I've spent way too many hours fighting the particular wind on the particular lake, but truthfully, getting a minn kota i pilot terrova 55 transformed how I seafood over any additional piece of gear. It's one associated with those upgrades exactly where you don't realize how much a person were struggling till you actually feel the alternative. If you're running a smaller sized or medium-sized boat, maybe something within the 16 to 18-foot range, this 12-volt motor is definitely usually the sweet spot for energy and convenience.
Why Spot-Lock Will be Everything
The biggest reason anyone looks at this motor is the particular i-Pilot system, and specifically, Spot-Lock. If you haven't tried it, imagine having a digital anchor that actually works. In the old days, if I found a brush pile or a sunken ledge where the crappie were gnawing at, I had in order to either constantly stop the foot pedal or drop a physical anchor. Shedding an anchor is usually loud, it stirs up the bottom, and it's simply a massive pain in the neck.
With the minn kota i pilot terrova 55 , I just hit the button on the remote and the electric motor takes over. By using GPS to locking mechanism onto those coordinates and keeps the boat within a few feet of that spot. Also if the wind flow starts kicking up whitecaps, the engine adjusts its acceleration and direction instantly. It lets me focus entirely upon my rod tip instead of worrying regarding drifting right into a stump field.
There's also this "Jog" feature that I use constantly. If I'm Spot-Locked yet realize I'm simply a few foot too far away from the structure, I can hit a button to "jog" the boat 5 feet in any path. It's precision fishing without the tension.
Dealing With a 12-Volt Program
Now, the lot of guys will tell you that you need a 24-volt or even 36-volt system in order to be "serious, " but for many of us, that's just overkill. The 55lb thrust on this design is surprisingly punchy. Since it runs upon a single 12 volts battery, it keeps things simple. I don't have to find space for two or 3 heavy deep-cycle batteries in my hold, which helps keep the boat's weight down and will save a bit of gas on the tow.
I've found that will the Digital Maximizer technology Minn Kota puts in these does indeed help along with battery life. I can usually obtain a full day associated with fishing out associated with a single Group 27 or 29 battery, provided I'm not really wanting to troll towards a 20 mph headwind at maximum speed all evening. It manages the power draw so you aren't just burning juice when you're at decrease speeds.
The Lift-Assist Difference
If you've ever used an old PowerDrive or a basic cable-steer motor, you understand that implementing and stowing can be a bit of a workout. The Terrova provides this Lift-Assist mechanism that makes a global of difference. It's basically a spring-loaded assembly that will take the weight away from the motor since you're lifting this.
You just press a lever with your hand or feet, and the motor almost glides into the particular water. When it's time to move to a new spot, pulling it back up doesn't experience like you're looking to haul a ship anchor out associated with the muck. For someone who moves around a lot—hitting five or 6 different points in a morning—that stored energy accumulates. My back certainly likes it after a long day.
The Remote versus. The Foot Pedal
Something that's pretty cool about the minn kota i pilot terrova 55 is that you simply get options. It is about with the i-Pilot remote, which is what I use 90% of the time. I usually just hang it around the neck. I can control the steerage, speed, and Spot-Lock from anywhere in the particular boat. If I'm in the back again rigging a collection and see the particular boat heading towards a dock, I don't have to sprint to the bow; I just click the remote.
Yet, they also incorporate a low-profile foot pedal. Some guys dislike remotes because they want their hands free to throw, and I obtain that. The Terrova pedal is electric powered, not cable-steer, therefore it's very reactive. It's also got a pretty lengthy cord, so you can move this around based on exactly where you're sitting or standing. It's wonderful to have the particular backup, though I'll admit I've become a bit of a remote-control addict lately.
Understanding the Heading Messfühler
If you unbox this thing, you'll find a little white puck—that's the Heading Sensor. Some individuals skip installing it because they think the GPS in the motor is usually enough, but don't do that. The Heading Sensor attaches via Bluetooth and tells the motor exactly which way the boat is pointed, not just where it's moving.
This is what can make the "Jog" feature possible. Without the proceeding sensor, the engine knows where this is on the map, but this doesn't know which way the bow is facing comparative to the strict. It only takes a few mins to screw this down and set it, and it makes the GPS NAVIGATION features much more accurate. It's certainly worth the extra ten minutes of rigging time.
Real World Strength
I'm not exactly gentle upon my gear. I've bumped into my fair share associated with rocks and cypress knees. The composite shaft on the particular Minn Kota is pretty much legendary for a reason—it flexes instead of snapping or kinking. I've seen light weight aluminum shafts on some other motors get bent, and when that happens, the motor by no means quite stows right again. Using this one particular, it just absorbs the impact plus pops back in shape.
The saltwater guys get their own versions (the Riptide), but for freshwater use, the black Terrova housing holds up great. I make sure to rinse it off if I'm in particularly muddy drinking water, and I'll occasionally spray a little silicone lubricant on the shaft in order to keep the application smooth, but in any other case, it's an extremely low-maintenance piece associated with equipment.
Could it be Right For Your own Boat?
Before you pull the particular trigger, you've got to think regarding your boat's fat. If you're running a heavy fiberglass bass boat or a big deep-V multispecies rig, the 55lb thrust might struggle when the particular wind picks upward. But for a 16-foot Lund or perhaps a standard aluminum largemouth bass tracker, the minn kota i pilot terrova 55 is plenty.
I usually recommend the 54-inch shaft for most people. It's better to have a small extra length to keep the prop in the drinking water when things get choppy. There's nothing at all more annoying than the "whirring" sound of your prop breaking the particular surface because a wave lifted the bow. You are able to change the depth collar to bring up in shallow drinking water, but you can't create a short shaft longer.
Final Thoughts around the Purchase
Look, I know these aren't exactly cheap. You can find basic transom-mount motors with regard to a fraction of the price. Yet you aren't just buying an electric motor here; you're purchasing a fishing partner that handles the "boring" parts of motorboat control for a person.
Getting able to report a path with the i-Track feature—where the motor memorizes a specific bud line and retraces it automatically—is just like having a professional guideline steering the boat when you fish. It's those kinds of features that make the particular minn kota i pilot terrova 55 worth the investment. It makes the particular time you spend within the water even more productive and, truthfully, simply a lot more fun. All in all, that's really what we're all out presently there for.