Minn Kota ‘COPILOT’
by RFWG Guest Writer Jim Stouffer
The morning started with much
anticipation as Ron and I pampered the Johnson 40 to life in the driveway
(garden hose and muffs. Don’t try this without water.) We had talked of this day for over a
week. You know how it is, first one thing then another. We were both chomping
at the bit to get out on the lake. After a few putts and sputters, we were
confident enough to put our fishing tackle in the Lund and head for the lake.
I was anxious to try my new toy.
Momma caved in and let me buy a
MinnKota POWERDRIVE trolling motor
last year. It performed very well for me, however I wasn’t satisfied
with the ‘touchy-ness’, if there is such a word, of the foot control. I
couldn’t keep the darned boat going in a straight line. I was spending too
much time looking at my foot and playing with the controls. I couldn’t
concentrate on the task at hand which was fishing. So I began to work on
Mommy again. This time, to let me purchase one of the hottest gadgets to
arrive on the fishing scene for a long time, at least as far as I am
concerned.
I am writing about the MinnKota
trolling motor add-on called the ‘COPILOT’. This little device allows you to
control your trolling motor without the cumbersome foot control and
cable/wire assembly. It frees up the floor of your boat for more important
things like tackle boxes, coolers, bait buckets, etc. It is an accessory
everyone who has a MinnKota POWERDRIVE, AUTOPILOT or GENESIS trolling motor
needs to check out.
This thing is amazing! Complete
control of you trolling motor with the touch of your finger! The transmitter
mounts to the side of the main motor mounting bracket housing with two screws
(included). It took me longer to find my screwdriver than it did to install
the unit. The installation took me all of 3 minutes. The wireless control
reminds you of a remote control for your car. It has right and left buttons,
an on/off button and increase/decrease speed buttons to control the prop
rpm’s. The control can be worn like a watch or mounted on your fishing rod
(it comes with three snap-in brackets). If it happens to go in the drink, it
will float. It is waterproof and replaceable if Ron anyone hides it on
you to keep you from going fishing without them. . No matter where you are in
the boat the control is right there with you. The sensitivity of it is much
better than the foot operated control. I can’t get over how simple it is to
operate. I admit it took a few minutes to get used to it. I kept looking for
something to put my foot on. At last I can concentrate on fishing instead of
my foot. It is probably the best $149.99 I have ever spent on my boat.
I bought mine at Bass Pro Shops.
Cabela’s also sells it …….same price. Anyone who can afford a MinnKota cannot
afford to be without this gadget. My opinion of the MinnKota ‘COPILOT’ is
“YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS !” So start
working on Momma right now before they sell out of it.
By the way, Ron got
skunked…….again! He tells me there’ll be a next time. I can’t wait.
Jim Stouffer