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Hot foot or not?

Pherris

By Pherris
in Bass

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Pherris Mentor

Pherris

Posted
Posted

I posted the following message in the equipment forum too.

I have never been in a boat with a hot foot. I am just finalizing the purchase of a Ranger Z20 and I have the option of a Hot Foot pedal or the traditional throttle control. I am inclined to go with the standard because I have had a 520 Comanche for the last few years and is what I know I am comfortable with. I have spoken to a few people and the reviews have been mixed. I am wondering what other FM'ers experience and input is. There is no cost difference on the deal with or without. All replies appreciated. Good Fishing!!

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Stratosman Veteran

Stratosman

Posted
Posted

IMO the only way to go..... You can maintain total control of the boat with two hands on the wheel, also when running in rough water you can maintain consistant throttle control unlike alot of hand throttles. I never had any problems with mine and would go that route in a heartbeat.

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mamohr686 Experienced

mamohr686

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I have a hot foot in my skeeter and really like it. Once you get used to it you won't want to go back. I have dual cable steering in my boat so it is much safer to have both hands on the wheel (lots of steering torgue at low speeds but none at high speeds). I also have the blinker style trim on the wheel which is very nice. I see that there is a option where you can use both the foot throttle and the traditional throttle control, I would purchase this option if I were buying a new boat. Your Z series will have hydraulic steering and you'll be able to drive the boat with one finger so that won't be a big deal for you. It's nice to rapidly adjust your speed if you going to jump a boat wake at 70mph or navigate some cross swells in bad weather. My only complaint when I first starting using mine was I fished a few lakes like the whitefish chain that had some areas of long idle (no wake). You have to be sitting down to run the throttle with the hotfoot. I used to navigate shallow areas by having the boat in gear and trimmed up, while my knee was on the seat and standing upwright looking for submerged objects like stumps or looking for fish. You can't really do that with a hotfoot, you have to be sitting down to reach the throttle. This is the reason kevin vandam was DQ'd in one of the 2006 elite tournaments. He had is ammature partner running the boat while we was trying to spot bedding bass. BASS rules don't let an non-boater run the outboard so he lost his weight for that day.

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Sproguy Enthusiast

Sproguy

Posted
Posted

I second the above, would not run a boat without one! I just feel that you have so much more control over the boat with the hot foot. You don't have the same control when one hand needs to control the throttle in a normal situation. In big waves or running places with lots of turns it gives you so much more control over your speed and with both hands on the wheel you can react quicker to anything that comes up.

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Pherris Mentor

Pherris

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all the replies. I have posted a similar message on some other forums and the overwhelming consensus is to have the hot foot so that is the way I am going. I realize that it will take some getting used to but over all seems like the best choice. Again thanks for the info. Good Fishing!!

p.s I did ask about the option to have both and was told that it was available for a short time but had problems so now its one or the other. Thanks again!!

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Wayne Ek Mentor

Wayne Ek

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On long runs you can just put on the cruise control, at least I do... I let Deitz run the boat. grin.gif Seriously, on long runs you do not have foot or leg fatigue or at least I have not experienced any problems.

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HellaBass Proficient

HellaBass

Posted
Posted

I have made runs over an hour long on the Illinois river and never had any fatigue issue, its really similar to driving your car. I have heard of guys using sticks as cruise control, but would not reccomend crazy.gif

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mamohr686 Experienced

mamohr686

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I have heard that on some of the early hotfoot models the spring that would hold up the foot pedal (in idle position) would break and cause the boat to go instantly to wide open throttle. Some members of the bass fishing home page would change out the single mainspring to 2 weaker springs to prevent this from happening. Of corse that is what the hook on the top of the hotfoot is for and also you could use the kill switch. I saw pictures of a boat that was being loaded up when the hotfoot broke and the boat ended up running up the trailer and halfway on the bed of the pickup. Kind of crazy but I still think the benefits outweigh the risks of a hotfoot throttle.

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Deitz Dittrich Grand Master

Deitz Dittrich

Posted
Posted

FishingMinnesota, and Iceleaders and HotSpotOutdoors are all in the same family of web pages as they all have the same owner. When you sign on to any of the 3 sights, its random... Once you have like 1000 posts your name will change I think to advisor or something like that...

So, to answer your question... it really doesnt mean anything...

Other names you may see are Prostaff.. which are our prostaff with the page.. Others will read Specialist.. which is our entry level prostaff memebers. And Coordinator, which help look over and help out our prostaff and specialists.. and then the Directors help over see everthing.

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