Minn Kota CoPilot

[Genofish]

I have 55# Power Drive foot control(2yrs old).I am looking into adding the CoPilot mount. Is the CoPilot add on worth the extra $$$$

[MNBIGBEAR]

I put one on mine last year and I love it. No more cord to trip over. I got the extra remote for it too so two people can control the motor. good when you are fighting a fish and the other guy can take control. I think it was worth it.

[buzzsaw]

I have the 70 lb thrust Co-pilot w/autopilot and love it!! I was facing into the wind and pushed the co-pilot button on the head of the trolling motor and with it's internal compass it kept me straight in the face of the wind... all I had to do is adjust the speed and it kept me parked in place... no anchoring! It's beautiful!

[Dave]

Using the search feature revealed an earlier thread(s) about the Copilot and what people think.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB9&Number=494429&Forum=f9&Words=Copilot&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=491997&Search=true&where=sub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=&olderval=1&oldertype=w&bodyprev=#Post494429

[Chris-Neises]

This is one of the best products I have ever purchased.

[Gopher_Guy]

Do these work on any of the power drive motors? I have an older power drive minnkota (can't remember the model # off hand). My boat is a 98 so I'm assuming the motor is a 98 as well. It is a power drive but it has the white head, not the black one. I'm tempted to get this for my pop for his birthday next week.

[kjgmh]

It will work with any of the powerdrives with 8 pin flat connector.

[Fish Head]

Buzz- I think what you described is the auto pilot feature. I'm pretty sure the co-pilot is the remote control.

I agree with you on the auto pilot though. When you're in wind, the auto pilot is great!! It keeps you on your line. My new boat that I'll be picking up in a couple days has a 80# Minnkota with auto pilot, co-pilot, universal sonar and a quick release mount. The next 48 hours (waiting for my boat) is going to take forever.....

[kato811]

i got the same set up you do but i just got it an put it on so im no help there but ive heard nothing but good things about the co-piolt. last year i was turning my old trolling motor by hand so anything will be an improvment

[buzzsaw]

Fishhead you are correct! I just tried to "program" for lack of a better word the remote unit tonight and couldn't figure it out. I know your supposed to push in the button below the "O" in Minnkota and hold it or something like that but it didn't work... anybody got some advice???

[katoguy]

Should just have to hook the motor up to power. Then push in the white putton on the side plate. As you hold in the button, send a command from the remote. It should beep signifying the hook up.

If that doesn't work, call Minn Kota at (800) 227-6433.

[Fish Head]

Buzz- if what Katoguy described doesn't work, I would call the dealership you purchased the boat from. Since its a brand new boat, I'm sure they would be more than happy to talk you through getting it working right.

[buzzsaw]

I did push that button on the side plate and had the remote unit right next to it and no beep. For what it's worth the button was not white, it is black. I'll call Crystal Pierz.....

A side note regarding Crystal Pierz in Hastings... As a part of my new boat purchase I had them write in a stainless STEEL prop and I just realized they put on a stainless ALUMINUM prop. NICE shortcut guys! I see you can buy that Hustler stainless aluminum prop for like $80.00 and of course the Stainless steel is far more expensive! Not to mention they didn't power my Lowrance LMS 332c (I was getting GPS won't initialize error) which they fixed last week.... I had a 9:00 AM appointment which is when I arrived but the mechanic didn't get in until 9:45 and had a 10:00 AM new boat walk through with another customer so they said they would fix the GPS and the Yamaha Pre-rig problem (reverse was forward and vice versa) right after the walk through and since it was supposed to be done in less than an hour while I waited they would deliver it back to me later in the day in Lakeville... I thought cool, thats fine.... I get this call at 1:15 saying can pick your boat up? were extremely busy and can't deliver it to you. I was fishing Tonka the next morning and they were closing at 3:00 so I had to jet another 40 minute road trip to pick up my boat!! so your thinking WOW thats not great service right?? Theres more.... last night a realized that 3 of the 4 screws that mount the slideplate for the trolling motor are stripped and have no backing to hold them tight to the boat.... so when I turn on the trolling motoron high power she kicks straight up like a bronco!! I better not say much more as I'm frustrated by whats happened so far... did I mention I know two of the guys over there on a personnal level (friend of a friend deal) and it makes it somewhat difficult for me to be a dink about everything. Any advice?

[LocalGuide]

(Contact US Regarding This Word) that sucks that a dealer would do that to a person.

I would go over there and just lay the law down. Tell them this is what happened and this is what you did wrong.

If everything is as you described, thats just bad and I wouldn't want to buy a boat or have anything to do with a dealer like that.

Back on topic, if you can add a co-pilot to your older Minn-kota...go for it! I have one on mine and its sweet, takes a bit to get used to, but in the end its definitely worth it I think.

[marine_man]

Buzzsaw,

If you visit Crystal Pierz Marine's HSOforum (I won't post it since they're not a sponsor), but it goes something along the lines of crystal pierz dot com...

Anyway, on their webpage on the about us tab under company info there are a couple of phone numbers listed, one is their customer satisfaction person, followed by the owner's and owner's partner (and wife) cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses.. contact them directly...

To save you the hassle here they are:

Customer Service Manager:

Kim Watters: 612.290.5858

Myron Kujawa (owner): 612.865.7515

They also have e-mail addresses listed, but I won't post those...

Myron is a very stand up guy... and will likely get your issue resolved... that, and companies like to get feedback...

Not too long ago I wrote a complaint letter to a major sporting goods retailer in regard to the poor service I had received on several occasions... and I received a call from the store manager the next day appologizing, and received a gift card to boot (way above and beyond what I was looking for.. I just wanted to see things made better at the store).

Anyway, that's the direction I'd take...

Let me know how things go... I'd be interested to hear... if it's not something you want to post on here e-mail me at waletzko at hotmail.com

marine_man

[Gopher_Guy]

Well I picked one up last night at Gander for my pop's birthday. I hope he likes it!