ipilot & loss of foot control

[scobec]

I am thinking of buying an ipilot for my Minnkota 70pd V2. It replaces the foot control. Any opinions on how big a loss this is?

[Jason Halfen]

It all depends on your style of fishing. If you only use one line 100% of the time, or use rod holders extensively, you may not miss the foot pedal. If you fish with multiple rods (like many river anglers do for vertical jigging, jig dragging, or 3-way + bait applications), then you'll be wishing you had a third hand to fish two rods and control the boat all at the same time.

Because I fish rivers so extensively, I couldn't imagine being without the foot pedal. My friends who fish on lakes 100% of the time claim to be perfectly happy using the remote all of the time.

[Lundexp]

It seems like alot of the guys here use the remote most of the time but most of the time I still use the pedal to keep my hand free to jig a 2nd rod or do something else. Then again, it depends on your style of fishing. I wouldn't be without the pedal with my style of fishing IMO.

[Shellback]

I installed a switch in my Powerdrive so that I could use either. It's a simple procedure, but you have to unplug one, then plug in the other. You can't have them both working at the same time. The switch will only work on a non auto pilot V2.

Here's a copy of a PM I sent to a fellow on the modification I made.

Here's a link for switches,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch

Scroll down till you see the diagram for a DPDT switch. On the diagram, the 2 terminals on the right of the switch would be the black and white wires running to the steering motor. On the left side of the diagram, there are 4 terminals. One set of terminals would be for the black and white wires coming from your control board which you had to disconnect when installing the I-pilot. The other set would be for the black and white wires from the I-pilot. You can see it is very simple. The only modification you did when installing the I-pilot was to switch the steering motor wires from the control board to the I-pilot. This toggle switch will allow you to switch back and forth between the two when you plug the foot pedal in, or the I-pilot. I bought this switch from Radio Shack, 275-0666 DPDT heavy duty toggle switch. Using this switch, the center 2 terminals would be for the wires from the steering box. The end terminals would be for each set of from the I-pilot and control board. Keep the black wires on 1 side of the switch, and the white wires on the other side. Obviously you can only have either the I-pilot or the foot pedal plugged into the round connector on the motor. When you change over, just flip the switch. I'm surprised MinnKota didn't offer something like this. Perhaps they didn't because it will only work with the non auto pilot powerdrives. PS As a precaution, I would disconnect power before switching back and forth.

Shellback,

I am interested in making the modification you suggest. Any chance you could post a pic or offer a further description of how the installation of the switch worked out? I am curious where you mounted the actual switch? Is is corrosion resistant?

Any other information would be greatly appreciated!

[Bill Krejca]

The required 3rd hand, as stated, can be a problem if this is the way you fish. For me, the foot pedal was never ergonomically friendly, so not being able to use it is no loss. I hang the control from my belt, and it just sits in my lap/on my leg, very easy to use, love it!

Bill Krejca