Minn Kota Auto Pilot & Co pilot Trolling motors??

[abelfisher]

I am looking at buying a new Minn Kota trolling motor very soon as I bent the shaft on my Motorguide last year and now it is just too difficult to turn. I am seriously considering one that offers Auto pilot, but may buy one that accepts it and upgrade later to save few bucks now. I also like the idea of the co pilot (wireless control ) so I can operate the motor from anywhere in the boat.

A few questions:

Have any of you used one of these auto pilot trolling motors and how do they work? Any issues?

Is the Minn Kota shaft truly unbendable?

I am looking at the lower end of the MinnKota as I only have a 12 volts system.

ANy receommendations or points to keep in mind when buying a trolling motor?

Thanks guys!

[5bass]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

[Crappiebasser]

I had a Terrova on my last boat and I didn't like it. There is no feedback through the foot pedal like a cable steer. The co-pilot was a fun toy but I never really ended up using it for a practical purpose. I don't know if the shafts are "indestructible" but they can take a beating. Overall it's a matter of preference, I know some people that really like them.

[Dogface]

Crappiebasser

How fast does it respond?

[cart7t]

I owned a power drive MK for 6-7 years.  They are clearly designed for guys who spend time off shore fishing structure.  The head response turn time is too slow for most bass fishing applications in cover or shallow water.  The head turning speed slows if the TM speed is turned up.  Unless you get the built in transducer,  routing a transducer cable for a graph is a pain and you wind up with excess loose wire around the shaft due to the stow and deploy system.  It's bound to snag something, mine did.   I have no experience with the autopilot feature but I can't imagine ever having much use for it in my everyday fishing.  The flat foot pedals with long cables are nice but they can become quirky after time due to dirt, grit and moisture getting into them.

The motors are a great idea.  They've been around for quite a few years but unfortunately, MK has never spent much time advancing the motors to make them more appealing to bass fishermen.  The most they've done is the auto-pilot feature, finally fixing the poor stow and deploy system those motors used to have and coming up with a built-in transducer along with wireless remote.

If you fish TM only lakes there would be big advantages to owning one.  The same if you only fish deeper lakes and spend a lot of time structure fishing in open water.  OTOH, if you spend time fishing shallow cover you're going to become frustrated with the motors abilities.

[TRYTOFISH]

have a power drive and have added a co-pilot to it. have not had any poblems and is real convinient operation. minkota foot pedels are hard to work for me. i have 2 remotes. when fishing with 2 people , especially in high wind, it allows either one of you control the boat.bad part about the power drive is that its hard to raise and lower.