MinnKota I-Pilot information

I just received my first bundle of information on the new i-Pilot from MinnKota. As promised, iDoFishing.com readers will be the first to learn about it.

As mentioned in the ICast video that many of us saw, the i-Pilot is a GPS-enabled replacement head for current MinnKota electric drive bowmount trolling motors, including the Terrova, Powerdrive V2, and Riptide ST/SP motors. They are compatible with motors manufactured in 2007 and forward. The installation is easy enough that anyone reading this should be able to accomplish it quite easily. The functions of the i-Pilot, described below, are controlled with a fully sealed, waterproof, floating remote control.

The i-Pilot has 4 revolutionary functions, enabled by its internal GPS-based system. These include:

Record a track

Simply push the Record button and fish along your desired course. i-Pilot will store that track to memory (up to three separate tracks). When you want to retrace a course, i-Pilot’s Playback functions will automatically guide your boat down the track.

i-Pilot can record your track (A to B), and then retrace the path automatically. To retrace your path in either direction, just press the Track to Start or Track to End buttons.

Spot-lock

Spot-Lock works like an electronic anchor. With the push of a button, Spot-Lock will keep you on the fish. Spot-Lock Recall lets you return to that spot later.

Select your spot, and if you drift more than five feet away, i-Pilot will trigger your trolling motor to bring you back.

CoPilot™ and Cruise Control

Select and maintain a consistent speed for optimum bait presentation with cruise control, and use the legendary speed and steering functions of Minn Kota® CoPilot™ to precisely control your boat.

Advanced AutoPilot™

Just point your trolling motor in the direction you want to head and activate Advanced AutoPilot™. i-Pilot keeps you on your heading and delivers you there with GPS accuracy, compensating for wind, waves, currents or drift.

Here’s a look at the i-Pilot remote control. The keys for the different functions are all grouped together.

For example, the familiar co-pilot keys are all at the top (under the display).

The record-a-track keys are beneath the co-pilot keys, in the middle of the remote.

On the left side, towards the bottom, are the autopilot and cruise control keys.

On the right side, towards the bottom, are the spot-lock keys (look for the anchor).

Have you heard any thing on the price range? I know it will be avalible in November they said, just wondering how much to save

As I mentioned in another thread, the i-Pilot will be available in November, with a retail price of $399.

I look forward to receiving mine and putting it through its paces, especially on the river this fall.

Cool, did they give you an idea of cost?

The more I think about the i-Pilot, the more excited I get.

Think about night trolling for those big pig walleyes in the shallow waters of Mille Lacs, especially on a night without a lot of wind when using an electric troller is a distinct, stealthy advantage. Dial in a productive trolling pass, and then repeat over and over again at the touch of a button. Then, sit back and wait for those shallow monsters to rip the rod from your hands.

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Cool, did they give you an idea of cost?

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Yep…..$399. And with a November release, I think we’ll see the i-Pilot under a lot of Christmas trees this year.

You keep writing about this you are getting me excited.

That is just awesome and reasonably priced

I cant wait, it want it now! Mine will be getting its breakin on the icy waters of pool 4 but I truly cant wait to get it to lakes like Traverse or the Pond where fishing shallow rock/weed edges is key, this and a side scan unit will put you miles ahead of other boats on the water! And for 400 bucks!cant go wrong!

$399 is better than I thought!

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Cool, did they give you an idea of cost?

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Yep…..$399. And with a November release, I think we’ll see the i-Pilot under a lot of Christmas trees this year.

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Great price, I was thinking about doing this myself, as I’ve been waiting for this for years. Now I won’t have to.

It’s been patented since the mid 90’s, probably one reason why it took so long.

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Think about night trolling for those big pig walleyes in the shallow waters of Mille Lacs, especially on a night without a lot of wind

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I’ve yet to see one of these nights.

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading the info yesterday.

spot lock sounds sweet… Reminded me of when we were fishing some suspended fall crappies on Rainy a few years ago… Kept trying to keep us locked on the spot using the GPS (visually) and the bowmount with my foot… What a PITA, and I never could keep it just right…

Just need a new Terrova now….

Thanks fo the info, Jason…

Mike

Not sure if I missed it or it’s not clear? The cruise control does work while on a Track and on Auto Pilot mode or is that a seperate function. When recording a track is speed monitored and duplicated while following track or independently controlled to desired speed.
Sounds like a step in the right direction but to some 3 trails maybe fairly small.

I hope its release is early November 11/23 last year was fishable ice.

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I hope its release is early November 11/23 last year was fishable ice

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And we have year-round open water on pool 4.

This is physically a replacement head for the three Minnkota motors listed in some other post right? It is not a trolling motor itself.

That’s right. It is a replacement head (the top half of the head) for the Terrova, Powerdrive V2, and the two saltwater series motors.