Equipment Review - Minn Kota Terrova with iPilot

[Long Mike]

I recently purchased a Minn Kota Terrova with the new iPilot.  Last week-end I had the opportunity to put it through its paces, so I decided to share my opinions with you.

To begin with, my new Terrova is an 80lb thrust motor, mounted on a Tracker TV-18 aluminum boat.  Everyone has heard that aluminum boats are difficult to handle in the wind.  Maybe so, but not with the iPilot.  For those of you who haven't learned about the iPilot yet, it uses GPS to know where it (the trolling motor) is, where you want it to go, or where you want it to stay.  It comes with a foot pedal, but my review of this product is based solely on the wireless remote that I wore around my neck.

This last week-end I fished a 5000 acre lake in winds of 20 mph, gusting to 35 mph.  The lake is roughly shaped like a glove, with all five fingers facing roughly North/South.  The first two days the wind was howling out of the North, the next two days it was howling out of the South.  Now you know the scenario.

My first attempt at using the iPilot was to determine if it was capable of "anchoring" me to one position.  I was amazed. I pushed a button on the remote, and that's where we stayed.  Because the motor is mounted to the bow we always ended up bow to the wind, within five feet or so of the area I selected - and it kept me there, regardless of the wind or current.  This is a great feature if you need to re-tie, or remove a backlash, or simply want to fan-cast around the boat.

The next thing I checked was the "auto-pilot" feature.  All you need to do is point the motor in the direction you want to go, push a button, and the motor will attempt to maintain its course and speed, despite the wind and current.

There are a number of other great features that I never had the opportunity to test, but at this point, my opinion is that the iPilot will eventually cause the demise of cable steering.  What a great piece of technology!

[coopie84]

great info....but if you could quickly answer me, if you know; the diffrence between the PowerDrive v2 and the Terrova?

[b.Lee]

Could you auto-pilot a bank without touching it and would it know where the bank is relative?

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I was looking at buying one of the tm's with the iPilot on it and just couldn't justify spending that much on it.  God do I wish I had one though, sure looks like a cool toy.  If you could plot out a course with it to follow along a bank or something, that would just be sickeningly cool.

[TopDog]

Awesome man!  Thanks for the review. This is on my list.

[Dogface]

Could you auto-pilot a bank without touching it and would it know where the bank is relative?

No, but you could run the bank manually and the I-Pilot would retrace the manual run.

[K_Mac]

Mike one of the main challenges of fishing an aluminum boat (or even glass) in the wind is the relative position of the boat to the bank. Keeping the boat positioned so the angler in the back can fish while controlling speed takes constant correction. My cable control allows me to make those corrections fairly easily.

When I purchased my Fortrex I looked at the iPilot units. It was not money that caused me to choose the Fortrex. I like the cable control. It was the right choice for me.

I think there is a big market for the GPS controlled units, but I don't see them replacing cable controlled units any time soon. I am a little surprised that I haven't seen any of the pros using iPilot. It may just be the old dogs, new tricks adage at work.

I'm glad you're pleased with the new TM. A TM that has enough power and works well is a joy. 8-)

[Bigs]

what do they cost anyways and I'm gonna guess that a 36 volt system is a must with this. Do they come in 24 volt ? I'm still tryin to decide if I need a powerpole AND a new trolling motor, my trolling motor is a johnson that come with my stratos from the factory in 1992, it's pretty much worthless unless there is no wind or grass present. Thank goodness for modern technology.

[scrutch]

I was looking at buying one of the tm's with the iPilot on it and just couldn't justify spending that much on it. God do I wish I had one though, sure looks like a cool toy. If you could plot out a course with it to follow along a bank or something, that would just be sickeningly cool.

You've got GPS on your Minn kota, AND on your humminbird.   You can link two humminbirds... why not a trolling motor? I don't know why you cant load lakemaps, plot your course the night before, and not have to think about it at the lake.  seems logical to me!  Are you listening Minn kota?  :-?

[slonezp]

Long Mike,

When it's in anchor mode, does the gps regulate the motor speed as well as direction? Do you think it could compete with a powerpole? I was looking at the ipiolit in the BPS catalog. It looks like it is just a $400. bolt on to the Terrova. I may have to upgrade from my Powerdrive.

[Long Mike]

Mike one of the main challenges of fishing an aluminum boat (or even glass) in the wind is the relative position of the boat to the bank. Keeping the boat positioned so the angler in the back can fish while controlling speed takes constant correction. My cable control allows me to make those corrections fairly easily.  8-)

K-Mac, I understand where you are coming from, but what you may not know is that the Autopilot feature allows minute adjustments of course and speed and the adjustments are instantaneous.  It's a piece of cake to keep the non-boater in an optimum position.  To be honest, I've never been able to master the cable control.  I'm just too new at it.  For those of you who have been doing it for umpteen years, the foot pedal is an extension of your body.  For me it was a major aggravation.  I now have what I've wanted and needed.

[Long Mike]

Long Mike,

When it's in anchor mode, does the gps regulate the motor speed as well as direction? Do you think it could compete with a powerpole? I was looking at the ipiolit in the BPS catalog. It looks like it is just a $400. bolt on to the Terrova. I may have to upgrade from my Powerdrive.

When in anchor mode, the iPilot will compensate for wind, and current to keep you within a five foot radius.  It automatically will increase or decrease the speed of the TM to keep you on your spot.  Because you are "anchored" the bow will obviously swing into the wind, as it should.  If you have read this entire thread, you will have noted that my TM with 80 lb thrust easily kept me on station in a 30 mph wind.  The water was too deep for a Powerpole.

[K_Mac]

Mike my wife and I fished 12 hours today in a howling wind. I thought of this thread a couple of times. ;)Fishing in the wind is a pain. I was at 100% for a couple of minutes in teeth of it. I love my 80# MK. 8-)

I would love to fish the back of your boat to see how it works. I'm still trying to get to Pickwick for a couple of days...

[Long Mike]

K_Mac, if you can make it to Pickwick, I will guarantee you at least a half-day on my boat - and I will put you on the TM.  ;D

[K_Mac]

K_Mac, if you can make it to Pickwick, I will guarantee you at least a half-day on my boat - and I will put you on the TM. ;D

That is a very generous offer, and I hope to be able to take you up on it. Thank you Mike.

[SINDBasser]

I had a powerdrive with a/p and liked it except for one thing .......noise. Evertime the a/p makes a steering adjustment you could definitely hear it. I now use a maxxum but if they get them quieter I would buy one again.

[RoLo]

Correct me if I'm wrong Mike, but would the Terrova iPilot

preclude the need for the homely & obtrusive "Power Pole"?

Roger

[Long Mike]

Roger, as far as I am concerned, the answer is Yes.  The one drawback than I can see is that if one is in very shallow water, the TM could stir up the bottom quite a bit fighting the wind.  Obviously, in this instance, the power-pole would be less intrusive.

[jettech]

Well This an appropriately time thread.  A stump just took out my T/M yesterday,  and Today I see that the IRS just deposited my Tax return.  I may just replace my old unit with one of these.  I also noticed that the shaft has a life time guarantee, I was very happy to see that, considering the situation. 

One question though.  I have a '95 F/S.  The length of the shaft (measured from bottom of head to top of motor housing) was 36 inches.  These have a 48 inch shaft.  what type of problems is this likely to cause?

The add also said that with the "maximizer mode"  you could get 5x more life from the battery charge.  Think I can get by with one battery?

thanks for the well timed thread.

[Long Mike]

JT, the longer shaft should not be a problem. In fact, in rough water, the longer shaft will allow the prop to stay in the water. The stow/deploy mechanism on the motor is so easy to use that you will never notice the increased shaft length.

The 80# thrust motor is 24 volt, so you will need two batteries wired in series. I recommend that you opt for the 80# instead of the 12 volt 55# because the motor will not have to work so hard in the wind if you are in "anchor" mode.

[RoLo]

Roger, as far as I am concerned, the answer is Yes. The one drawback than I can see is that if one is in very shallow water, the TM could stir up the bottom quite a bit fighting the wind. Obviously, in this instance, the power-pole would be less intrusive.

That's a good point.

I can live with that though, because during the spawning season I usually keep the anchor

and a short length of rode lying on the bow deck (I don't even bother to uncleat the line).

Thanks for the review Mike

Roger

[K_Mac]

I was watching In-Fisherman Critical Concepts earlier today. In one of the segments they were salmon fishing in a river off of Lake Michigan. The boat was "anchored" in current by a Minn Kota. That is a very cool use of the technology.

[jettech]

Thanks Long Mike. due to monetary concerns and the fact that I have a small fish and ski with limited battery space Im gonna have to go with the 12v 55. I just spent a grand on a fish finder. If I hadn't wiped the old T/M out I wouldn't even be thinking of this.

The wife is being amazingly cooperative thus far so Im not gonna push it. I think Im gonna go with the 12 v 55. and gonna go with the auto pilot and the universal sonar.

My HB 798 will work with it. That will give me side scan on the back and dual beam on the front all on one screen that i can view from the fishing stool.

It ought to be one little tricked out fish and ski when all this comes together. but 2000 in two weeks is gonna dent the budget pretty hard. And Ive still got to figure out the problem with my left side scan and my Gps on my new unit. > That's just the way my luck has run here lately. Oh well here we go.

[TommyBass]

The nice thing about the Terrova is its not just "remote" controlled. You can also use your foot pedal just as a cable steer. They turn just a bit slower but not enough to matter to me. And yes, the motor that turns the head does make a little noise, but that is above the water line and not likely to send much noise down into the water. Plus, its not like cables don't grind and make a little noise internally in the cable steer models either.

I don't yet have the iPilot but would really like the anchoring feature, even though I have a power pole. Some water is too deep for the pole and it would be nice to hold on spot off of a point so I could pick it apart better. The AP already helps me do this somewhat though, you just have to adjust your speed once in awhile to changes in wind speed.

Great Review!

RoLo:   I can't really see it completely replacing a power pole.  If for example I'd like to setup on a laydown in 7ft of water, and the wind is blowing toward it, the pole would probably be of better usage (especially if you have to fish it from the upwind side).  Too much TM thrust and adjustment would prop wash the area you are fishing (since the thrust would be directed at your cover) and potentially spook out weary fish.  Same would go for fishing an shallow shoreline.  I see the iPilot as really a tool for waters deeper than 8 feet or so, or if used shallow it would need to be in light winds.