Is anyone else having any issues with their copilot "range" and/or "responsiveness" from the back of your boat (especially if you have walk through windshield)?

If I am in the front of the boat next to the motor, it is 100% reliable. If I am at the back of the boat (especially with the windshield closed where between the remote and the motor), sometimes it takes multiple press/releases of any function to get it to respond.

I had a PD style Co-Pilot that would work 100% of the time from across the lake, but not the Terrova style. Don't ask me to explain why but I've had (3) 80Pound Terrova's and 3 Copilots across 2 different boats and have 3 remotes... so I'm pretty sure it's not a "bad" component.

Had the same problem with a co-pilot on a PD.
Replaced the remote battery and that fixed my issue.

Don J

Sadly I think this is how it is, yes I have issues at times, when I'm behind the windsheild.

When I first got mine, I was amazed - it would work from 50' away.
It seemed to slowly loose range over the first year or so, so I put a
new battery in, and it helped a little but still doesn't seem like new.
I fish out of the back most of the time, and if I have a couple folks
with me I have to lean over and "shoot around them" with the remote
for it to respond. Have got to dragging the foot pedal to the back with me some now.

Perhaps the way the antenna is laying in the side of the terrova needs to be changed slightly.

Sorry to hijack the post, but are you guys happy with your terrovas? I am looking at buying one, but do not know anyone that has personally owned one. I'd appreciate your input, good or bad.

It is very different than a conventional trolling motor. There is no "feel" to the foot pedal like the conventional trolling motors, so I hate the foot pedal on my 101 Terrova.

However, I love the wireless remote (co-pilot).

Kind of love hate for me.

It is very different than a conventional trolling motor. There is no "feel" to the foot pedal like the conventional trolling motors, so I hate the foot pedal on my 101 Terrova.

However, I love the wireless remote (co-pilot).

Kind of love hate for me.


For the poster who asked about whether people liked their Terrovas --

I am going to assume that by differing from "conventional trolling motors" the above poster meant the cable-operated ones. With the cable-operated ones you can tell where the motor is pointed by how the slant of the foot-pedal is positioned.

I don't have a Terrova, but I have its forerunner the PowerDrive with AP with sonar. No, you cannot tell where the motor is pointed from the position of the foot pedal. You have to look at the direction the head is pointed.

The foot pedal design has long been criticized and justly so, in my opinion. But, I sure love the motor itself. I have the 80# version and a backup at 65# which I used until the 80 came out. I just look at the head to see where the motor is pointed. I also love to use the AP feature -- point it in the direction you want to go and leave it. The motor will swivel and "straighten out" as needed to keep you going there (although the wind may push you off-course side-to-side as the unit is controlled by a compass and won't correct for winddrift that keeps the compass on a parallel course).

I would buy one again in a heartbeat.

I have the 80# terrova autopilot with remote. I have a remote mount on each my rods and have two remotes that I switch from one rod to the next. The foot control is OK. The motor, autopilot and remote is fantastic! I just returned from a two week trip and by the end of the trip, I was controlling the boat with just my thumb on the remote. Hard to believe, but like surfing TV channels. I would recommend getting the remote as it compensates for the OK foot control. By the end of my trip, I didn't even bother to get the foot control out.

Good luck.

Thanks for the idea of relocating the antenna. I had it hanging out of the top of the panel this weekend. Only out for about an hour or so, but it seemed to have helped. It is not perfect (like the old series copilots were) but it does seem to be better. I wonder if a guy extended the antenna or something, if it would help?

I hear ya on the remotes... I typically have holsters on every one of my rods and usually have a spinning rod and baitcaster out at any given time, so have 3 remotes. One on the spinning rod controlled by the thumb, one on the baitcaster controlled by the index finger and one on my wrist... ummm... when I'm hung in a tree and things get hecktic when I need to make a maneuver quick and don't have a rod in my hand!

The nice thing about the Terrova (Unlike the old style), is I can still have the foot control hooked up in the bow, where I can have my son (Somehow, he always gets the bow fishing spot!!!) make maneuvers as needed too.

The nice thing about the Terrova (Unlike the old style), is I can still have the foot control hooked up in the bow, where I can have my son (Somehow, he always gets the bow fishing spot!!!) make maneuvers as needed too.

I am confused. What "old style" didn't allow the foot pedal to be hooked up when the Co-Pilot was installed?

I bought my first PD-AP in 2003 (refurbished unit). Both it and my current 80 (I kept the 65 as a backup but bought the 80 for more power) allowed the foot pedal to be hooked up.

Was there an earlier model that didn't allow the foot pedal to be hooked up??

I apologize in advance having a memory of a 150yr old. But, Minkota PD before the Terrova (at least before the V2), is what I'm referring to.

I have to be honest, I know I've "heard it" to be an issue or just not designed to work at the same time or something (of which is one of the bragged improvements of the Terrova) and can't remember if I ever tried it or not. For me, the CoPilot worked so well, I never ever, ever had the foot control hooked up. Today with the Terrova, I leave the foot control hooked up for when the darn remote isn't working from the back of the boat, I can have my son make needed adjustments.

I still remember a day from the old co-pilot about 4yrs ago where I pull up to the dock by myself with kids hanging out on the dock... I push the boat out into the lake and head up to get the truck. Behind me I hear yelling, "Sir, Sir, Sir you're boat!!!". I relied, "It's ok, I have her trained”. I back the truck in and walk out to the end of the dock where the kids are starring at me with the blankest stare a guy has ever seen, as my boat has floated a few hundred feet from the dock by now. I yell out to her, "Come here sweetie, it's time to get on the trailer" and here she comes right to me. Those kids saw a UFO that day.

I still remember a day from the old co-pilot about 4yrs ago where I pull up to the dock by myself with kids hanging out on the dock... I push the boat out into the lake and head up to get the truck. Behind me I hear yelling, "Sir, Sir, Sir you're boat!!!". I relied, "It's ok, I have her trained”. I back the truck in and walk out to the end of the dock where the kids are starring at me with the blankest stare a guy has ever seen, as my boat has floated a few hundred feet from the dock by now. I yell out to her, "Come here sweetie, it's time to get on the trailer" and here she comes right to me. Those kids saw a UFO that day.


Well, some things are more worth remembering than others. THAT MEMORY I would have paid $20 to have seen live!