Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

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BeeBasser

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Joined
Dec 2, 2005
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322
Location
LaFayette, Ga.
I have been looking at the Minn Kota Powerdrive/autopilot Trolling motors. I have had a hip replaced and long days on the trolling motor foot control can get painful. The autopilot sounds real tempting. They are so expensive($900-$1000) and I wonder how good they are. Do any of you have one or know information that would be helpful? I now have a 74lb. thrust maxxum on a 21 ft Bumblebee. It does pretty good until I need over 65% power in heavy current and the amp current breaker will trip. I haven't figured that one out yet and it has gotten me into some hairy situations on the river.

Would the PowerDrive mount in the same holes as the Maxxum? I noticed the base is quite a bit smaller. Would a 80lb. thrust be secure enough to pull around a 21ft. boat. Thanks for any advice.
 
BeeBasser I wish I could be more help but I will tell you this. Tomorrow I am going to go and pick up my new boat, I had a Minnkota Powerdrive w/ Autopilot put in it. I have heard nothing but good things about this trolling motor and with my style of fishing the AP will come in handy. I believe an 80lb would be plenty for your super light Bee. Mine is actually 70lb and it's going on a 19' Kenner bay boat. The weights of your Bee and my Kenner are nearly the same and I was told the 70 would be enough thrust.

I am fishing a tourney Sat (yes in a bay boat emoSmile ) in on a river and will thoroughly give the TM work out. I will post back Sat. and give and evaluation. With Dhauns permission I might post a review of the TM after Sat. and then an update later to tell my likes/dislikes.
 
Minner has no chance in the tourney... and you might ask why? Because I'm fishing it, and I'm making Drum a legal fish.

Man you don't have to ask DHaun's permission... it ain't like this is North Alabama Fishing Forum emoLaugh
 
Report on the: Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

As far as the tournament went…..well it didn’t go to well, but that is for another day. Never mind that, on to the important stuff. Much to my surprise, when I picked up my boat on Friday my new Minnkota Powerdrive AP70 it was equipped with the Co-pilot as well. I didn’t ask/pay for it so, heck yeah I’ll take it.

I will also say that one shouldn’t wait until the morning of a tournament to try to learn how to run a new trolling motor. LOL

The first hour was operating the new TM was really frustrating trying to figure out how to “drive” the new TM with electric steer, after that it starting becoming more natural. The 70lb motor whipped my boat around easily around stumps and into 15-20mph winds all morning (6 hour tourney). I really started enjoying the electric steer feature by the end of the day. It takes a little more getting used compared to the cable type system I learned on, but it is worth it with the extra features that the motor offers. The auto-pilot is the cats meow. I was able to navigate down straight shoreline without even touching the trolling motor in a 15 mph sidewind. There were even times, when fishing in shallow water where I didn’t want to run my big motor to get to my next spot 50-60 yds away, that I was able to set my autopilot to take me to “point B”, set it wide open, and proceeded to dig into my tackle box and tie on a new lure before I got there. It was great. The copilot, which I had doubt that I would ever use, was actually quite handy and I would definitely say is worth the extra money. One example that comes to mind was when my partner launch his Royal Shad Super Spot into an oak tree hanging over the water about 8 feet off the water. He proceeded to take over the front deck and pull the ol’ “short, fat kid trying to dunk on a Little Tike basketball goal” trying to recover the lure while I sat in the back keeping the boat from crashing into the shore and keep the boat underneath him with copilot easily maneuvering the boat. Another time I wedged my lure in some riprap and actually stepped out of my boat to retrieve the lure and the boat left me due to the wind pushing it away, but I had no fear. After unsnagging the deeply embedded lure I simply guided the boat back to me on the shore with the copilot. A small thing you might say, but I can see this thing coming in handy when trying to wrestle a fish in the boat from the back and keeping the boat in check with the TM. All in all I will say it was worth every penny I spent, and would do it again tomorrow. Also, the batteries still had 2/3 charge after a hard day in the wind thanks to the “maximizer” on all the newer models.
 
RE: Report on the: Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

Minner, does this motor have the power stow or deploy device with it? Just curious as I have seen a guy launch his boat and drive off to park and come back and the boat would be out in the lake. I offered to take him out to his boat but he said No Thanks ,and pulled a key fob thingy out and I watched as the motor deployed and then he steered it to the dock. Pretty darn neat if'n ya ask me. emoThumbsup
 
RE: Report on the: Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

fisherpal2k - 3/28/2006 3:13 PM

Minner, does this motor have the power stow or deploy device with it? Just curious as I have seen a guy launch his boat and drive off to park and come back and the boat would be out in the lake. I offered to take him out to his boat but he said No Thanks ,and pulled a key fob thingy out and I watched as the motor deployed and then he steered it to the dock. Pretty darn neat if'n ya ask me. emoThumbsup

It won't deploy on it's on, that guy must have deployed it before he let go if the boat. I do have they wireless remote you speak of and could easily do as he did.
 
Minner, Thanks for the great report on the Minn Kota Power drive. I returned from Florida yesterday and have just now read your report. I have been looking seriously at these Tm's and I believe your review has about convinced me to shell out the dough. If I can convince the better half that I really need one and I would be alot safer on the water"If I just had one of those new remote control trolling motors!!"emoUpsmile Minn Kota did make an auto deploy and stow Tm until a couple years ago, but stopped production. They had too much trouble with that feature. Thanks again.emoThumbsup
 
RE: Report on the: Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

Minner, since you have had your Minn Kota Pd/Ap/Cp trolling motor for awhile now, are you still pleased with it? I have not bought one yet but still considering it. Do you use the co-pilot or the foot control more often? They offer the copilot factory installed but you have to buy the foot control extra, or I could purchase the co-pilot seperate and install it myself. I believe that I would want to have both available. What do you think? ThanksemoSmile
 
RE: Report on the: Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

BeeBasser - 5/14/2006 11:10 AM

Minner, since you have had your Minn Kota Pd/Ap/Cp trolling motor for awhile now, are you still pleased with it? I have not bought one yet but still considering it. Do you use the co-pilot or the foot control more often? They offer the copilot factory installed but you have to buy the foot control extra, or I could purchase the co-pilot seperate and install it myself. I believe that I would want to have both available. What do you think? ThanksemoSmile

BB I have used my TM a ton since I bought it, and can safely say I wouldn't trade it for any other TM. I use the copilot (always on my wrist as soon as I get in the boat) and the foot control about 50/50. At first the slim foot control is tough to get used to when you are used to the bulky rocker types all other motors have. I will admit after my first few outings I was doubting that I ever would get used to it. I have the hang of it now and consider it just as easy to use.

The only negative thing about it, is you have to glance at the trolling motor head to see where you are headed if you've "let off" for a couple casts. I could run my old Motorguide subconsciously, and never look down and new exactly which way my little arrow was pointing just by the feel of position of the rocker. You do lose your the instinctiveness you once had with the rocker type control when you go over the electronic pedal. I do not feel that this outweighs the advantages of the motor and would do it again any day.

To answer your question......................... get both.
 
RE: Report on the: Minn Kota Powerdrive/AutoPilot Trolling Motor

Minner, I couldn't resist it any longer. I ordered an 80lb thrust Minnkota auto pilot/copilot trolling motor from Cabela's. I hope to get it in and use this weekend. Thanks for the good report on your experience with your's.
B.B.emoSmile
 

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