Thread: Minn Kota i Pilot questions and answers

yep but better than cruise as you don't have to "drive the boat" IP does it for you under the recorded trac feature. IP will maintain the speed you recorded, but you have to set the speed as measured by gps, gps is just a method of determining location and measuring movement from one coordinate to the next, which depends on the update speed of the IP gps. You can't set the speed by gps, only by prop speed and the gps will measure the speed for you. The AP feature will keep the boat on a selected compass bearing heading and will adjust for wind/current but you still have to set the desired speed via prop speed. enjoy.

Originally Posted by jimp

IP will maintain the speed you recorded, but you have to set the speed as measured by gps....You can't set the speed by gps, only by prop speed

I rarely use the track recorder, and I'm not sure I understand this comment, but here's what it says on Page 62 of the iP manual:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Does i-Pilot record the speed I am traveling when recording a track?
A. No. i-Pilot only records its location during track record. It is up to the user to set the desired speed manually or with Cruise Control.

Setting the speed manually does require you to adjust the motor speed with the wheel on the foot pedal or the keys on the remote. When you engage Cruise Control, it takes over the power setting and automatically adjusts it continuously. The GPS tells iP where it's located, iP converts point to point distances to ground speed, and Cruise Control adjusts the power setting up or down until iP reports the ground speed you keyed in. When you use both Track Playback and Cruise at the same time, iP holds both your track and ground speed. This is a deadly combination for trolling over depth contours or other spots that are not located in a straight line.

thanks for the clarification, so now I know that I can adjust the speed as needed and stay on a productive line.

You can adjust as needed OR let cruise control do it for ya!Thumbs Up

It seemed to work fine when I tested it, but I don't do much longlining. Maybe someone who does a lot of that can give us a better report on the effectiveness of those features combined. Best I can tell, there's no way to use the track record/playback, cruise, or spot lock with the foot pedal--you have to set & adjust these things with the remote.

Now that the I-pilot has been out for a while and quite a few folks having time getting accustomed to them I'm hoping y'all can help me out with a little advice, or at least share some of your experience.

Right now I'm using a standard cable controlled bow mount MK. For tightlining, jigging brush, fishing docks and beating the banks it does all I need it to. I can grab 2 poles at a time, drag a big fish out from under a dock and work in close to overhangs to undo the squirrel fishin' attempts.

Problem is I'm tethered to the front of the boat. I don't longline because of this, can't slow troll for striper or other fish, and most importantly I can't take my 2 year old out by myself unless I anchor or drift, he needs managing. I could deal with the first 2 just fine but I can't keep leaving the little guy at home or with a sitter and we miss a lot of good days because there's no one available to go along and help keep track of him. As he gets older it'll be easier but I'm certain that the squirrel fishin' is going to increase.

Budget is a real issue, so I'm either looking at a V2 PD with I-Pilot and no foot pedal or a standard Terrova with no extras. The Terrova will allow me to work from almost anywhere in my SeaArk 1648 with the foot pedal and give me both hands free to deal with lines, fish, and a busy youngin'. Thing is when I look at the price it hurts to see that essentially the same $$ will get me all the dandy features of the I-Pilot on a V2 PD, except the foot pedal.

Since I haven't had any of the Auto/Co/I-Pilot features to get used to I can't miss them, but I'm very worried that I'll miss the pedal. Has anyone else found themselves in this sort of situation? If so what did you do? Are you happy with your decision or wish you would have went the other way? Is the Terrova enough of a better motor to grab the standard version and wait a couple years to install the I-Pilot, or does the I-Pilot offer so much that the pedal and the easier deploy of the Terrova is irrelevant?

Thanks in advance folks!

Papadave

I took off a V2 with co-pilot and installed a terrova. I'm very satisfied with the decision and would recommend the foot control. I find myself numerous times a day when both hands are busy/full and I need to make an adjustment to direction or boat position with the foot control. Another feature I use quite often is the anchor lock. Good luck I would recommend the terrova.

Originally Posted by foolfishin

Papadave

I took off a V2 with co-pilot and installed a terrova. I'm very satisfied with the decision and would recommend the foot control. I find myself numerous times a day when both hands are busy/full and I need to make an adjustment to direction or boat position with the foot control. Another feature I use quite often is the anchor lock. Good luck I would recommend the terrova.

Thanks for the response. I am leaning heavily toward the terrova. Just have to remember to take the foot pedal with me when I leave the front of the boat.