Gear Review: Minn Kota Apps for i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link

What is it?

Minn Kota Apps for i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link

What sets it apart?

Bringing the controls to smartphones and other mobile devices, Minn Kota’s new apps offer greater convenience for the new 2017 line of Bluetooth enabled i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link trolling motors, including Minn Kota’s new Ulterra, Terrova, PowerDrive (i-Pilot only) and Ultrex models. Minn Kota loaded the apps with the most commonly used commands such as basic Propeller On/Off, Left/Right Steering, Speed Control, AutoPilot activation, and deployment of Spot-Lock and Spot-Lock Jog – which keep anglers glued to a spot even in high winds and strong current.

How do I use it?

Download the Minn Kota i-Pilot or iPilot Link app to an iOS or Android device and pair it with a Bluetooth-enabled Minn Kota trolling motor. From there, you can adjust the settings for speed and direction. Minn Kota created the apps with easy-to-use screen layouts designed to mimic the handheld remotes with which anglers are already familiar. Navigational icons are the same and response time is immediate. The apps’ On-the-fly software updating means you’ll always have the latest version.

How much?

Free

More Information:

MinnKotaMotors.com

Angler’s insight:

We’re at the point now where we have apps for just about everything but brushing your teeth, so why not trolling motor operation? Handheld (or lanyard-worm) remotes have provided great versatility, but Minn Kota has brought this game into sync (no pun intended) with modern communications and that’s a winner for the efficiency-minded angler. You check your phone for weather updates, dam release schedules, etc., so using that same device to adjust your speed and/or heading, rather than reaching for a handheld remote, will streamline the operation. The High-Speed Bypass feature, which immediately boosts the motor to high speed provides an important safety feature that could also prove helpful in reaching schooling fish that pop up just out of casting distance.