Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide
Boating => Shallow Water River Boats and Jet Boats.. => Topic started by: Glenn Hawkins on November 02, 2006, 07:56:30 AM
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After our "Man Over Board" incident a few weeks ago and Grumpy's suggestion. I'm looking at MinnKota Auto Pilots to replace my hand tiller MinnKota 55#. I'm not sure I want Grumpy at the helm alone anymore. I'm not as good of swimmer as he is! hahaha Got any suggestions? Would you do anything different? Any deals out there? TIA
Thumper
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Well don’t but an auto pilot motor. It’s a $200 addition that doesn’t work. What you want is a Minn Kota powerdrive with the Copilot addition. I bought my powerdrive motor online at walmart for $311 plus shipping and taxes. It’s a 40# thrust, plenty for your boat and it has a foot control that pretty much sux. The remote control feature (co-pilot) is the coolest thing ever invented for trolling motors and it can be bought separate for $149 at BPS or Cabelas or Ebay. <<<<Buy an extra remote for it>>>> There $40.
It’s a big investment but let me assure you, you won’t ever regret it. I own two Minn Kotas and have had good service from them both. Shop around you might get a good deal but I couldn’t beat Wally Worlds price when I was shopping. I’ll be buying another on pretty soon.
Should you decide to buy a cheaper motor don’t buy anything but a composite shaft for river fishing. A metal shaft will get bent first time you run up on a shoal in current and jam it in the ground, been there, done that….
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I have to agree with Mike about the foot control on these motors. I don't care for the danged thing. Tim has one and he is quite efficient with it but I just have not yet gotten comfortable with the setup. I miss the old cable steer foot pedal. You could feel the motor turn with your foot. Liked that til the cable broke or came out of the socket. If I didn't need so many other things for the boat right now, I'd get the remote finger tip thing.
For now, I'll practice with my foot control. Used my hand on it most of the day Sunday.
Edit- I wanted to clarify- I like the motor fine. I dont like the foot control. I kicked that motor on high and headed down river Sunday and Leo asked if I had any water skis on board. He was ready to cut a wake.