Minn Kota Drift Mode Overview & How To with KVD

[@Pmaboy31]

Instinct Quest 72" Shaft On a Key West 244CC. Minn Kota sent the first one which was professionally installed but was found to be delivered defective. It would not trim. This is a brand new product and as always there can be "hiccups" . This was a big one because after the installer removed it, he took it to an authorized Minn Kota Sales and Repair shop, it had to be returned because it was in fact defective. Minn Kota replaced the unit free of charge which was fair. However, the labor to remove it and bring it to a repair shop, pick up the new one and reinstall it was not free. Not to mention a months delay to finally have an operating unit. Kind of sucks to be delayed and pay extra after buying a very expensive unit. On the bright side... Minn Kota did replace it. Seems like an extremely solid unit compared to any other Trolling Motor I have ever seen. Haven't really used it yet. Only time will tell. If you are a patient person, I suggest you wait until they work the bugs out.

[@KenMFNCason]

I’m wondering if this will work on a river when your bumping for catfish. Your floating backwards in a boat and using the trolling motor to slow you down. If you pick a route on the map, it try’s to PULL the river. I’m needing to float backwards on a specified route, and just have the trolling motor keep me on the route I chose, at a specified speed. I’m hoping this will do that. Basically pick a route on my chart, let the river current take me downstream and have the trolling motor keep me on the specified route, and slow me down to the speed I want to be at. If the river is flowing 5mph I want to be floating down it at 1.5mph.

[@walleyehunter7668]

I just bought one installing it this weekend, im going to try it for jigging walleye in a fast river

[@muskylures]

I’ve been waiting for a video on the new Minn Kota GPS features. This was excellent! Questions: how slow can you drift? Can you access drift from the Minn Kota remote rather than the app? When you spot lock how easily can you resume the drift? My question are based on difficulty with the legacy gps features using cruise control and heading lock. It doesn’t work well at low speed and when the wind varies.

[@bthayer7797]

Yes you can use drift mode with the remote.

[@kellymiller3136]

Game changer for sure if it works as advertised!

[@muskylures]

How is "drift" different than "locked course autopilot"? They are both described in the manual as maintaining a straight line / constant speed course regardless of current, wind, or waves?

[@camilrykowski5765]

That's what I'm wondering too?

[@KenMFNCason]

@@camilrykowski5765I’m wondering if this will work on a river when your bumping for catfish. Your floating backwards, and using trolling motor to slow you down. If you pick a route on the map, it try’s to PULL the river. I’m needing to float backwards on a specified route, and just have the trolling motor keep me on the route I chose, at a specified speed. I’m hoping this will do that.

[@muskylures]

I've managed to use my new motor twice on a river (during this mild winter) and it will hold down to 0.1 mph in current and wind. It will go slower than the current or faster and hold you right on the line that you want to fish. Exactly as I hoped! I still don't know the difference between "drift" and "locked course autopilot". The manual describes them both the same.

[@gregsmith6313]

Have you tried using the locked course autopilot to compare on the same circumstances? @@muskylures

[@stevenkincaid-park3185]

What 360 mega mounting bracket are you using in this video?

[@wiscowalleye7954]

Would this work in a river for vertical jigging?

[@JR-ho5qm]

I was thinking this as well. I this just might!

[@goodkarmasportfishing5053]

Depends on the current. When the wind works against the current it's lethal.

[@joshuamurphy8270]

Can I run just Helix 2D Sonar and Mega 360 Hummingbird with it?

[@johnpetrea]

Hope they make it an update for the older Ultrex

[@scotchdog]

⚠️hi, We didn’t think about making a “stop” function when a person is overboard. For example, a remote bracelet. It got into water and the contacts closed. The motor stopped and went into mode, for example, “electronic anchor”?!

[@joshuadoerr277]

Um spot lock....

[@Texcajun06]

In a lot of cases 1.6mph is too fast. Is it precise enough to slow a boat down to .4/.5mp?

[@walleyehunter7668]

Yes 100% even my terrova can do that and im in a fast river

[@walleyehunter7668]

I juat bought the new ulterra

[@davidkoch2495]

Can recent year motors with spotlock be upgraded via software etc. to include drift mode?

[@MinnKotaMotors]

Hi David, Thank you for contacting Minn Kota. Drift mode is only available with new Minn Kota Trolling Motors. Thank you.

[@Mco998-pf1wi]

@@MinnKotaMotors This is really a joke

[@halohalo2498]

20 years later'''' 27 graphs 8 trolling motors big screens on bow with live Poke . With 2 xbox controllers to throw rod and reels. Coming to yall at a very low price of 927000 with a 75 year payment plan.😅😅😅

[@Bobbysheresomewhere]

Bet it cost more than my boat. But a bigger question is how does Kevin stay in his flip-flops when they get wet?

[@arobb4481]

I've tried experimenting with mine and still don't fully understand it. It controls the drift speed perfectly, but I have trouble making fine tuning adjustments to my drift angle. We need a detailed tutorial with and WITHOUT the app.

[@liutasaephan2276]

Can you use the drift mode without hummingbird fish finders ?

[@JR-ho5qm]

Yes 👍🏻

[@almetcalfe159]

Would this help with vertical jigging in current

[@MinnKotaMotors]

This absolutely could, but it sounds like you would benefit from Spot-Lock in this situation. You can learn more about Spot-Lock here: bit.ly/3uLQJU8

[@icefishing804]

​@@MinnKotaMotorshow about for the Detroit river to keep you line vertical while jigging

[@j.wildoutdoors8483]

I honestly do not understand how this is any different than than following contour or heading in a direction with speed control.

[@DCCallison]

Dang Kevin. Replace that phone screen. 😄

[@H20chromer]

Could you not do this exact same thing with legacy autopilot? The wind direction keeps your boat facing the same direction like in the video and you set your direction on legacy autopilot “upstream” and set your speed. Or how about ipilot link you lay down a track and follow that at the speed you choose, boat still faces the same direction into the wind. They all rely on wind speed to keep your boat facing into the wind. I guess I really don’t see what is new here besides the drift mode name?

[@cjgander1]

That was my thought as well.

[@cf6917]

Are you able to set your desired speed with auto pilot or track mode? I’ve used the follow track feature a couple of times, but I believe I had to adjust my speed manually.

[@longpointfishmaster]

@@cf6917 yes the cruise control fuction

[@finmanpoozie4756]

This is total crap! "Drift mode" sounds a LOT like using Cruise Control + AutoPilot on the previous Ultrex using an iPilot.... What am I missing here? spell it out for me .... I mean from regular guys not getting paid to push product out the door (no offence VanDam...you hawk product) How does this exactly differ from Cruise + AutoPilot?

[@pointblankokc]

Minn Kotas are junk. Don't buy into the hype people.