Minn Kota with iPilot

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
NH Tooner
Posts: 212
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:13 am

Minn Kota with iPilot

#1 Post by NH Tooner » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:19 am

I have a 28' tritoon with 225 hp. I just tried out my Minn Kota trolling motor. The iPilot feature is AMAZING. I plotted a short course on the shoreline, (1000'). Hit return and it brought me back over the same course flawlessly. Back and fourth about 3 times. Had about 6-8 mph winds maybe more. Compensated for that with no problem. I also tried out the anchor feature. We stopped at a sandbar with lots of boats there. I hit anchor and it kept the boat at that same spot for over an hour. The boat never semed to move. Crouded with boats all around. Again with a slight wind worked flawlessly. Even with the two tops up catching the wind.
I highly recommend it.
Dave

2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
225 hp Mercury

1993 24' Forester
50 hp mercury

blackberg
Posts: 653
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:46 pm
Location: SoCal

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#2 Post by blackberg » Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:45 am

def on my wish list,
what # thrust is yours?

-bb

User avatar
Ron Burgundy
Posts: 3113
Joined: Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:28 pm
Location: New Port Richey, FL

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#3 Post by Ron Burgundy » Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:47 am

Yep, on the wish list. It will probably stay there because of the price, but it sure would be nice.
-Ron Burgundy, "Stay Classy San Diego"

2005 Fiesta Fish n' Fun 20' 50HP Yamaha 2 Stroke
Fishing and Cruising Florida's Islands

The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea. Isak Dinesen

User avatar
GregF
Posts: 3323
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:47 pm
Location: Estero Florida

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#4 Post by GregF » Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:28 pm

My neighbor has that on his trolling motor but be sure you have an extra battery. The thing is a battery hog if you are dealing with a lot of wind and current.
1974 Harris
70 HP 4 stroke EFI Yamaha

NH Tooner
Posts: 212
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:13 am

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#5 Post by NH Tooner » Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:47 pm

blackberg wrote:def on my wish list,
what # thrust is yours?

-bb
82# 24 volt.
Dave

2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
225 hp Mercury

1993 24' Forester
50 hp mercury

NH Tooner
Posts: 212
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:13 am

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#6 Post by NH Tooner » Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:49 pm

GregF wrote:My neighbor has that on his trolling motor but be sure you have an extra battery. The thing is a battery hog if you are dealing with a lot of wind and current.
All depends on how you use it. I have the same t-motor on my other boat for the last couple years. never ever had battery issues.. That one is a 55# 12 volt. Any t-motor is a battery hog in wind or current.
Dave

2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
225 hp Mercury

1993 24' Forester
50 hp mercury

User avatar
megawatt
Posts: 45
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:13 pm

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#7 Post by megawatt » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:05 am

I bought a MinnKota PowerDrive (24V, 70 lbs thrust, 54" shaft) with iPilot about a month ago. This thing is amazing!

I was concerned about the thrust for my toon, but it's done great in 15 mph winds (the anchor function held the spot fine, and it pulls me along at almost 3 mph at full power).

I added a third battery so I don't have to mess with my cranking battery. I also bought the mounting kit, which leaves only a 4" x 6" pad when the motor is removed.
Richland-Chambers Reservoir, North Texas
2005 Harris FloteBote SuperSunliner 23' Tri-toon
Honda BF150
MinnKota PowerDrive V2 trolling motor w/i-Pilot

User avatar
rancherlee
Posts: 580
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:59 am
Location: Eveleth MN

Re: Minn Kota with iPilot

#8 Post by rancherlee » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:51 am

Works great, tried one out. Also made Minnkota V1's pop up like crazy on craigslist for reasonable prices (only v2's are compatable). I pick up a gently used PD55 V! with copilot, autopilot, and sonar for 350$ because the owner upgraded to a 1100$ ipilot (and gave me a demo of the ipilot). Side note, you want AT LEAST a 55# for a 20ft pontoon. After playing with mine all weekend I found mine OK, but I needed to crank it all the way to 10 sometimes to control the pontoon in a 15mph wind. Pulls my boat along at 2-2.2mph @ 10
1988' Kennedy 20' "Haley's Comet"
Rebuilt 2016 with 25" single strake outer tubes and a 25x23" straked U-tube
2003 Suzuki DF140 - Yamaha 9.9HT kicker - 39.1@6300rpm

Post Reply