Minn Kota Riptide SP70 with i Pilot
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- Been saving my nickles and dimes and with a little help from my friends, I purchased this Minn Kota Riptide SP70 with i-Pilot. It is going to be a life saver when we go out in the deep and can anchor up in a spot WITHOUT having to toss out an anchor 6, 8 or 10 times and pull up 120' of rope with an 11 lb anchor and chain attached.
I had the option of going with a different brand of GPS anchor trolling motor but the Minn Kota Riptide i-Pilot and Humminbird GPS/Sidescan sonar have teamed up to where you can assist the i-Pilot by using the sonar.. pretty cool and I may some day invest in that perk.
Also, I am soooo glad I didn't invest in the Riptide SP55 even though it would need only one battery. In my area we have both a wind challenge and a tide challenge so the SP70 with 70 ft lbs of pull is perfect for my boat.
I been on the fence about this product for quite some time now, but thanks to your unbiased, consumer grade review- I have decided to pull the trigger on one! And, thank you for making great fishing videos. Be Blessed!!
Thanks dd, Let me give you some advice I have discovered with my 2nd SP70. The new boat came with it already installed. The boat is 18.5' with an 8' beam meaning a lot more surface in the water for this 70 ft lb motor to pull. In lakes with no current ... no problem but in rivers or inlets or even out in the ocean on days when the stream is moving quickly, this motor on this boat is struggling. On my 17' boat, it could pull it around all day in practically any conditions but with this bigger boat, it would have been nice to have an 80 ft lbs iPilot. In other words dd, make sure you buy what is needed for your worse conditions. Also, one other recommendation, know the height that your bow sits to determine if you need a 54" or 60" shaft. Be a bummer if you get a 54" shaft and the prop barely is under water and every wave it comes out and chops the surface.
Good advice! I had not considered this, but now I can make a better shaft length and thrust choice.
I am a new visitor to your wonderful You Tube Channel. I have finally figured out to add a comment or two.
To start with I like your fun way of you show the fun and enjoyment of fishing. I can't help feeling better after looking at one of your videos.
For a great number of year I had a 16' boat I built and enjoyed Salt water fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. At that time they didnot have all the goodies that are avable today. There was more times I wished I didnot have to put out and pull in a anchor. I am Very happy for you that you have lost that job and you let Minn Kotoa do it for you.
Last but not least I hope you always take a friend fishing with you. That's just for your Safety.
Have Fun but be Safe
+Csbinet Maker .. Thanks CM... I enjoy taking John (Big John) out fishing with me but there are times when I need to be alone with the Lord and just take ..Him.. along for the trip.
Glad you enjoy the videos. Now if the wind will ever stop blowing, I'll get out and make some more...
that is awesome! can't wait to see how it works out in the open water!
Super awesome video brother. Real, no-bs and to the point! I will be getting one this week. thank you.
Had this one now for a year and been used it dozens and dozens of times.. maybe hundreds and still going strong. It's like going from Windows 3.11 (throwing out an anchor) to Windows 10.. you just don't know how you lived without it and never look back.
Hi BH, make sure you do the research before you buy one. On my 18.5' new boat, it came with the SP70 which is the exact same model on my 17'. Well, in strong currents, the SP70 cannot hold the boat on anchor and will lose GPS and shut off... my new boat actually NEEDS at least the 80 ft lb model but I am not going to upgrade.. I will just need to fish in areas where the currents are less stressful on the motor. So, buy the iPilot needed for your worse conditions.
for the battery disconnect, you can go to and auto parts store, they have battery disconnect that clamp onto the battery terminal, will give a better connection than the alligator clip. used in drag racing, and for when storing a vehicle for long periods.
nice trolling motor ... and love all your vids.
thanks.
+kens97sto171 Yes.. I agree, I need a better but non-intrusive system. I still want a connect/disconnect system inside the well but better than a simple jumper cable.... I will look into what you suggested.. thanks..
www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/image_uploads/070401_large.jpg
Your welcome. Will look something like this, they sell different types with different connections at the ends.
Someday I'll have one of those. Great review
Very nice boat. Great set up!!
Awesome video and I hope the minn kota works out for you and John..............tight lines
Best way to use spot lock is to be at a stand still when you engage it. Also the micro remote is a neck saver.
Great Vid. Purchased for crabbing a little offshore, n many other uses.
Yeah, I love the time and trouble it saves.. quick and easy anchoring.
I was just wondering how your trolling motor is doing these days. Have you had any major problems with it. Thank you have a great day
It is doing GREAT.. but there have been issues. Here is the primary issue. Every time you pull the shaft up to stow it, you pull a little salt water up with the shaft and it works its way into the turning housing. After a year or 2 of a little salt getting into that housing it begins to bind up the gears. I replaced 2 head turning units due to that. Then I got SMART and took an old one apart just to see the problem. Salt crystals and massive corrosion. So I cleaned it out with a wire tooth brush, small screw driver to get the corrosion out of all the crevices and then 3/4 packed the head with lithium grease and spread it on every gear in the unit. Now, what little bit of salt water can get in.. doesn't do anything and I am still using that old head and it is working perfectly. So, my suggestion is that if you use yours in salt water, remove the turning head, clean it out and repack with grease and put it back together. I have even packed the screw holes with lithium grease because the saltwater gets in the holes and causes the stainless bolts to corrode into the aluminum housing.
You could get a contactor and hook it to one of your accessory switches for control and cut off the power to the trolling motor so you don't have to disconnect the batteries when you are done.
Hi eight.. I think I still would need a master switch because I charge each individual battery after every trip. But nevertheless, I have everything all wired and working great. Not going to mess with something working and simple.
Thanks for the video and demonstration!
When I first saw this video pop up I was like wow, Salty is fishing in 4-6? Lol that hurricane out there ruined our fishing plans for the weekend...
+CobiaFever Well keep tuned. John and I are at least going to try the jetty tip tomorrow for some small Mangroves and possibly a Red. But, if we can putter out to #12, if the swells are large and rolling and not choppy, we may go....
Very nice acquisition there, Lane. Ever since your video a while back wherein another of your buddies had one on his boat, I've been quite interested in one. But for now, I'll just make do with the manually operated Riptide on mine. I don't (yet) bottom fish in depths line you do. If that becomes a regular habit....
+Jim M,.. Hi Jim, I have a pretty old and worn out Riptide that was given to me but never used and it is handle operated. When I first began to do the research as to what I wanted and needed, I found that there was an add on part for the Riptide that would make it an i-Pilot. But since my old motor was too small, I didn't pursue that avenue..
SaltyKayak I will be watching its performance in your videos with a keen eye. Mine could die on me this weekend. We never know when we might need to replace equipment!
+Jim M Hi Jim.. I wasn't going to put up yesterdays ... somewhat boring.. inshore video but it does have some performance interests on the Minn Kota.. It actually surprised me and made me HAPPY that I didn't go smaller. I will begin editing the video and it should be online by this evening.
Exactly what I needed to know about this motor thanks
Mine has been taking a real beating these last couple weeks with big waves and off shore strong currents but is still hanging in there like a champ. Mt 2 deep cycle batteries were pushed to the max also and still had a 50% charge after half a day of brutal conditions with teh SP70 running at 8 to 10 (10 is wide open) most of the day...
I've been thinking about getting one. I've looked at the 80 but don't know if I can swing the extra $$. I have a 20' sportsman boat.
Advice time...! From experience, I would say you need the 112 ft lb model if you can swing the added expense. The 80 ft lb model on a 20' boat in breezy conditions and a bit of current will be running nearly full speed most of the time. This boat came with this 70 ft lb motor but if I ever need to buy another, I would buy an 80 ft lb for my 18'6" boat. Yesterday, in 10 mph winds and maybe 3 knot current, my motor was running 80% to 100% hour after hour... Even the plug got hot from the burden and the prop would even come out of the water occasionally when the trough of the wave was a little deeper than average. Your 20' NICE boat with a 112 ft lb would be perfect in all conditions.
Good advice I will have to save my money and see if I can get the better one thanks
Whenever you put up the motor to run we prefer to slide down that collar every time to prevent from dropping down and bouncing.
+floridafishingo .. well, I thought about that too. I will see what works best for John and me...
Nice
getting a new boat soon and only wish I could have troll motor like that.
Hi donald, make sure you do plenty of research before you go for the iPilot. Depending on the size of your boat.. the SP70 is perfect for my 17' Key West but I have the exact same trolling motor on my new 18'6" Key West and it is a little underpowered. I wish it had the 80 ft lb motor on it.
I had to save for a long time before I got my first iPilot.... love it.
Put the stop at the base of the motor so if it flips up it will not fall in the water
Nice job
You don't have to worry about the motor wrapping up in its cord it knows when it goes too far and will turn around
+Joshua Bolte You sure Joshua? I am pretty sure I read in the manual that says YOU are responsible if the cord wraps around the shaft multiple times.. I need to read it again....
I have one and I have experienced no problems then again I have not read the manual. It should be able to wrap pretty far anyway because of the long cord and also the chances of it going to far are slim because it needs to turn in every direction to stay in place. :)
+Joshua Bolte Hi Josh.. The manual says that if you press the steering button for more than 6 to 8 seconds, it will stop to prevent the coil cord from wrapping on the motor. I am sure I won't let that happen anyway....
Ok well at least you know and now I know too. Its a very nice motor but hard to get used to. Have fun out there! Leave some fish for me too
Great vid! I have a Grady white 180... I fish Catalina's windswept shoreline mostly. do you think this shaft is long enough for my high bow, and would you recommend a stronger model? Thank you.
Hello DT, you were SMART for commenting and asking that question. My advice is not only going to save you some $, it is going to save you some frustration. The short answer is NO. And my advice for your Grady is to not only get the longer shaft (at least the 60" length) but also go up in your ft lbs. to 80.
On my 17' Key West, it is fairly low to the water and the 54" shaft plus the 70 ft lb thrust was ideal but when I bought this 18'6" Key West, it came with the exact same model SP70 iPilot as was on my 17' Key West. I anticipated there would be times when the SP70 would not be able to maintain lock in strong current due to the increased surface area in the water (increased drag) due to this larger boat and I was right. There are times in the river where I will lose lock and begin to drift with the strong currents. If I had the 80 ft lb iPilot, I would be able to maintain lock. So I now have to pick a spot where the currents are milder before dropping in a line.
I am also certain your Grady will have at least a foot or more distance out of the water than my KW. When I am off shore in wavy conditions, even with my iPilot shaft fully extended, there are occasions when the waves rise the bow so high that the prop comes out of the water, pushes the boat backwards and the motor has to work much harder to get me back to my spot lock position.
So in short DT, get the 60" shaft and the 80 ft lb model and you will have peace of mind while fishing. You will still have rare occasions when the prop might come out of the water in large waves. Also, there is a learning curve that you will need to get used to and possible frustrations to deal with that you didn't expect. For instance, I occasionally fish in the river and close to docks. If the current is gentle, my boat will just drift back and forth maybe 3' to 4' as the iPilot pulls me back to spot but if the current is strong, I may drift back 6' to 8' and the motor runs strong to pull me back to spot. That is also one reason why I still carry an anchor so if I get tired of drifting back and forth.. I'll toss out the anchor to hold me exact.
SaltyKayak much appreciated👍🏻 thank you for your help🎣😎⚓️
Is your boat a sea era? I have a sea era and it looks very similar. Whats the length of the trolling motor?
Hi Derick.. no, it is a Key West BR186.. 18'6".
Saltykayak, the boat in this video is the one I'm looking for. This one is different than the 186. Any info?
That was my Key West 1720... was a great boat.
I’m about to buy this for my 17”6 cc key largo. Fish a very fast ripping inlet.(Sebastian) Do you think the 70lb thrust will hold me in place or will I need a 80lb? So you don’t need to have this trolling motor attached to your fisfinder or any kind of gps?
Hi Bob.. NO, the SP70 will not hold you in a constant ripping current. We have strong currents here at Ponce Inlet also and on my 17'6" KW and it would only hold so long and then the internal thermal protection will shut the motor off after it runs at 10 (wide open). POSSIBLY, it you got the 80 ft lb iPilot, it might hold you but the constant ripping current will not hold you. You would need to find a spot where the current is running slower. But under 95% of the offshore conditions, the 70 ft lb iPilot will work great.
Thank you Saltykayak for the reply and useful information! So there is no external gps or fish finder needed to use ipilot? The motor is self sufficient and ready to go out of the box? Also thanks for making such good content, I love watching your videos when I’m stuck at work or just can’t get out on the water! God bless 🙏
Hi Bob, there is a GPS unit inside the unit that keeps it locked on to the satellites. But, you do need a fish finder or better yet, side scan sonar/fish finder to know your depth and what the structure looks like on the bottom. Both a side scan sonar and an iPilot puts you heads above the guys that don't have one. It's like going from a flip phone to a smart phone.. all of a sudden, there is a whole new world opened up to you.
Thank you again for replying to all my questions saltykayak! I do have a garmin bottomfinder on my boat already just wasn’t sure if I needed a specific model to connect to the minn Kota to use all the features. Which I know I don’t need now because the unit is self sufficient!But you answered my questions perfectly! Thanks again for you time/knowledge! You really helped me get a better understanding before I invest in an ipilot! God bless brother! 🙏🙏🙏
less time with the anchor more time fishing saves on the back
+bill saizon ... and the heart..!
I am curious, how fast (mph) did you get full throttle?
Well, truthfully, I can't tell you because I am always in a 'current' situation. Here on the coast at Ponce Inlet, we never have 'still' water even at what is called 'slack tide' because water just doesn't stop moving. But what I can tell you is that when the current is out-flowing at around 4 to 4.5 mph, it will hold the boat in the same general 10' spot.. The current can push the boat back and the SP70 will ramp up and struggle to pull me back to my fishing spot but will eventually get me there. However, there is FORTUNATELY a thermal protection built into the trolling motor head that if it gets too hot (from running too long wide open) it will shut off for protection.. rather than burn out. I have had that happen a couple of times so now I will not fish in those spots where the motor is over stressed for more than a few minutes. But if I were in a lake situation where there is basically no current other than wind driven, you should be able to cruise 3 mph for hours... But I have not tested it in a lake. Even off shore, when it is fairly calm, there is current at 1 or 2 mph and the trolling motor holds me in every spot for an hour or two and then I will move to a fresh fishing spot and the motor will hold me there for a couple hours...
have you ever tried worms for bait, not nightcrawlers like bloodworms, beachworms and sandworms (my personal favorite). Up here sandworms catch scup and some other species.
+Jack Min Hi Jack.. we don't have beach worms of any kind here. Only regular earth worm and I have only used them in fresh water. There is so much natural saltwater bait here that I don't know of anyone who uses earthworms for saltwater bait....
I wouldn't think you guys have sandworms either, haven't seen them at any baitshop down there
Salty I'm looking at a minn Kota i kpilot 80lb. It's 1,850 at bass pro shops. That's double my other minn Kota..
How has yours performed so far?
+Hoo UrDaddy Hi Hoo... man, we went 22 miles off shore today and I hit 3 spots and at each one the current was .. like a river. My SP70 was almost constantly running at 50%+ for hours and never skipped a beat or lost 'anchor'. Now, I have a 17' boat and if I get a 19', I will probably have to get the SP80.
My buddy Robbie was out there with us in his 17' Cape Horn today and he was CONSTANTLY slipping back because the anchor wouldn't grip. Problem solved with the Minn Kota GPS....
+Hoo UrDaddy .. Also, if you have the Riptide, you MAY be able to just get the GPS head unit.. but not sure what model Riptide you need to only need the GPS head to swap out...
+SaltyKayak
Thanks for the reply. I'm out of Texas port Aransas.
I'm gonna pull the trigger on it :)
I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks again
+Hoo UrDaddy ... you won't be disappointed but there is a learning curve that can be a little frustrating at times.
Is your boat a century 1700? What year? You go 20 miled off shore in that?!
To me it looks like a key west 1520
keep it up it vids
@SaltykayakYou live in new smyrna too i see chicken island andim buying one in a few days how good are they you run 2 deep. Cells do you can you hook the batterysup to your outbored so the alternator can charge them?
Hello Matthew, I do not have my SP70 hooked up to my outboard because the Minn Kota sucks way too much juice. If I would stay in one specific area all day.. and that happens often, it would drain your starting batteries quickly and you would be stuck out there. Everyone I know who has the iPilot system, has separate deep cell batteries. I have 2 group 29 batteries installed inside my center console with a separate battery charger installed so all I have to do when I get home is plug it in to charge my trolling motor batteries. From a day of fishing in heavy current or big seas where the TM is pulling 60% to 80%, the batteries will get drained down to 25% capacity and once in really strong current, the batteries actually ran out of juice and I had to use the anchor/rope to anchor up. I was 18 miles out. It would have been a big ordeal if I had to radio SeaTow to come get me if I had my TM attached to the alternator charging system. But, if you have the $ you can get a 'charge on the run' system that isolated your TM batteries from your starting batteries until your starting batteries are fully charged and then they begin to charge your TM batteries. However, to charge your TM batteries back to full capacity, you would have to run your outboard for hours and hours. Even when I plug the TM batteries in at the house, it takes over night to get them back to 100% capacity. So, from my personal experience with 2 SP70's from 2 separate boats, use separate batteries for your TM. And batteries are something you don't want to go cheap on. Get marine grade batteries because they are made to take a pounding.
SaltyKayak thats for the info i have a couple years old autocraft deepcell i was thinking about taking the tops osthe capsoff and pouring some bakeing soda down the tubes to get it to come back to life then go buy one more extra one
SaltyKayak i got a 17 foot bluewater boats skiff would asp 70 be good for me to they have a sp 80 to
SaltyKayak also does this model got spot lock and ancor mode and can you pre program routs for it to take like say tell it to go allthe way around the new smyrna jettie
Hi Matthew.. you are not going to like what I am going to tell you but.. you are 'supposed' to have matching batteries of the same power and capacity. Even if you have the same batteries and one is several years old, the new battery will be degraded in it's power output because it not only will be powering your TM, it will be trying to 'balance' the AMP output. With both batteries the same age, all of the 'juice' is used for the TM.
Also, I have never heard of putting baking soda in a battery full of sulfuric acid. I would be VERY cautious so you don't end up in the hospital with your face burned off and blind. If batteries were easy to 'regenerate' everybody would be doing it. Batteries decay.
Can u run salt water troll motor in fresh water and y not
You can always run a saltwater TM in fresh water but you 'shouldn't' run a freshwater trolling motor in saltwater because a saltwater TM is build with more protection against the corrosive nature of saltwater. Freshwater TM's do not need to be protected against saltwater corrosion.
How much money to buy uncle
Hello CHEN, the cheapest I have seen a complete unit (no batteries) is $999.99. Then you still have to buy 2 deep cell marine batteries for around $100 each and wire them up.
SaltyKayak
Where did you see one going for that?
I am looking to buy one but the price is always at 1300 if it has ipilot.
Hi RS, Not sure where I saw it on sale 2 months ago but the cheapest I saw one now was $1228 with free shipping and I imagine that any sales will quickly disappear as Spring and Summer approach. Normally, the best time to buy an expensive marine item like this is in the Fall or beginning of Winter because retailers need to keep inventory moving and there are less people buying in those cold months...
Will the GPS work without a cell phone or an internet connection?
Actually that is a GREAT question... and yes, the Minn Kota series of GPS trolling motors all have an internal GPS antenna. It gets its GPS connections directly from the satellites and not from cell towers..
I’m about to buy this for my 17”6 cc key largo. Fish a very fast ripping inlet.(Sebastian) Do you think the 70lb thrust will hold me in place or will I need a 80lb? So you don’t need to have this trolling motor attached to your fisfinder or any kind of gps?
How many stars would you give it after 2 years
Easily 5.. for my size of boat and smaller. I have a 18'6" Bay/Reef and the ONLY time it has let me down was 2 weeks ago when I was offshore in very strong current WITH the wind and waves also blowing the direction of the current. After about 4 hours of nearly constantly running at max (10) it sufficiently drained the batteries down to about 10% and could no longer tun at max and kept losing lock. But that is the first time in 2 years I have had to toss an anchor out. Usually, in average to even rough seas, I will come home after 6 to 7 hours of fishing with 25% to 50% remaining charge. But last week was almost like trying to hold position in the Colorado rapids... not going to happen. But if I would have had the 36V and 80 ft lb model instead of the 24V 70 ft lb model, I know I would have been able to hold lock all day.
They say saltwater trolling motor, does it really matter?. I only fish freshwater, and want a rip tide cause it's white and would match my boat..
+Ed Gein ..Hi Ed.. oh yeah, it matters.. The saltwater motors have extra anti corrosion materials and paints on them that the freshwater ones don't. You can't lose by going with the saltwater model because you can use them in both without corrosion problems. Besides, only if you are absolutely certain you will never be in saltwater (never say never).. you still should get the white one.. looks cool on my white boat..!
+SaltyKayak. Ah, I see. Yeah, I figured it had a purpose for saltwater, just meant/thought it couldn't hurt to use it in freshwater. Extra protection would be the way to go. And sure does look cool, white on white. I may be far from saltwater (Minnesota) but you're right, maybe one day I'll take a trip down to the Florida keys. Thanks for the Info, response and video. Happy fishing!.
I want one so bad on my boat, just can't afford it.
+Brad Lockard Like I indicated.. save and save for one. But, like me, you shouldn't go into debt (credit card) and pay for it outright and get bigger than you think you will need. Also, consider what batteries you will need and buy matching Deep Cell Marine batteries. Stay away from Walmart.. for batteries. I got mine from Advance Auto and for trolling motors, you need to look for Reserve Capacity (RC) and get a Group 24 (120 minutes of RC) or like I got, 2 group 27 batteries with 210 minutes of RC each. Should last many hours before using up the juice.
Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.
+Brad Lockard Well, another thing to consider is HOW it will attach to the nose of your boat. It honestly took over a day for me to figure out how to get the 6 bolts thru the deck (easy part) and then how to get the washer and nut on the end of the bolt. I had to drill a hand sized hole IN my anchor well and was able to get 1 bolt/nut on. Then, I had to unscrew the 2 bow lights, fabricate my own tool to be able to get the other 5 washer/bolts on.
For me it was a 2 day project (alone) to mount and wire this trolling motor because my boat doesn't have easy access to the nose.
SaltyKayak dang that's no good. My boat already has a trolling motor so I think I'd use existing holes and or wiring. I'd probably also get the 55lb thrust motor being that predominantly fish freshwater. My brother has one on his 21' triton ce ter console and it is awesome.
+Brad Lockard Hi Brad.. if you are in fresh water.. I am certain a 55lb thrust would be great.. But, if and when you upgrade your trolling motor, I almost bet the holes are different and more of them. Ah.. but that's the life of a fisherman.. always challenges to conquer.
What size is your boat?
+alberto hernandez x21 (MiamiLifeX21) .. Hi alberto.. I have a 17' but if I were to have a 19' boat, I would upgrade to the Minn Kota SP80 (I thinks that is the next highest).. and the longest shaft I could get....
+SaltyKayak OK cool I'm getting 17 dusky and I wanted to know if my Minnkota SP 80 was going to work with it
+alberto hernandez x21 (MiamiLifeX21) .. You bet.. but I have to put my batteries in the front well since my gunnels are somewhat shallow ad with the regular boat batteries in the back.. too much weight in the back. If you are 'new' to trolling motors, make sure you don't go by cranking amps.. you need Marine deep cycle Group 27 (long endurance) batteries or better...