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Posts: 49
| I'm just about ready to buy a new trolling motor and most likely will go with the MinnKota 74lb power drive with universal sonar and the autopilot feature. However, I plan to use the foot pedal from the back of the boat. Can the autopilot feature be turned on with the foot pedal or do you have to turn it on right at the motor? I had planned to get a genesis which I know the autopilot feature could be turned on from the foot pedal, but of course MinnKota's no longer making that model.
Calls and e-mails to the company have gone unanswered.
Thanks,
MossFrog |
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Posts: 5874
| Only on the head. Would be a nice feature to have on the pedal or Co-Pilot. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Here's what I did on the last AP that I ran...three season ago. I had three different AP's and guided out of the back of Tuffy's for a few years. Could never figure out why they didn't offer it.
Note: my last AP had a rocker switch on the body not on the head so I don't know if it will work or not.. I think the new ones have a touch pad in the head but the actual switch may be in the main body..??? Not sure but you should be able to rig somthing up for under $20.
Here's what I did...
1. Go to hardware store and buy 22-feet of 18ga SP2 lamp cord or siamese wire, a toggle switch and either good quality electrical tape or zip-ties. Preferably all in black to match the Minn-Kota Stuff...
2. Solder (or use butt connectors) the two leads going to the switch to the two leads of your length of wire.
3. Afix the new wire the length of the pedal wire either with black tape or zip-ties.
4. Mount the toggle switch on the side of your pedal housing, connect wires and whalla....
Easy job on the old ones.. I'm lazy and got sick of walking to the front of the boat or asking others to turn it on/off...
I sure wish Minn-Kota would make a AP with the scissors style mount like the maxxum...At least to me that would be darn nice.. I hated screwing with trying to get an AP out of the way when I had a fish on... Even worse... ask someone else to pull it up out of the way or bend over and fight with it to push it out... Spray silicone helped but I love my Maxxum... Don't like standing like a Stork but the instant control and scissor mount is worth it to me...
Good luck... Minn Kota makes a great product. |
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Posts: 49
| Thanks for the replies guys. That's what I was afraid of (only at the bow). Well, just for this very reason I was considering trying Motorguide, but given the recent posts I've read it looks like Motorguide still can't build a reliable product. This would appear to be an industry crying out for a new player! 
I may follow your suggestions Mark and try this myself. Just a shame to have to do it when it's brand new. I'm replacing a 74lb maxxum which I like just fine other than that I don't like the cable length.
Guess I was a little to slow moving on the Genesis!
Thanks,
MossFrog |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Mossfrog,
There's an old saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff." While, in most areas of life I don't think this is totally good advice I'd say after being a 3 unit owner/ operator of Autopilot units that sweating over the location of the Autopilot switch is not worth the additional cost of the Genesis or the poor performance of a Motorguide. It certainly seems easy (and obvious) enough to put a switch on the foot pad but until that happens don't try to take my Autopilot away from me. I LOVE THEM! I need to add that I'm only a "weekender" and not a guide like Mark is. Remember that if you tamper with the electronics on a new unit you'll void the warranty. Sometimes things go bad with AP's just like any brand. People especially like to (accidently) fry their circuit boards with their chargers because they don't disconnect the power supply from the trolling motor before charging. I have a neighbor who bought a new "Powerdrive" without AP and the circuit board was exposed to excess static which caused it to go bad (says Minnkota). Minnkota promptly replaced the defective unit. Enjoy your new trolling motor whatever brand you choose. |
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Posts: 5874
| I will ask Ed Schilling if this is doable. He's an authorized Minn Kota service guy, and the best around. Will report back tomorrow. |
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