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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | Looking to upgrade my trolling motor and sonar without breaking the bank. I have a 16.5 Lowe with a 60hp Merc. The trolling motor is a wirelss 55 Moror Guide and my sonar is the Lowrance that came with the boat. Im presently setup for 12v on the trolling motor. I want to take advantage of Ipilot,.and spot lock so thinking a Minn Kota Powerdrive with Bluetooth, US2 transducer and I pilot at 55 thrust and Hummingbird Helix 7 CHIRP SI Sonar/GPS Combo G2N. This setup.is about $1700. I would also rewire my boat from stock 10ga to 8ga. I had some hot wire issues in the past with the current setup. Thinking I I can use the Ipilot and spot lock along with the internal xducer to connect to the bird for Sonar. The new sonar would be bow mounted and I'd keep the Lowrance at the helm. Any thoughts and thanks. The network on the 7 will also allow a new Helm with SI and DI in the future.
Edited by bluesman 2/25/2017 3:37 PM
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I would go terrova over powerdrive. The powerdrive looses the foot control with the ipilot module. Definitely upgrade the wiring and go 6 awg if possible.
Edited by RyanJoz 2/25/2017 4:10 PM
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Posts: 399
Location: WI | And you can skip the US2 transducer. It doesn't give you SI or DI, just regular sonar. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Whatever you decide, check or universalmania.com before you buy. They have excellent prices and free shipping that is ridiculously fast. They beat Cabelas price by $400. |
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Posts: 1209
| I'd look for a gen1 helix in a 9 inch. Should be cheaper than a 7gn2 and using us2 there isn't an advantage to gn2 |
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | If you rewire your boat never guess at what size wire you need...... Determine the maximum amps being drawn (80 lb Terrova = 56) and the total run length of the wire. Then google a Wire size/Amp draw chart and determine the wire size you need. I would also advise (That if you use a plug, that it is rated for the amps you will be drawing) also (I would advise installing a breaker and a MASTER shutoff switch). It is CRITICAL no power is going to your trolling motor when you are charging your battery or you have a high risk of damaging the mother board in your trolling motor.
When I rewired my boat, the chart told me to use 4 gage which I never would have guessed. There are a few other key things to do too to ensure you have a good circuit.
Feel free to PM me if you need some specifics.
Enjoy Your Day
Brad
Edited by btfish 2/26/2017 4:45 AM
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Posts: 397
| Go with a 24v and 70lb motor. You will want the extra power |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | Thanks for all of the replies. My first thought was a Terrova over a Power Drive.but its $400 more. Ill need to go see them side by side. I also understand that the US2 doesnt do SI and DI. Thats why the 7G2N that I picked is just standard Sonar. Being that the sonar is bow mounted I figured the US2 is a cleaner setup. And I figured an SI/DI helm setup in the future networked to thr 7G2N. Minn Kota has wiring charts in their installation manuals. I picked the 8ga and a 55 amp breaker from that chart for my rewire job. Although I never thought of including the amperage draw and a shut off in the equation. In the past my motors have plugged in. Do most guys use a plug, or hard wire with a switch. Thanks again for the info. I alspo checked Universal Mania. At the moment one model Ultrex motor and no birds. I'll keep a watch on the site. |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | I would definitely go with the terrova but go with the I pilot link if your going with Humminbird. This way you will get the full advantage of your equipment. I also go with the helix 9 g2 mega. As suggested check universal maina for your best price. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | The Terrova is making sense and I may be able to slide it into the buget. A Helix 9 Mega G2 adds about $700 to the package and makes the US2 unusable. Or an I missing something |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Shouod be able to find a used terrova too. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | I am looking at used as well. Just went over wiring charts. The Terrova 55 pulls 50 amps and requires a 60 amp breaker. For my boat 16.5 feet I could get by with 6ga, but its at the limit. And to get 4ga I need to go to timned marine battery cable. Doea this sound right?
Edited by bluesman 2/26/2017 10:30 AM
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | yes that sounds correct |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | bigred2198 - 2/26/2017 9:01 AM
Go with a 24v and 70lb motor. You will want the extra power
My well is only big enough for 2 batteries. I'm stuck withh 12v. |
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Posts: 897
| What about another compartment? The batteries don't have to be right next to each other. My current boat didn't have room for a third battery so I put it up front, wired the same as if they were next to each other. No big deal. If you fish longer days or in wind and current you'll want more than a 12 V system. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | whynot - 2/26/2017 12:04 PM
What about another compartment? The batteries don't have to be right next to each other. My current boat didn't have room for a third battery so I put it up front, wired the same as if they were next to each other. No big deal. If you fish longer days or in wind and current you'll want more than a 12 V system.
Never thought of that. Thanks.....................I could put it up front under the bow in a box. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | You also don't have to move to a 24 volt system and still use two batteries. I have a 12 volt trolling motor with the batteries wired in parallel. I get plenty of run time. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | I dont need SI or DI or Ipilot Link or 24V. Right now I need a trolling motor that is dependable and a new sonar with upgraded features. Just checking the consensus of my logic. I cant spend 3 grand. And a 7 can be networked to a 10 with SI and DI later.
Edited by bluesman 2/26/2017 1:32 PM
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Posts: 79
| The spotlock on the Xi5 is a lot better if your walleye fishing, but both are good trolling motors.
Save for a little longer, make some room, and get a 24V set up, much longer battery life. It fits no problem in my 16'
Try the garmins, lowrances, and HB's at the store before you buy also. It swayed which unit I purchased when I outfitted my boat. Bigger is better when it comes to screens and being able to use SI. |
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Posts: 864
Location: NE Ohio | going with the MK ultrex 80/24 with a 60" shaft and a helix 9 on the bow with the i pilot link to a helix 10 at the helm on a lund 1875 impact. |
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Posts: 470
| Doesn't hurt to look for used equipment either, lots of folks upgrading at this time of year..
I just sold a Powerdrive V2 with link for $750 and bought a 2 year old Terrova for $900. Lots of deals out there...
HTH,
RandalB |
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Posts: 983
| def step up to the 24v you will be mad later if you dont...trust me just got terrova 80lb thrust 24v this summer with I pilot and love the thing teh auto pilot and spot lock are great features plus I can have foot pedal up front and my brother use the remote from back so always have control Wish I would have stepped up the the 112lb 36v though but teh 80 gets its done....I had this on an 18ft fiberglass boat that weighed 1450lbs and it would push the boat to 2.8mph no issue that moving pretty good considering the 7.5hp kicker motor only get us to 4.4mph |
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Posts: 15
Location: Fond du lac, WI | How many of you guys use I Pilot Link? I pretty much have it down to a Terrova 80/24 with I Pilot and US2 and a Gen 1 Helix 9 with networking. Still undecided on the I Pilot Link for the extra $350. |
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Posts: 546
Location: MN | Pointerpride102 - 2/26/2017 10:22 AM
Shouod be able to find a used terrova too.
The new upgrades to the 2017 Minn Kota i-pilot/-ipilot link motors are well worth the upgrade over the previous year models. All of the new 2017 Bluetooth models have new IP/IPL and include the most accurate anchoring technology on the market, re-engineered Spot-Lock. Additionally, the new Terrova has lift assist and a spot lock button on the pedal.
Edited by mtcook16 3/1/2017 12:21 PM
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