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Trolling motor advice #13376847 12/19/19 02:27 AM
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Greg W Offline OP
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I have a 20' Skeeter bay that I really like. Easy to fish out of and I bass fish 95% of the time. Wish it had more rod storage, but with a bad back not getting up and down all day is nice. Issue is leaning out to drive the trolling motor handle (pic attached) also hurts my back so I steer with my feet pushing the handle more than anything. Really want to upgrade trolling motor to spot lock with foot pedal. I'm just worried there isn't enough room for a foot pedal. Right now all I have at my feet is the on/off switch. Anybody seen anyone deal with this and what were the results? I guess I could drive it with the remote but then you have to use a hand which seems inconvenient.

Only other option is sell the boat and get a true bass boat. But my boat had super low hours when I bought it 2 years ago so hard to replace with anything near as reliable for what I could sell it for

[Linked Image]
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Last edited by Greg W; 12/19/19 02:34 AM.
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13376858 12/19/19 02:41 AM
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I'm running a 22' bay boat with a Motor Guide Xi5. I almost always use the hand control but do keep the foot control on the deck just in case. Couldn't be happier.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13376879 12/19/19 03:13 AM
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[Linked Image]
Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13376890 12/19/19 03:32 AM
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Greg W Offline OP
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dallasdawg, what a great idea. Thx for sharing.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13376975 12/19/19 09:48 AM
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Uncle Fish Offline
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I use a Pro Kon Troll 360 and absolutely LOVE it!!

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377035 12/19/19 01:07 PM
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I have a 20ft bay boat as well and upgraded to the Xi5 last year. I had to get used to using the remote control but I've adapted. Other than when I fish lakes like Rayburn where I'm constantly moving in and around cover, I find the spot lock feature covers most of my fishing.
I do more bay and offshore than bass fishing anymore but it really is a gamechanger as compared to my hand control minn kota I got rid of.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: photofishin] #13377075 12/19/19 01:50 PM
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TxPanhandle Offline
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I have a Skeeter 22 Bay and I use a Minn Kota Ulterra and use both foot control and remote. I use the remote now more than the foot control. I am 75 and had back surgery and knee replacement within the last year. Had bass boats for years but as I got older went to the bay boat and would not go back to a bass boat.


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Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377186 12/19/19 03:48 PM
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TopwaterTom Offline
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I thought some of the newer models have the option of a wireless foot pedal, so you can locate it wherever is convenient. You might look at the Ulterra since you have back issues. That TM has auto deploy/stow and the spot lock feature you are looking for and that pedal has a long cord so you can move it where you want on the deck. The Ultrex has lift assist to help with deploy/stow, but might be an issue with your back. Just wanted to point out a few options as you start looking.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: TopwaterTom] #13377273 12/19/19 05:04 PM
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Greg W Offline OP
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Originally Posted by TopwaterTom
I thought some of the newer models have the option of a wireless foot pedal, so you can locate it wherever is convenient. You might look at the Ulterra since you have back issues. That TM has auto deploy/stow and the spot lock feature you are looking for and that pedal has a long cord so you can move it where you want on the deck. The Ultrex has lift assist to help with deploy/stow, but might be an issue with your back. Just wanted to point out a few options as you start looking.


Motorguide has wireless foot pedal. Ulterra/Terrova has a wired one, but smaller than the Ultrex so it might fit better with very thin wire over an Ultrex.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377309 12/19/19 05:39 PM
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Previously had a 18.5' Nitro bass boat, now have a 21' Triton bass boat and haven't used a foot control in years. I had a MK powerdrive with copilot remote before (still somewhere in the garage) and now use a MG Xi5. I like to fish from all over the boat and use the remote or my graphs that are linked on the console and the bow. No foot control or wires or cables to trip on and lots more deck space. I do carry the wireless foot control for the Xi5 in storage....


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Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377575 12/19/19 09:51 PM
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natvet Offline
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I have the exact same boat and use a foot pedal driven MG. I seem to have plenty of room with the foot pedal on the bow. I stow it in the front hatch with the anchor. I would also like to upgrade, and a movable or wireless pedal would be ideal.
Nathan

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377599 12/19/19 10:24 PM
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Have use the pro trol for many years, will only take about one trip to get use too. Then you wonder how you did without it.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: natvet] #13377833 12/20/19 02:41 AM
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Greg W Offline OP
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Originally Posted by natvet
I have the exact same boat and use a foot pedal driven MG. I seem to have plenty of room with the foot pedal on the bow. I stow it in the front hatch with the anchor. I would also like to upgrade, and a movable or wireless pedal would be ideal.
Nathan



Nathan, good to know it's all working for you.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377896 12/20/19 04:27 AM
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Tanner101 Offline
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I run an old MK Powerdrive. The Copilot remote control on a lanyard allows me to leave the pedal stowed away. You might look at any of the electric steer models on the market with a remote. Absolutely get a spot lock of some type, I wish I had one every time I go out.

Re: Trolling motor advice [Re: Greg W] #13377903 12/20/19 04:45 AM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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I have a 17.6’ champion and I don’t have a lot of room up front for the foot control but from the picture it seems to be a little more than you. I had the terrova because of the spot lock but deploying and stowing was harder on the back. I now use an ulterra so I have auto stow/deploy and I love it. I use the remote 95% of the time so I don’t worry about foot pedal much but it has a long cable so you can remove it if not needed or move it around the boat. The nice thing with the remote is that you can fish anywhere in the boat and have the same control. They are expensive but once you use one with spotlock you will be upset that you waited this long. Fishing is much easier on my back now

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