Wireless (remote control) trolling motors

[Gunny]

Anyone tried these yet? New technology so don't know how much history is out there. But, seems like something I might consider if I were in the market for a new boat (smaller/more compact than traditional models but I'm sure more expensive).

Any thoughts/experience greatly appreciated. Thanks,

 

[CherokeeRidge]

I have one on my ProCraft it works very well, I like it ,but it's pretty old , I think they have been out for many years. The pluses I see are you can run it from anywhere in the boat or on the dock (if you don't let it get too far away) and the foot control is very small and low profiled.

 

[Liveliner]

Minn Kota Co-pilot added onto your Powerdrive or Riptide is a good unit. Except for the fact that the design of the new sidecover leaves a gap. That is the only reason that i do not have one. I bought one and saw the gap and took it back for a refund. Never used it. I'm too picky about stuff like that.

I do have the Auto-Pilot and really love that on my TM. Set it to where you want to go and then walk around the boat with no worries. It will "hover" in current or wind and keep you straight and in line with whatever you point it at.

 

[minner]

I still love mine after nearly a year. See post: http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1368&posts=13

 

[Liveliner]

Way to go there Minner. How do you use your Auto Pilot? I have the very same thing in the saltwater Riptide version. I used mine in the wind yesterday to troll me in a straight line across CF bay and then I reset the angle and trolled back. The whole time I just walked around my boat and fished with no worries as if I had some else running the TM for me. When I Bass fish a bank, I set it to parallel the bank and set the speed and go fish without distraction. I don't know about you but I know that I could not do without the Auto-pilot now.

Do you have the 20' wire to your remote so as to use it from anywhere in your boat?

 

[BeeBasser]

Here is an update on my Minn Kota Wireless remote trolling motor.

I am very pleased with my Minn Kota remote control trolling motor. Mine is the 80lb. thrust with auto pilot. I have it on a 21 ft. Bumblebee and it has plenty of power to spare. I love the small remote that you can wear on your wrist or mount on your rods. You can control the boat without being limited to a foot control. One thing you have to be careful about is when you pull it up, make sure it is latched down good before you take off. I learned this the hard way, it came down when I hit a big roller and the "unbreakable shaft" splintered into.

My insurance paid me for it the next day and I ordered a new one from Cabela's. I am now more careful to make sure it is latched.
I believe this years model has a few improvements and this may have been made fool proof.

It takes a while to get use to deploying and retracting, but it is worth the effort. One trick that I have learned when you have to get into shallow water or close to the bank, you can pick the motor up by hand at any depth you need and control the motor.

I didn't even consider a Motor Guide at the time because they didn't offer a built in transducer. I believe they now have it available on their remote motor and it doesn't cost as much as the Minn Kota.

Another great advantage to the remote control is clearing your front deck of the clutter of a foot control and the wires.

I had a hip replaced a couple years ago and it was getting very painful to spend a day on a foot control motor but with the remote control I have more freedom to move around the boat as I fish. This is a lot more comfortable for me and I'm not hurting at the end of a day fishing.

 

[Liveliner]

emoThumbsup emoThumbsup emoThumbsup

 

[bassfishingnerd]

I have a power drive and it works great. I have the remote, but hardly use it unless I'm doing something and I want to troll while retying or doing something else. The autopilot is great for that too, but I don't use it much either.

The power drive units are easily repairable, and parts are inexpensive if you need to get it fixed for some reason.

 

[minner]

Liveliner - 3/1/2007 2:32 PM

Way to go there Minner. How do you use your Auto Pilot? I have the very same thing in the saltwater Riptide version. I used mine in the wind yesterday to troll me in a straight line across CF bay and then I reset the angle and trolled back. The whole time I just walked around my boat and fished with no worries as if I had some else running the TM for me. When I Bass fish a bank, I set it to parallel the bank and set the speed and go fish without distraction. I don't know about you but I know that I could not do without the Auto-pilot now.

Do you have the 20' wire to your remote so as to use it from anywhere in your boat?

I have the wireless remote and do exactly as you described. I also have the foot pedal with 15' of cable. I have little use for it except at the dam when trying to catch bait and I need both hands, and when I bass fish.

 

[Gunny]

Liveliner and Minner,

Now you just confused the heck out of meemoScratch

Why is there wire/cable attached to the foot pedal if it's a wireless system (or am I not understanding something)?

Thanks