Wireless Trolling Motor - should I get one?

[Gunny]

Thinking about a remote controlled TM on my next glass bass boat.

If you have/had one your opinion is important to me.

Also...MotorGuide or MinnKota model?

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[rsimms]

I think it should depend on your style of fishing and real "need" for the wireless capability. Otherwise I fear it's simply extra expense (and potential maintenance) without justification. The only time I've seen one is fishing with a smallmouth guide on Dale Hollow. He ran the trolling motor from the back of the boat via wireless, allowing clients to fish front of boat without having to worry about the trolling motor. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

[Guest]

Liveliner and Fishing Machine have them and from what I have seen they are great if you are fishing alone or like in FM's case if you fish all over the boat.
My next trolling motor will be remote controlled and will be Minn Kota for sure.

Cheez

 

[smalljawz]

i have a motorguide w55 wireless unit on my boat. there are advantages and disadvantages to having one. i chose it because i hate a lot of clutter and cables all over the deck of the boat. the biggest disadvantage i have come across are the response you get versus a "wired" motor and like liveliner said you need to keep some extra batteries and a screwdriver around just in case they go dead on you. i dont know how well one would work on a heavier glass boat so i cant say, but i am pleased with mine overall on a 18 ft tin boat. i would suggest hooking up with someone that has one and try it out first. the pedal takes a little getting used to as well.

 

[Liveliner]

emoSmile

I have a Minn-kota Riptide with autopilot and I love that setup. The Minn-kota Saltwater Riptide and the freshwater version, the Powerdrive, has a 20'+ wired remote that you can run from anywhere in the boat. I had the Co-pilot for a while and determined that it was a waste of money. Now, I set my Autopilot and tweek it with the wired remote.. Troble free and in control. I set a direction and the speed and forget the trolling. It does it all for you and stays on course.

Get the Auto-pilot and forget the Co-pilot.
When I am catfishing at the nuke, I push the button to turn on auto pilot, take the wired remote to the rear of the boat and start fishing. I can adjust the speed and change the programed direction or turn it off and on from the rear. It is like having someone in the boat running it for you. Thus...Auto-pilot

To me the wireless remote is just a novelity that you can play with but will soon get tired of. You can loose your remotes and you must keep up with batteries in it.

The Minn-Kota Powerdrive has the wired remote and does not have the stiff, hard to deal with stiff cables. Get the Minn-Kota Powerdrive or the RipTide. Get the Autopilot as well. It is well worth the money. You can set it to parellel a bank, hover in current and take you to where you want to go while you are hands free to move around the boat, tie knots, have lunch or anything else you want to do.

 

[Murdock]

I have the Motorguide Wireless 55 ft lb. on a 21 ft. Pontoon. So far it works great with plenty of power for my fishing barge. It works really well when the grandsons are fishing from all corners of the boat and their dads and I are in the middle baiting and untangling and dodging. I have only had it since Feb. so I can't say much about long term reliability yet but I really like it. I bought mine during a sale that offered the key fob control free and I use it as much or more than I do the foot control. Just clip it on your belt. Hope this helps.

 

[mocsoccer]

If you have ever stepped on your cable or couldn't get the pedal in the perfect position then get the wireless. If you take people fishing that don't get to fish much and want them to get the first water also get the wireless. Once you get used to it there is no where in the boat that you can't fish from. It is an advantage. I had one of the first ones out and never had any problems except batteries. The only time you may feel a delay is when your batteries in the remote foot pedal are weakening. As long as you are prepared with extra batteries you can't beat a wireless. It's no contest. How many corded phones do you have?

 

[flip1up]

Fords and Chevy's, take your choice.

 

[BeeBasser]

I have had the Minn Kota wireless co-pilot with remote for about a year and love it. I keep the remote strapped on my right wrist and I have freedom to move around the boat. As Liveliner mentioned the co-pilot is a must. Just point the motor in the direction you want to go and set it. I often don't even start my big motor to cross the river, I'll just set the co-pilot, lean back and take a short break, eat my lunch or retie my baits. emoSmile emoCool

 

[Freebird]

You may want to consult a repair man like John Swallows up here in Cleveland. He will try to talk you out of it. There is just more things to go wrong with a wireless. I have heard good and bad but you should ask him how many units he sees of both types. It is pretty astounding.

FreebirdemoAngel

 

[Guest]

Freebird - 5/30/2007 9:36 AM

You may want to consult a repair man like John Swallows up here in Cleveland. He will try to talk you out of it. There is just more things to go wrong with a wireless. I have heard good and bad but you should ask him how many units he sees of both types. It is pretty astounding.

FreebirdemoAngel

That there is a good idea that I had not thought of. I used Fishing Machine's this week for a few minutes and loved it. He has the wireless remote Minn Kota but if they give a lot of trouble it definitely would be something to consider. John Swallows would be the one to ask for sure. He knows more about trolling motors than probably all of us on this forum combined.

Cheez