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Posts: 278
Location: WV | Anybody prefer hand control over foot? Why? Looking at buying a bow mount and need input.
Thanks |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | Had a hand control on my first boat back in 1980. A state of the art Byrd 12/24. Haven't had one since it was so useful.
If I could reel with my feet maybe I'd go back to a hand control, but I can't. In fact, I'm so uncoordinated I need autopilot to be able to fish effectively as I can"t work a lure, check for follows, keep my balance in waves, watch the locator, and control the boat all at the same time. It's not fun being multitaskually challenged! |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | I wouldn't even consider hand control. Maybe rig something up WHEN my electric foot peddle craps out... But for fishing it really isn't much of an option for me. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | Running a Terrova I-pilot and while liking the hand control do not prefer it over the foot control.
Each has it's place and happy and do use the hand control, but if only could have one it would be the foot control. |
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Posts: 422
| I run a Terrova with a co-pilot. On a recent trip to Canada, I also preferred using the foot control over the remote...What I did find real useful for the hand control was when I was netting fish for my partner to keep on track, or I would give the remote to my partner in the back so he could take over if I needed to re-rig or got side tracked doing something else. |
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Posts: 582
| mine works on both but try using a hand control and fishing at the same time. doesn't work to well. prefer foot control. |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | The way my foot-pedal is working lately, I wish I went with "Hand control". They're quite popular w/ the saltwater guys & I looked into getting one myself and would have, but the selling factor of the foot-controll over "hand" control was the lack of universal sonar on the "hand" control. I had been running nothing but "hand" control transom mounts before this and had NO problem. With the extendable handles, you don't even need to use your hands to steer, just use your knee, hip, leg... etc. They get an unnecessary bad rap because of the "hand" control. The ONLY downside is changing speeds, but that can be done between casts.
EDIT: By "hand" control, do you mean via remote (auto pilot) or tiller style? I'm talking tiller style & it seems others are talking remote.
Edited by scmuskies 8/25/2010 7:30 PM
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Posts: 278
Location: WV | I am talking tiller style. I have never ran a bow mount and to be honest I am quite confused about which foot control is better, cable vs electric. That is why I was considering a hand control. |
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Posts: 3504
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
Cable vs electric is a hard one to make a decision on due to personal preferences. Some guys like the instantaeous directional change with the cable control, whereas others don't. I have never used a cable control due to my fishing style for the most part.
My personal preference has been the foot control overall because I like having both hands free while fishing and I can still control the boat's direction. Although seemingly less reliable these days with the foot pedal itself, the powerdrive foot controls do the job well...they are slower to change direction, so depending on what you want to be able to do, might be a good option, it might not.
I happen to have a Minn Kota Autopilot, in which the foot pedals have been quite reliable for me until this year. I prefer the autopilot version so I can take my foot off the pedal at times to help balance my weight better, and I really like it when a fish is in the net. I can just set the direction to take me away from structure and not be blown into rocks, weeds, etc as I work with the fish...I point it out to open water. So...for me, there is a safety aspect in that regard, but it also doesn't allow the boat to move into unfished structure.
With either style, there will be things you may want to have in a tool kit/box for quick repairs. some guys with the powerdrives carry a second foot pedal, while those with cable steer have an extra cable. Sometimes, things just happen and being able to "punt" so to speak, to keep yourself on the water and working effectively is definitely a good thing, so spare parts are good to have, along with good preventative maintenance.
Steve |
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Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | I actually have two boats, one had hand control. I actually don't mind it too much and have gotten pretty good at steering it with my body and hands etc....but the foot control is much better overall. Autopilot is the bomb.
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Posts: 20244
Location: oswego, il | I prefer the hand control. It's instant direction and speed change at the same time in an instant. I prefer it on small and big boats. It's better on smaller boats because a wind gust can change boat direction quickly.
I like being flat footed in the boat. The captain morgan pose on the cable drive isn't that much fun for me and the power drive foot pedal steers ok but the old style dial works barely with tennis shoes and not at all with boots on. bend over and change speed. Too much time vs hand control. The newer power drive foot pedal with the dial is alot nicer but I feel I am more precise and much more quick with my boat control using the hand control. |
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Posts: 793
Location: Ames, Iowa | I had a hand control minnkota on my first boat and liked it then. I still have that motor to give to my 15 yr old when he gets a boat soon. I now have a Pwr drive 55lb with universal sonar and copilot and love the foot pedal especially the continuous setting on slow. I can just tap it off or on and easily change direction. Beats hand control. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I started with a hand control Endura. Then I had a powerdrive and a powerdrive v2. Now I have a maxxum (foot). The maxxum is my favorite by far. I put a pedal recess in my boat so my feet are even. I get instant steering and can easily turn the power on and off. (I only run on momentary) |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | iPilot hand control on my new Terrova 80 is the only way I steer and control. My foot pedal has been out once to make sure it worked.
The iPilot is always clipped on my belt loop.
Edited by CrappieKid 8/31/2010 11:18 AM
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