Hey guys, I’m thinking about a Riptide iPilot for my 16’ HighTide Flats boat. I can be tough on gear and I like keeping this a simple little fishing machine. I generally distrust a lot of electronics and moving parts around the salt, but the spot lock feature on the iPilot has my attention.
I figure it’s been out long enough to be able to get some good ■■■■■■■■.
Specifically looking at the 24v 70lb SP.
So, have those of you that use the iPilot found it to be reliable and durable? Any common problems?
Thanks for any advice.
I’ve had mine for a year now, use it quite a lot, have not had any problems. Be sure to get an extra 3032 battery for the fob as they are hard to find!
I have a 16 foot High Tide flats boat. I also have the 12 volt Minn Kota 55lb iPilot Riptide bowmount. The 12 volt is more than powerful for the light boat. I also only need one starting battery and one trolling battery. I can switch the trolling battery to charge off the engine when running so I do not have to have a separate on board charger. This saves space and weight.
I love mine. 80lb 24v and the spot lock is an absolute game changer. Working reefs and tide rips is super easy now and I have not pitched an anchor all summer.
I was out last weekend catching reds offshore and the waves were bad enough the trolling motor was coming up out of the water. When I got home, I noticed the green status light was on with the motor stowed. The motor could turn on with it up.
I called customer service and there are 2 magnets that need to align for the computer to know its stowed. I don’t know if they got smacked loose or what. I need to pull it off and get it to ChrisV for warranty but I don’t want to be without it. Right now I just disconnect it from the batteries.
Stanotti, I had your 12v Riptide on her when I bought her but switched to a 24v 70lb Maxxum foot control with onboard charging for bass fishing when I moved inland. You’re right, the 12v was adequate on this boat, but having gone to 24v/70, I think I’d have a hard time going back to 12v. I like the extra power and run time. I was trout fishing this week in Murrells and had it cranked to 90% just to hold in the current. If I were trying to fish real shallow it might be worth the loss of power for weight savings, but I have no trouble in the north coast inlets I now fish.
Love mine, 3 years not one problem. All the features work exactly as advertised and some, like the Record a Tract feature for instance, can be used in other ways with a little imagination. I have the 12/55 and its usually more than enough for my 1520. I love being able to control the TM from any where on the boat. Between the Spot Lock and my Stick Pin I cant remember the last time I used my anchor. I actually believe its the best money I’ve ever spent on my boat.
Key West 1520
70 Yami
She’s little, but she’s pretty, skinny and fast.
I am looking at down sizing my boat Cc and selling my smaller Jon boat and getting into one boat and I am looking at a Minn kota Riptide iPilot as an option for a trolling motor. Have you found it hard to give up the manual aspect (foot control / Tiller handle) of the trolling motor? I have a manual trolling motor on my Jon boat and like the aspect of quick fine adjustments with the tiller handle.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
My 22’ bay boat. I called minnkota before I bought it because I was concerned that 80lbs wouldn’t have enough power. I was going to buy the 36v but they actually talked me into the 24v. I have no power complaints at all. I have yet to pull my batteries below 75% in a day. I do have big group 31 batteries though.
I have a long hike through a no wake zone and I use the gps track to guide my boat through it. I put my engine in gear and the ipilot does the steering. I tie rigs and get stuff where I want it so I can blast off once clear of the no wake zone.
I love it. I am just a mechanic putting my wife through college, so that kind of money is very hard to come off of, but its the best thing I bought for my boat ever.
I have the Xi5 Motorguide which is their answer to the minnkota. Its a good bite cheaper but has just about the same features as the minnkota. The remote is smaller because it doesn’t have the screen to show you how fast your going and all the other useless stuff you need for inshore fishing. I have had several people on my boat that have fished with people who have had the minnkota and they tell me that the XI5 is easier to deploy and is quitter than the minnkota. I don’t know this for sure because I have never owned a minnkota. The spot lock is unreal I have had it at the jetties and amny of the inlets and it does not move. I got mine from Trolling motor depot, he has the best prices I have found anywhere and he can just about get you the motor in two days,
O/L I too thaught the same about the hand or foot control would be hard to get use to and it is! The fob is heavy around my neck and I hang it on the wind shield. I made a quick change bracket out of 1" starboard so I change it to my Carolina Skiff J16, my 23’ Apollo CC my 20 Glasmaster striper boat or my 17’ wailer. Cant beat the system on any boat or fresh or salt!
I have the 70 on my HB guide and it is great. Had a battery issue which batt. Plus took care of. Simple to use and lasts all day on about 50 % batt. Use. Keeps the boat in place well in tough current. Have not used an anchor since I bought it.
I thought it might scare the reds but not the case at all.
I am looking at down sizing my boat Cc and selling my smaller Jon boat and getting into one boat and I am looking at a Minn kota Riptide iPilot as an option for a trolling motor. Have you found it hard to give up the manual aspect (foot control / Tiller handle) of the trolling motor? I have a manual trolling motor on my Jon boat and like the aspect of quick fine adjustments with the tiller handle.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
I used to bass fish A LOT and I have always used a foot pedal. When I decided to buy my next boat (current boat) 2 years ago, a tiller handle trolling motor was on my “must have” list. Well I got a great deal on my boat (used) and couldn’t pass it up. BUT, it already had a Auto Pilot Minn Kota on it. I had several options, but chose to upgrade it to an I-Pilot and I also purchased the optional foot pedal (for bass fishing). Now, I have all but given up bass fishing (switched to stripers), but I couldn’t get by without my I-Pilot. I would definitely buy another one. All that being said, I did have to replace the steering motor this summer. I got lucky this time, but that is normally a $500 repair. Recommendation is to always unplug it before charging the batteries.
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.