Minn Kota I pilot

T

twhrider2

Junior Member
Painted my bow pulpit today and hoping to get it put on this week. Planning to mount an 80lb. thrust 60'' I pilot on it.
Read thru past posts and I know REEL used a 70 or 80 on his boat and seemed to do well.
Seems like the V may be border line for a 24v vs 36v as I will be using in fresh as well as salt water fishing but def. hoping to get by with a 24.
Thought I would run my idea by the pro's and get opinions before I shelled out the coin.:head::head:
 
I havent saw one on a v20 but ive fished a lot of boats with terrova/ipilots

on similar boats around here a 112lb motor with a 72in shaft is preferred. Here on Erie with the chop the 60in shafts dont like to stay in the water

a lot of people around here have added a "rudder" to the electric motor and claim it helps out tremendously with the steering and battery life
 
Pulled the trigger on the 80 I pilot yesterday and hope it works out good.
James the rudder you speak of sound interesting.
 
twhrider2 said:
Pulled the trigger on the 80 I pilot yesterday and hope it works out good.
James the rudder you speak of sound interesting.
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So you went w/the 24 vt...it will serve you well in fresh and most of the time in salt...the only time you might have an issue is when wind AND current are working against you.

Coupla things about these motors...1-connections and hot batteries....BOTH need to be as good as you can make em...the electronics in MKs won't tolerate depleted power...battery connections, plug ins etc...anywhere there's a weak link will have a bad effect on performance...go ahead and buy an onboard battery charger for the two batteries...I had two AC Delco 31s that lasted forever cuz they were on the charger 24/7 or either in use...and UNPLUG the motor when on charger
2-turn the AP OFF when you lay it down in stored position
3-carry a spare remote control battery with you

These are great motors, but everybody I know w/one has sooner or later had to have a MK certified shop replace one or more boards in the head. Get used to it...made in Mexico, it's just a fact of life w/these things...if she starts spinning around by herself it's either a bad connection or one of the boards needs to be replaced...

From my description it may sound like these things are POS...not the case; just have heavily used them over many years...you'll get a lot of good years outta yours...

Oh yeah...installed the prop should be 18" or more below the boats water line...and on rough days that may not be enough...I don't use the MK those days...
 
Thanks for chiming in guys , felt like the 24v may be border line but what the heck... if its too windy or too much current just throw out the hook or just don't be there!!
Got a pair of group 29 Interstate batteries yesterday, now it's time to start mounting and wiring.
BTW good to see REEL back and thanks for the info.
 
twhrider2 said:
Thanks for chiming in guys , felt like the 24v may be border line but what the heck... if its too windy or too much current just throw out the hook or just don't be there!!
Got a pair of group 29 Interstate batteries yesterday, now it's time to start mounting and wiring.
BTW good to see REEL back and thanks for the info.
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Good luck w/it...I know you're gonna enjoy it!!...:beer:
 
How has the 24v with 60" shaft worked out for you guys? Ive been holding out for a used 36v with a 72" but have struck out so far. I have the oppertunity to buy one now with a 60" shaft at a very good price and i think im going to go for it, just wanted to see how you guys like it
 
James... the I pilot worked out great. Pulls the V surprisingly good, once in a tidal creek with strong headwind and swift outgoing tide could not gain ground but other wise does very good, also love the anchor lock feature.
 
Good deal James...I feel sure you will be happy. I know I struggled with the same questions after all it is quite a chunk of coin. If you do a lot of bass type of fishing I think there is a wireless foot control available that would be nice.
 
88 v20 dual console. bought it used last summer and it came with a minn kota on it. not sure of the model but its remote operated,no anchor feature though. its,also black, 60" shaft and 60 pound thrust. the po said hed been running it for three years, bought it used, and it does fine. just always rinse it off real well. i had my doubts

bout a year later and i have to say it does fine. i fish the northern gulf around the barrier islands and la marsh so i dont know about really strong currents but any trolling motor is gonna have issues in a strong whind. hell, just fishing in a strong whind has issues!

in the fall and winter here the trout and reds move up into the bayous and rivers. thats when ive really worked my trolling motor. in december i went out bout midnight to fish the falling tide. ran out to my starting point way up bernard bayou to ride the tide out the marsh, bout 7 miles from the boat launch. just after i got there a fog sat down that was so thick i literally couldnt see the bow of the boat. fish werent biting and i was wet and cold so after a couple hours i decided to do the stupid thing and try to make it out of there. had to navigate with my ears, listening for critters and splashes on the bank. so it was trolling motor only

i bet you that i put 30-40 miles on that trolling motor to make that 7 mile run. zigging and zagging. bumping into crap and getting turned around. finally made it to the dock just about sunrise. and the fog started to break. so i turned around and went fishing. fished all day, slaughtered them! went home and cleaned my catch, showered and fell right to sleep. back in the water before sun up the following day. fished all day again. and did it again the next day. all without charging the batteries. on the third day, bout 10 am, she started showing signs of fatigue and i needed to cut the grass. also, judging by the text messages i was getting if i didnt come home i was never gonna get laid again! those were walmart batteries. btw

i dont have an onboard charger. i will one day but there are so many things that im gonna do to my boat one day that i might as well name it "one day", lol. hell, i might do that too, one day... name it. but i can tell you this... if you leave the trolling motor plugged in to the batteries, when you go fishing the next weekend they will be dead as a doornail. ask me how i know!
 
I still havent added a bow mount like i planned, the one i was trying to purchase was sold before i could get to it. I intend on putting one on this winter. my question for you guys is where did you put the batteries?

my boat is a center console that is already very stern heavy with a 200hp engine, a kicker, two batteries back there and 2-3 people back there fishing.

Ideally id like to keep them as far forward as possible. I have room in the bow to make a box but not sure if id want them up there with the severe pounding my boat takes on Erie. My other option is under the center console which i think may be the best bet.
 
jamesbalog said:
I still havent added a bow mount like i planned, the one i was trying to purchase was sold before i could get to it. I intend on putting one on this winter. my question for you guys is where did you put the batteries?

my boat is a center console that is already very stern heavy with a 200hp engine, a kicker, two batteries back there and 2-3 people back there fishing.

Ideally id like to keep them as far forward as possible. I have room in the bow to make a box but not sure if id want them up there with the severe pounding my boat takes on Erie. My other option is under the center console which i think may be the best bet.
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Did you ever end up doing this? I’m thinking about it and have the same concer with battery placement. I’d like to put them in the bow area but the pound on Lake Michigan is a real concern.
 
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