Minn Kota Co-pilot; yay or nay

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Thinking about adding a Co-pilot to my Minn kota 55PD/AP/US. You guys that have the Co-pilot, what are your thoughts. Do you like it?

[harvey lee]

I have had it on my two trolling motors and I would get it again. I dont always use it but when it suits me, it works fine.

[wishing for walleyes]

I have it on my 28ft pontoon and wouldn`t want to be without the remote.Works great from 20ft away.So yay

[Hookmaster]

I've only fished with someone that had a copilot one time. Does it have infinite speed selection?

[BoxMN]

Big YEAH! here. The older co-pilot does not have infinite speed, but the new Terrova or co-pilot 2 does have, and has instant "full throttle" and is very nice.

I would not get a motor without co-pilot after using it for about 3 years now.

[BobT]

I've shared my friends feelings about them on another thread and basically they were of the opinion that they weren't all that useful, most of the time. Basically because structure isn't a straight line, wind effects, etc. But I'm thinking that it's one of those things that if you don't have it, you can never take advantage of it whereas if you do, you can if it fits the bill for the day.

For me I guess if I was in the market and the added cost didn't frighten me away, I'd get it. That way if I find a use for it, I have it.

Bob

[jwhjr]

I decided against getting it right now, but the option is always there if I decide to add it later.

[cjac]

I added one and I like it, not all the time use, but I like it.

It's nice when you have to do something else, like unhook a fish in windy conditions and are not on the pedal, it helps a lot. Speed control is better than the foot pedal, so I can finesse my speed on calm water, partly due to my 5 year old TM and pedal I think. Also nice when I take the nieces & nephews out and we go from swim raft to raft in the summer dropping lines for pannies. Hepls when I'm often doing something else with them!

One drawback is when muskie fishing....I don't like the TM on when I have a follow, so it takes my hand off to kill the motor or I need to look down and hit the foot control to override and turn it off. That split-second can make a difference on converting a follow or not.

Overall, a nice creature comfort for the $150 range.

[setterguy]

What Chris said. Yay.

[Sandmannd]

 Originally Posted By: BobT

I've shared my friends feelings about them on another thread and basically they were of the opinion that they weren't all that useful, most of the time. Basically because structure isn't a straight line, wind effects, etc. But I'm thinking that it's one of those things that if you don't have it, you can never take advantage of it whereas if you do, you can if it fits the bill for the day.

For me I guess if I was in the market and the added cost didn't frighten me away, I'd get it. That way if I find a use for it, I have it.

Bob

Bob, I think you are thinking of the Autopilot on the motors. This is the co-pilot that connects and instead of using the foot pedal you can use a remote. I put mine on my rod a just use my thumb. Awesome unit, I don't ever use my pedel anymore, they are junk and go out all the time anyway. You can go without it, but it's one of those things that once you have it you will love it.

[wishing for walleyes]

You can also have more then 1 remote.So if you get busy someone else can control the motor with their remote.

[GoFish4]

I have had mine for 1 1/2 years. It is a nice feature that can add to your control of your boat. I use it a lot when trolling edges for walleye and bays for bass. Just another way to spend money on fishing!!!

[cold one sd]

Yay!

[porterhouse]

I love it!!!!!!! Had it for 3 years with no problems. I use it all the time.

Brian

[BobT]

Oh yeah. You're right. I wasn't paying enough attention.

Don't know much of anything about the co-pilot and maybe even less about the auto-pilot.

Oh well. This might be a good time to just sit back and learn.

Bob

[Northlander]

I really like the co-pilot. I have the control on a lanyard around my neck. I would get it again. I actually put it on my last 2 minnkotas.

I had a few with and with out auto-pilot and found I really need the auto-pilot for the way I fish. All my Minkotas will have auto-pilot, universal sonar (improved a lot since my 1st one) and the co-pilot. Just a whole lot more ease of use that way.

Im thinking about getting a extra control for the co-pilot for a passenger to use incase Im busy fighting a fish or whatever else.

[Mike Wallace]

Yay here. I wouldn't get one without it. I have used mine for about 1.5 years and was very skeptical at first: "Why would I spend $150 on something that I can do with my foot?"

I muskie fish and I attached the sleeve to each of my rods, right in front of my reel, on the side I palm my reel. I can adjust the trolling motor mid cast, during the retrieve, really any time all with the touch of a finger. And I am not doing the MinnKota polka in big waves - I have two feet firmly planted on the deck.

I haven't even got my foot pedal out for a year.

Switching rods? Just pop it out of one sleeve an onto the next rod in about 3 seconds and don't even stop the motor.

My two cents, but worth the money for me.

[wplatehunter]

Yes get one they are worth every penny.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

It is a "gots to have" type option...

[Northlander]

I oredered mine through http://www.soderbloom.com and Jay got it to me in a few days at a nice price. Make sure you tel them what trolling motor you have.

[Sandmannd]

I got mine on hsolist for $89 plus $10 shipping. Was a great deal. Wouldn't be without it now. Like I said before I don't even use my pedel anymore.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

 Originally Posted By: Sandmannd

I got mine on hsolist for $89 plus $10 shipping. Was a great deal. Wouldn't be without it now. Like I said before I don't even use my pedel anymore.

Was that a one time hsolist deal, or does the place have more??

[Sandmannd]

I think it might have been a private party, not sure. Was new in the box though. I got it in 2006. Took me a month of looking on there to find it. You can find deals if you know what you're looking for and keep searching.

[Mlaker3]

I wouldn't even want a bow mount if I couldn't have the co-pilot on it.