My trolling motor just died this past week end and I am trying to decide which way to go. I would like some input from weekenders and guides both. Is the I-Pilot the way to go or not.I have already decided 36 volt and 101 lb. i am used to using a hand control. Thanks for the input.

For open water fishing, ipilot is the WAY to go. Excellent for control and big boats. If you fish for bass in the creeks and shallow water, maybe do a foot control. For what I do, there's nothing like hitting spot-lock and forgetting about it. It has revolutionized how I fish. Ask RapTrap and Filetmaker too.

My brother bought one and we were trucking along at 50+ mph and the thing up and jumped in the water.

Destroyed it and luckily not the fiberglass on his new Champion.

It has some great features but they need to tweak the mount, IMO.

Jackson

Stop spreading viscious critical comments on my ipilot Jackson. The owners manual is very specific when it warns you to slide the retaining colar all the way down when under way to prevent this! iPilot is the single greatest invention since the internet. I paid 1200 for mine and it comes with foot pedal that i have used to bass fish with numerous times. Go with the terrova and u can use the pedal or remote at the same time. like i said i paid 1200 but its worth twice that if you ask me!

He only hates the iPilot cause he don't have one. Haters gotta hate

I've had mine deploy while moving at a pretty good clip, seems to get folks in the boat wet.

Just make sure you lift the release handle up when you stow it and you wont have any problems.

Spot lock and auto-pilot are both great features for open water fishing. If you fish LMB and have to be on top of the bank then it isn't for you.

I have a 22ft Tahoe and I put the 101 Terrova with Ipilot on it. I absolutely love it and as others have stated it came with the foot pedal and remote. I can sit in 25 MPH winds on spotlock all day long even with my deep hull/high sided boat which catches lots of wind and it will keep me in place and the battery life on the 36V setup gives me about 6-8 hours of heavy run time.

I'm not sure about the MinnKota quick release mount. I mounted mine onto the 1/2" aluminum quick release mount that came with the 54lb motorguide that came with my boat and I have had no issues. I always put the collar down if I'm going to run across the lake just in case.

When I want to hug the bank I use the foot pedal especialy when I'm casting at the same time. Playing with the remote and casting don't go well together. To me it's the best of both worlds if you get the setup with remote and foot pedal.

I have the 101 with the 60' inch shaft.....
now back to your Question...
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Perfection with this troll motor aint cheap" But I wouldint have anything else" unless it put itself in the water...

Actually" It would be a total bummer to have to go back to the old style" bouncing all over the place on the front of the boat in the wind trying to maintain a spot on the fish while taking off a fish...

If you Love the remote on your TV then you will love your Ipilot... and it comes with no emotional baggage..

I can stand at the console check the Humbird (fish TV all fish all the time ! ) and run the troll motor and be totaly in controll of the boat...from the center of the boat.
no need for me to have a fish finder in the front of the boat anymore ,,,the 101 with the long shaft will hold me in a 20mph wind with 3 foot rollers and barely hop outta the water , it's freakin Awesome....

it really does make Fishing more enjoyable...
and when you finally get one ... you will wonder why you didint do it sooner...IMHO..

Never had a problem with the thing jumping off the bow mount.. but i have only had mine for about 4 months if you get the Riptide 101 the mount and stow lock is very heavy duty..

Rob.

You got that right!!!That unbreakable shaft shatters at about 35mph couldn't imagine 50mph.

I haven't really played with mine to much. After the shaft broke I put my old stand by on and haven't changed it back. I do like they Spot lock. It does suck for catching shad along the shoreline.

This thread is not for you, Gene

+1 for the "I". Go for it!!

made the descision to buy so called bass pro only to find out they are out and have no idea when they might get some

Check out David@shut-up-and-fish.com

There are cheaper places to buy than BPS

I actually never read the owners manual at all, but i had heard of the problem with release before i bought mine, so i installed a ram mount on mine, No worries at all with it coming "unbuttoned" going across the water. And actually less trouble than slipping the collar up and down. And to answer your question..I would not trade for my "I" pilot for what i do, now that being said like mentioned by others,The only thing that ive found that it didnt work great for is fishing crappie out of brush piles, will not stay exactly on spot lock, more like 5/6 foot radius, noy you can set the track and fish the bank with out touching the foot pedal or hand remote.