iPilot kit for PowerDrive V2

I just received my iPilot kit for my Minnkota PD V2. I tried to order this kit locally but could not find it anywhere. I was being quoted $900 - $1,000 by local guys 'if' they could even get it. Johnson Outdoors here in Burlington were not much help either telling me that these kits are going to be phased out soon.......I said I know that, and that is why I am looking for one NOW!!??

Anyway did some searching around the finally found someone who knew what they were talking about - Lakeside Marine in IL. One phone call and a 15 minute talk to double check to make sure we had the correct kit and it was ordered (they had 15 of these in stock). These guys are great to deal with and very informative. Would not hesitate doing business with them again. 3 weeks later the package was on my door (USPS/Canada Post).

I was also looking at the ProNav as an option but that was NOT cheap - it was not worth upgrading. I would have been better off buying a new motor with iPilot by the time I was done upgrading my existing motor. Most guys I spoke to said to stick with Minnkota and get the iPilot as you will not be disappointed.

https://i.imgur.com/e2Cvb3u.jpg

I don't have any of these problems with my 12ft row boat and paddles and I eat fish any time I want.(in season)

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Originally Posted by Gilroy

I don't have any of these problems with my 12ft row boat and paddles and I eat fish any time I want.(in season)

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Terry.....that is the retired pace - enjoy! I have some to go before that. Now I have kids to pull around on tubes and wakeboards.

It's nice when a plan works out eh? Lol...ya' have to win once in a while. My boat is supposed to be ready beginning of April....it has the I Pilot....looking forward to playing around with it...

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Originally Posted by LiveBates

It's nice when a plan works out eh? Lol...ya' have to win once in a while. My boat is supposed to be ready beginning of April....it has the I Pilot....looking forward to playing around with it...

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I also ordered a swim platform/ladder that will be installed as soon as I get my boat out of storage, a new Navionics + card, and I picked up some new O'Brian water skis for the girls this winter and with that I am pretty much done.

One of the guys I fish with just picked up his Crestliner Fishhawk 1750 c/w 115 Merc just in time to put it away for the season so he is dying to get out come spring - did not even put it in the water yet. All winter he has been scrambling to outfit the boat because of the COVID shortage - 3 bank battery charger, rails, rod holders, trolling rods/reels, tackle and lures for trolling, lifejackets, mooring lines, storage covers, fire extinguisher, water skis, tube, tow rope, ect.....ect.....ect.... I told him he will pretty much have a week of 'work' when the boat does come out of storage to get everything installed, organized and sorted out.

That is nice to know it is done and can be picked up in April. Are you transferring things from your old boat to this one or starting from scratch?

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Originally Posted by 410001661

I also ordered a swim platform/ladder that will be installed as soon as I get my boat out of storage, a new Navionics + card, and I picked up some new O'Brian water skis for the girls this winter and with that I am pretty much done.

One of the guys I fish with just picked up his Crestliner Fishhawk 1750 c/w 115 Merc just in time to put it away for the season so he is dying to get out come spring - did not even put it in the water yet. All winter he has been scrambling to outfit the boat because of the COVID shortage - 3 bank battery charger, rails, rod holders, trolling rods/reels, tackle and lures for trolling, lifejackets, mooring lines, storage covers, fire extinguisher, water skis, tube, tow rope, ect.....ect.....ect.... I told him he will pretty much have a week of 'work' when the boat does come out of storage to get everything installed, organized and sorted out.

That is nice to know it is done and can be picked up in April. Are you transferring things from your old boat to this one or starting from scratch?

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Nice....I'll be looking for a new wake board for the lad...and I left out the standard lowrance graph they're suppose to come with. I sold everything with the old boat so I could force myself to upgrade everything, lol. I've been looking at those Live graphs....they look awesome...but super expensive. Might just go with a Helix 7 or 9. They seem to be short supplied, but I'm not really in a rush, as I know my lake well. Ice out can't come soon enough this year...

I had a Hummingbird on my old boat (Helix 5 Si GPS) and that was an amazing unit - a tad slow on refresh rate but very powerful unit. That unit went with the boat - actually everything went with the boat but I did sell it for $4k more than I bought it for 6 years ago. I was scrambling to find life jackets, anchors, fish finders, rod holders, & Nav Cards. That is why this winter I went and bought what I needed to outfit my boat when I saw it because I have zero faith that there will be stick come spring.

BTW my boat came with the HDS-7 and I bought the Nav + card. You will love the Hummingbird 7 or 9!

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Originally Posted by 410001661

I had a Hummingbird on my old boat (Helix 5 Si GPS) and that was an amazing unit - a tad slow on refresh rate but very powerful unit. That unit went with the boat - actually everything went with the boat but I did sell it for $4k more than I bought it for 6 years ago. I was scrambling to find life jackets, anchors, fish finders, rod holders, & Nav Cards. That is why this winter I went and bought what I needed to outfit my boat when I saw it because I have zero faith that there will be stick come spring.

BTW my boat came with the HDS-7 and I bought the Nav + card. You will love the Hummingbird 7 or 9!

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Right on, thanks for the info pal. This year will be the same focus as last year......fish, swim, eat healthy, wait for the fall hunting...repeat....:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 410001661

I just received my iPilot kit for my Minnkota PD V2. I tried to order this kit locally but could not find it anywhere. I was being quoted $900 - $1,000 by local guys 'if' they could even get it. Johnson Outdoors here in Burlington were not much help either telling me that these kits are going to be phased out soon.......I said I know that, and that is why I am looking for one NOW!!??

Anyway did some searching around the finally found someone who knew what they were talking about - Lakeside Marine in IL. One phone call and a 15 minute talk to double check to make sure we had the correct kit and it was ordered (they had 15 of these in stock). These guys are great to deal with and very informative. Would not hesitate doing business with them again. 3 weeks later the package was on my door (USPS/Canada Post).

I was also looking at the ProNav as an option but that was NOT cheap - it was not worth upgrading. I would have been better off buying a new motor with iPilot by the time I was done upgrading my existing motor. Most guys I spoke to said to stick with Minnkota and get the iPilot as you will not be disappointed.

https://i.imgur.com/e2Cvb3u.jpg

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I am looking at doing this EXACT thing on my Minnkota PD V2.. I'm assuming the kit was this?

https://lakesidemarineandservice.com...39809269497922

Apparently they now have 62 in stock and for less than half the price of a new trolling motor I am leaning this direction..

Are you happy with the upgrade?