Thread: Minn Kota i Pilot questions and answers

wondered that also... possibly corrosion on the contacts over time?

Wow, what a ton of info! Poor Jason, I sent him an email asking for some guidance...:o

I recently, and I mean like in the last week, purchased the minn kota 55 PD V2 WITH auto pilot AND the I-Pilot!!!! The Cabela's rep told me that both would work... (I love Cabela's, but I kind of got led astray on this one...) He said I could use the I-Pilot, or use the auto pilot that came on the motor...

SO, now I'll drive 130 miles this week to return both, but I don't know what to get??? I was going to just turn around and order the minn kota 55 PD V2 WITHOUT auto pilot, but with the I-Pilot (Package deal for $829.99 from Cabela's) which is about $275 less than my mistake purchase last week, but then I found out you can't use the foot pedal - how big of a problem is that, OR, is it even a problem?

Then I read where the Terrova DOES let you use the foot pedal? I had a PD on my old boat and loved it, never used or seen the Terrova, but read some negative reviews on it???

Dang, this is a LOT of money and I don't want to screw it up again! I already have a quick release locking base for a PD V2 and I'm familiar with it, but should I be looking at the Terrova instead??? Is the loss of the foot pedal a big deal??

OK, so my first post is a long winded whiny confusing one - sorry!!

Thanks for any help!

Bogey

I went through almost the same thing here. I first bought a PD V2 and when I found the foot pedal would be disabled with the Ipilot, I returned it and bought the Terrova. My wife ordered the Ipilot as a Christmas present on 12-8 and it still hasn't arrived.

I got the Terrova so if the i-pilot broke I would have a foot control. And I think the foot control will help around bush. Also from reading BP reviews, Most people rate the Terrova far better then the PD. Called BP sales number off their web page. I was told they had no i-pilots for the terrova's but should have some the end of Jan.
I would really like to get all the toys installed and a 50 degree weekend!

You're correct about the pedal issue: it doesn't work with PowerDrive V2, but does work completely with Terrova.

Is the loss of the use of the foot pedal a big deal? Well, are you prepared to control your bowmount 100% of the time with the i-Pilot remote? As much as I love my i-Pilot, I know that I will not be using it 100% of the time. I still need the pedal to help me control the boat in any number of situations, so for my own particular applications, Terrova is the only way to go.

Terrova has an improved (much easier!) stow/deploy mechanism, a redesigned foot pedal, and faster steering response than the PowerDrive family of motors. For someone who spends a lot of time on the bowmount, Terrova is my recommendation.

Now, Terrova only has two models that come with pre-rigged i-Pilots (101, 80), and no models in the 12V line. If you're limited to a 12V system, you'll have to buy a 12V Terrova and the i-Pilot separately (and do the 5-minute install yourself....step-by-step instructions with photos are on my website), or get the 55 lb PDV2 with pre-rigged i-Pilot.

Hope that helps!

Is it a total control board swap out on the V2?

Thank you, sadly, it does help. I have never seen the Terrova, but I thought I read somewhere that it's bigger? (the actual footprint of the motor as it sits on the boat?) As for the reviews I read, they were off the Cabela's web site and a couple of the complaints were the heel to toe steering was difficult??? And they said there was some very thin platic washer inside that breaks easily and in making calls, they were told there had been some issues?? Again, this was reviewing the 55 lb model and just what I read on Cabela's. Anyone have the 55 that can offer an opinion?

Ya, I'm stuck with a 12v system. I really do like the idea of being able to use the foot control as well... I also read where it deploys and stows easier (man, anything would be easier than the V2!)

Thanks very much!

I don't know that the Terrova is THAT much larger of a motor than PDV2. The base may be slightly larger, but that's about all that comes to mind. The Terrova pedal is larger than the PDV2 pedal to accommodate the heel-toe steering as well as the PD-style left/right buttons.

I have been running Terrovas on the last two boats that I've owned, as well as tournament boats that I've run for sponsors. I guide 11 months a year (I usually take February off), in some pretty tough conditions (well below freezing air temps, snow, ice, etc), and tournament fish hard...as hard as anybody. I've NEVER had an issue with any of the Terrovas that I've encountered. Never. I've never had a motor in for service, never had to replace a pedal, nothing. That stands in contrast to the 2-3 pedals per year that I would go through on my PDs.

I feel completely comfortable recommending a Terrova to anyone who wants an electric steer motor spends a lot of time on their troller. It costs a little more than the V2, but it's worth every penny.