of water that can get nuts and have alot of 3+ foot rollers, a hand throttle is fine if you're used to it. 1
Super User slonezp Posted September 16, 2019 Super User Posted September 16, 2019 18 hours ago, iabass8 said: hot foot is a "must" if you fish alot of big water/rough water. Makes life alot easier and safer with 2 hands on the wheel /w a 250 on rough water. If you do alot of idling or mid/range to slow speeds in shallow water, stump fields I prefer a hand throttle so i can stand up and look for boils/stumps. Not sure about merc / yamaha but I know evinrude has controls that allow you to switch back and forth. Unless you fish alot of water that can get nuts and have alot of 3+ foot rollers, a hand throttle is fine if you're used to it. Merc has those controls available with the Verado. Possibly with the new V8's. I saw a 2020 Ranger with a 200 ProXS and it had an electronic throttle system rather than cable. As far as the original question, it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other.
Super User Way2slow Posted September 16, 2019 Super User Posted September 16, 2019 I like the comfort of just being able to set the throttle and cruise, so I like hand controls. They are great for just a relaxing cruise at 45mph or so in calmer water. With that said though, I have spent my whole life owning go fast boats. From the late 60's when I had an Allison with twin 135BHP Merc racing engines on it that ran in the low 80's to now with a 20' Javelin that runs in the 80's with my hot rod motor on it, and I think I can safely say, I would probably have been dead or seriously injured several times if I did not have a hot foot. Unless you are built like an octopus and have three arms, there is just no way you can have the control needed to drive a boat that is up on it's pad and just barely skimming along the surface of the water. You are either going to be driving one handed, (that's a scary thought) or you are going to be moving one hand back and forth to the throttle and you had better have some hellasush reflexes. Things can go south in a heartbeat, when you are moving along at 80mph, and if that boat is set up properly it will probably run that. Also, with you even asking the question, tells me you don't have the experience that would be required to even try to drive it without a hot foot, SO, get the hot foot. 2 1
Super User Team9nine Posted September 16, 2019 Super User Posted September 16, 2019 Another fan of the Hot Foot. Jackplate control left of the wheel, trim/tilt to the right, two hands on the wheel and drive it like a car ?
Super User J Francho Posted September 16, 2019 Super User Posted September 16, 2019 I prefer a hot foot, though idling around a marina, where you'd rather be standing for better vision is a little difficult. 1
ChelseaFisher Posted September 16, 2019 Posted September 16, 2019 My dads bass boat has a hot foot without the option to switch back and fourth to traditional. It’s nice for cruising from spot to spot but I feel a dock and trailer the boat better with a traditional throttle. I think I’d like it better if it had the option to go back and fourth like some I have seen.
Shimano_1 Posted September 16, 2019 Posted September 16, 2019 Its all personal preference. I've owned both and honestly could care less. If it has one that's fine and if it doesnt that's fine as well.
Bassattackr Posted September 16, 2019 Posted September 16, 2019 5 hours ago, J Francho said: I prefer a hot foot, though idling around a marina, where you'd rather be standing for better vision is a little difficult. Ditto, also long runs make a hotfoot kind of a pain. For me, it also depends on the boat. If you're driving a Triton, Phoenix, etc which requires a little more driver input, both hands on the wheel is a huge plus. My buddies previous Nitro Z20 only had a hand throttle and I never felt unsafe driving it. I have a hot foot on my Phoenix and wouldn't have it any other way.
22RangerZ520R Posted September 20, 2019 Posted September 20, 2019 My G2 foot pedal is super sensitive just like a car's gas pedal, so in rough water I switch it back over to the hand throttle. I've gotten used to using the hand throttle again so I just keep it set on hand throttle now. On my old 2009 Z520 I had the hot foot and liked it. If I had a Merc, I'd have one....
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted September 24, 2019 Super User Posted September 24, 2019 One suggestion. Be sure that you have someone familiar with type of throttle you have when negotiating tricky waters.
Tony johnson Posted October 2, 2019 Posted October 2, 2019 I prefer hand throttle... especially in rough seas
Super User Way2slow Posted October 3, 2019 Super User Posted October 3, 2019 OK, gonna get on my soap box a minute. I have to ask, those that prefer hand throttle, how many of you are running over 70 mph in a boat that's trying to go where it wants to go instead of where you want it to go. Dealing with chine walk, choppy water, other boat wakes, I find that very hard to do with a hand control. Yea, at moderate speeds in white caps, hand throttle works great, but it could be deadly trying to drive at 70 - 80 mph in fairly calm water and the unexpected happens. However, I doubt most have driven a boat over 70 or 80 mph and don't have a clue what's involved when dealing with those O-S*** moments that can arise. Remember, the boat he is referring to is very capable of running those speeds and a hand throttle at those speeds makes him a candidate for the next U-tube video where they are fishing him out of the water. 2
Tony johnson Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 19 hours ago, Way2slow said: OK, gonna get on my soap box a minute. I have to ask, those that prefer hand throttle, how many of you are running over 70 mph in a boat that's trying to go where it wants to go instead of where you want it to go. Dealing with chine walk, choppy water, other boat wakes, I find that very hard to do with a hand control. Yea, at moderate speeds in white caps, hand throttle works great, but it could be deadly trying to drive at 70 - 80 mph in fairly calm water and the unexpected happens. However, I doubt most have driven a boat over 70 or 80 mph and don't have a clue what's involved when dealing with those O-S*** moments that can arise. Remember, the boat he is referring to is very capable of running those speeds and a hand throttle at those speeds makes him a candidate for the next U-tube video where they are fishing him out of the water. I have driving both at speeds over 70... on a the river with really shallow water... the only time I prefered a foot throttle was in my old jet boat... I had a hand throttle in a 18ft picklefork with a 200 merc on it...
Super User Further North Posted October 7, 2019 Super User Posted October 7, 2019 Good topic... Here's an opinion from a guy who fishes lakes where you can go one end to the other at 35 MPH in 10 minutes. WI, MN, MI and a lot of other northern states fit this model. It also works great on Canadian shield lakes, even big ones like LOTW (one million acres) where islands and channels and shoals and reefs cut any opportunities to make long, fast runs to a minimum. I can see the usefulness of a Hot Foot on bigger rigs easily...but can also step back and ask...why do you need to run 70 MPH on a 2,000 acre lake...and that's pretty big water 'round here. I cannot think of any situation where a fisherman that's not making lifestyle sustaining money from fishing needs to run 70 MPH, anywhere near where I live...by hundreds and hundreds of miles. 1
Super User J Francho Posted October 7, 2019 Super User Posted October 7, 2019 10 hours ago, Further North said: I cannot think of any situation where a fisherman that's not making lifestyle sustaining money from fishing needs to run 70 MPH Except when you want to, and can. 2 1
JLBBass Posted October 7, 2019 Posted October 7, 2019 On 9/15/2019 at 11:43 AM, Tackleholic said: Shopping for a new 20 ft bass boat. I'm interested in opinions for a Hot Foot vs. hand throttle with a 250 Merc.. anything that goes over 60, a hot foot for sure!
Super User Further North Posted October 7, 2019 Super User Posted October 7, 2019 5 hours ago, J Francho said: Except when you want to, and can. I've gone well over twice that in cars...that's more fun, for me.
Super User J Francho Posted October 7, 2019 Super User Posted October 7, 2019 16 minutes ago, Further North said: I've gone well over twice that in cars...that's more fun, for me. So would you want a hand throttle for a car? 2
Super User A-Jay Posted October 7, 2019 Super User Posted October 7, 2019 8 minutes ago, J Francho said: So would you want a hand throttle for a car? Only for the ones that need an anchor . . . . A-Jay 3
Logan S Posted October 7, 2019 Posted October 7, 2019 Between actually steering the boat, trim switch, jackplate switch, and occasionally needing to zoom in/out on my chart...I'm already doing too many things with my hands at times, so a hot foot is a nice feature. In rough water it's invaluable, being able to cut or floor the throttle as needed while keeping both hands on the wheel to drive AND to hang on is a nice thing. I also agree about boat control at high speeds, another time I want both hands on the wheel. I'd never own a bass boat without one. For these reasons plus I just like it in general. 1
Super User Further North Posted October 8, 2019 Super User Posted October 8, 2019 8 hours ago, J Francho said: So would you want a hand throttle for a car? Um..no. How'd you get a silly idea like that?
Super User J Francho Posted October 8, 2019 Super User Posted October 8, 2019 8 hours ago, Further North said: How'd you get a silly idea like that? That's how I feel about a hand throttle for a high speed boat. 1
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