New i-Pilot on a PD V2 with US2

[walleyewild]

To get some open water chatter going I have a question.

I am seriously considering the add on i-pilot to my bowmount this year, can think of a lot of reasons as to why I want to add this unit to the boat, Spot lock and record a track are two of the reasons as to why add it, but the one reason as to not adding the unit to my PD v2 is the loss of the foot pedal in the boat once it is added.

Is this going to be an issue when I am bringing in a fish and not activly monitoring the motor and remote?

Do you just hit the stop button on the record a track bring the fish in and press play to resume your course?

Or hand the remote off to your fishing partner temporarly?

The advantages do far out weigh this little glitch, but as usefull as this add on is one would think that Minn Kota would have allowed the use of the foot pedal at least in the auto pilot mode.

Or is Minn Kota going to make a wireless foot pedal add on later this year?

WW

[mojogunter]

It would just continue the path you have it set on, so I would guess there wouldn't be an issue. I am going to buy one soon as well. I have a terrova, but I haven't ever used the foot pedal for it since it was new. I have always used the co pilot, so it is going to no issue for me other than the larger control pad vs the co pilot that I always used on my wrist like a watch.

[walleyewild]

Mojo,

The Terrova has the capability of using the foot pedal with the i-Pilot but for some reason Minn Kota didn't build that feature into the Power drive version.

I am thinking that hitting the stop or pause and drifting away from the track might not be a bad idea though. Especially if you're on fish.

WW

[mojogunter]

Yeah I know it can use the pedal I just never have. When you look at the I pilot it looks to be designed with the terrova in mind. The power drive capabilities were just a bonus for them. It is too bad that they couldn't get the pedal to work with them. I think that may be a deal breaker for many that are used to the pedal.

[walleyewild]

Up until last year I fished in a tiller boat with a transom mount motor. So it isn't a big deal for me to learn how to control the motor with a remote.

There are too many useful features on the i-Pilot for it not to be useful for fishing, boat control is going to the next level with this add on.

I just think that it could have been designed to work with the foot pedal, it would have given just a little more flexibility with more people in the boat.

I don't think it'll keep me from not adding it on.

WW

[LMITOUT]

I just think that it could have been designed to work with the foot pedal, it would have given just a little more flexibility with more people in the boat.

I agree. Sometimes your hands are busy and it's nice to have the option of using your foot to keep the boat on track while unhooking a fish, tying a line, etc.

[walleyewild]

LMITOUT,

I think the record a track will be quite useful for that aspect.

I'm just leary of giving up the remote to anyone.

WW

[PerchJerker]

The reason the i-Pilot for the PowerDrive V2 replaces the foot pedal for the PD V2 is because the circuit board in the PD V2 can't handle both. I don't know why, but that's what the techs at Minn Kota told me. I doubt there will be any wireless foot pedal or anything like that which would let you use both hands and feet to control the PD.

As you stated earlier, it's not an issue with the Terrova because that motor can handle the foot pedal and the i-Pilot at the same time.

I like running my motor with my feet and I think I'd have some trouble getting used to using just the remote.

[kg2]

The Terrova has a more advanced circuit board that utilizes a "network" system. The network allows for both the footpedal and the i-Pilot to be used at the same time. The less expensive V2 doesn't have that advanced of electronics.

[walleyewild]

I like running my motor with my feet and I think I'd have some trouble getting used to using just the remote.

I don't disagree PJ.

I do think that being able to run the motor from anywhere in the boat might be a plus.

Now I just need to get the taxes done so I can get my i-Pilot.

WW