porkpie

Can’t go wrong with a zuke!

I have the MKA 21. My terrova is a 2015 model, and it works great. There is always a tiny bit of slop when you have a removable plate, but in my opinion the convenience factor is worth it. I like that one because you pull the pins and it pops right off, it’s lockable as well. Great setup. I can’t imagine it wouldn’t work with the current terrova? I have had the slide in aluminum version in the past. It works fine, just not as slick as the composite one.

I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again. The motherboard for those older ones is no longer available. I just confirmed this with aikmans. I’m repairing mine at the moment and brushes and seals etc are available. Motherboard not so much. Not a problem unless that main component goes on you. You should be leary of buying used stuff by now. Unless you have the ability to walk away from deals when something doesn’t seem right, you should probably stick with newer stuff. They have the terrova with the mini remote for sale for $2k plus tax at cabelas. I’d buy that before I spent $1800 on an 11 year old electric.

The motor in the photo that you have displayed in your other post of your new boat can’t be upgraded to a Minn kota ipilot head unit. Only the black V2’s and upwards can be. I’ve “heard” of some V1 conversions but I’m not sure how reliable that is. Yours is pre V1, or basically the original MK bow mount. For the money people are asking for used, I’d be looking at a 2016 plus MK. As I’d mentioned in a previous post, my MK is in Aikmens for repair and he mentioned to me that anything other than the latest gen MK’s he’s been told motherboards have been discontinued.

I would put my 5K away, and save another 5K for next year. I’d take up river fishing for smallies and salmon and trout for a season. Then I’d find a 16 foot bare hull with a 30hp 4 stroke and put a flat floor in the front if your that type of angler. I spent my first 7 or 8 boating years in a Lund SSV 16 with a 30. I did all kinds of fishing out of that boat, caught all kinds of fish, and towed it all over the province. Did a lot of down rigging out of it on big water too. I would not invest in one of these old tubs. I’ve watched too many guys at the ramp on various opening days praying to no avail that their motor would turn over, or that they wouldn’t have some other problem. And then they try the home repairs because marine mechanics are expensive. I’m a frugal guy, have 3 kids, one I’m putting through university, and 2 more to go. I understand the need for budgeting, but I’m far enough down the road that I don’t waste my money on crap anymore. My time is valuable, and when I want to go, I want to go.

I don’t thin powerdrives are as bad as a lot of guys make them out to be. They certainly pull you around. The pedals have been notorious for crapping out though. What a lot of people don’t like is the release mechanism. And it’s really not that bad, it just takes some more dicking around than a terrova does.

I'll first go into reliability. I have had one Motorguide Xi5 gps head unit crap out on me. Motor worked fine, but GPS died 6 months outside of warranty, fortunately it was the one and only time I've ever had an extended warranty on anything (bass pro) and they made it right. I've also killed a Minn Kota Terrova GPS head unit. That one wasn't under warranty, and I got lucky with a Canadian Tire clearance deal when they were still carrying the ipilots and I replaced the head and remote for a few hundred, otherwise the repair would've been in excess of $600. My Terrova is currently at Aikman's Sporting goods getting the brushes and seals replaced because it sounded like someone wash beating on dog squeaky toy with a hammer every time I turned it on. Minn Kotas, even the Terrovas aren't bullet proof by any means. I've had many issues with pedals, head units not turning, replaced a board on one once etc on Minn Kotas over the years. They all have issues. The Xi5 was a pretty sweet motor for the 3 years I had it. The replacement got moved on with my old boat. I guess if I had to pick it would be a Minn Kota. However Aikman's just told me that the last gen pre Bluetooth the motherboards have been discontinued now. Keep that in mind when buying used. As for your boat, a 55lb will work, but yeah wind will occasionally be a pain in the butt. If you troll a lot and use the motor to steer, you'll kill even a group 31 after about 6 hours. Flat dead, and the more you do that the shorter lifespan of the battery. I used to get about 2, maybe 3 seasons of heavy use on a 31 series with a 55lb thrust on my 16 footer with constant trolling. If you can swing it weight wise, I'd try to go 24 volt. Just my 2 bits.

Thanks for the write up. I feel like I’ve got several good years ahead out of my current batteries, but it will be nice to see how these things hold up as I’ll be looking at lithium for my next set.

I’m done with goretex. I wear the Helly Hansen rubber suit now. The new ones are even a bit stretchy. I stay mostly dry unless water runs in somewhere (sleeve) etc. The way I look at it, if it’s wet enough for me to wear a rain suit, it’s generally cool enough to wear the rubber suit. When it’s crap out I’m usually wearing base layers, my under armour cold gear stuff and the rubber suit just seals in the flavour. Your mileage may vary.

I typed a big response and it seems to have disappeared. stormy launch is pretty good but I’ve only ever launched a 16 footer there. You can generally get a dock unless it’s super busy weekend. I believe bass, pike and walleye open same weekend in May now. Double check though because I’ve been fishing opening in the kawarthas for 30 years so I never make zone 11 until a couple weeks later. The bass thing is only a season or 2 old I believe. Plenty of smallmouth, particularly on Nip. Read zone exceptions, I haven’t been on stormy for quite some years. yes it will be buggy then. Restoule is an awesome park, we’ve really enjoyed our camping there. It would be shortlist if I where to take up camping again. I’ve camped there end of June during the week and it was reasonably quiet. Weekends will be busy like all the provincial parks! Nippissing is close with excellent fishing and is worth a day trip. Launch at the end of Lansdowne in Callander you’ll probably be able to get a big bass boat in. No problem with 18 foot deep V’s. If not, premier st launch in north bay can be a bit dicey for bigger boats depending on water level. But the marina has an excellent launch.

I have also been wearing a Striker suit for the last 5 years. I'm very happy with it, and I use it for spring salmon trolling, pickerel jigging and any late fall fishing also. Very flexible suit with good buoyancy. Don't forget your ice picks as well. They are expensive but at this point I'm not putting a price on my life.

Yep. I’d buy the refillables in a heartbeat if they where readily available. All I can find on Amazon is the little 1/4lb torch bottle. Next time I’m fishing down in the US I’ll have to check out the depot.

Oh there is a way to vent 1LB cans when refilling, it’s just sketchy @F

Good grief… no I hadn’t heard that. Life has gone weird. I don’t envy the poor b@$stard that has to enforce that.

If I need to be rescued I expect to be rescued. If I’m getting a bill, I want everyone who drives in a blizzard, smacks into a tree skiing, required an open water rescue during boating season, slips on a banana peel, or gets lost in the woods to foot the bill for their rescue. Life isn’t bubble wrapped and crap happens. And it happens in many different pursuits of happiness and it often puts emergency services in harms way. It’s certainly not restricted to ice fishermen.