Hotfoot ??? 2024

DDbasser reply :

Question for those of you that use a hotfoot,

Do you find it a necessary piece of equipment or just another toy??

CBedo reply :

Personally, I think it depends on how long you've been driving a bass boat and what type of water you primarily run in.

If you've been driving a bass boat for a long time, then you've probably mastered the one hand steering and proper acceleration/deceleration techniques. But I find it easier (I learned with a hot foot) to keep both hands on the wheel.

I think that if you run big water (like Lake Mead), where it can get rough in a hurry and you might be looking at a long run to get home, I feel safer with both hands on the wheel.

Lastly, you might not want a hot foot if you have to idle out of big stump fields. It is a little tough to stand up to see what's coming and steer out of the stumps and still keep your foot on the hot foot.

JMHO

jbh3 reply :

The hot foot is NOT a toy. It is, IMO, a valuable piece of safety equipment second only to the kill switch. Add blinker trim to your list as well. Keeping two hands on the wheel is a GOOD thing. Even with hydraulic steering, it is impossible to make avoidance maneuvers at speed with one hand while trying to grab the throttle and trim with the other.

Ben reply :

Definitly not a toy, a must have safefy device when you're running the kind of speeds many of the bass boats are running now.

When you start getting into the 60's (which is slow for many boats today) and faster, you want both hands to drive the boat, and dang sure don't want to be using one hand to mess with a throttle lever. That's also why they put the trim and hydraulic jackplate controls at the steering wheel. Some use the buttons on the wheel, others have the little leavers that look like turn signals below the wheel.

Will reply :

From a co-angler point of view, the boaters that use hot foots usually have better rides than those who are trying to use their hand. Like others said very good piece of safety equipment.

bassdocktor reply :

I got my first bass boat this year and find it to be great. Like everyone said it's great for safety allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. Before my dad and I bought the boat we talked to a lot of different people including some reps from Triton that we'd met a few time and everyone agreed that the Hot Foot was something we needed to have.

bassdocktor

BASSMAN1301599783 reply :

Whats a Hotfoot ???

Ben reply :

Gas pedal mounted on the floor like a car.

If you want to see if they are necessary, take a ride in a my boat or any that will truely run in the 70's/80's. Not too bad when no other traffic is on the lake, other than having an 80 mph wind blowing your cheeks back past your ears (single console). Let a few other boats, jet skiis, water ski'ers get things churned up a little. You will be surprised how light that 1,500 lb hull will get, how much you will be getting tossed around, and how many times your off and on the gas. Then you look over at the GPS and find we've done slowed to the 50's and you'd swear we were running 90.

I think that's why a lot of guys with the 60 mph boats bragg about how they will run in the 70's

BASSMAN1301599783 reply :

oh. Thanks ;D

DDbasser reply :

Thanks guys,

I am going to have one installed on my boat this winter.

I'll be running on some fairly big lakes that get real rough in the spring or any time a 25 mph wind comes up.

I do like the idea of being able to keep both hands on the wheel, so I guess I'll have to have the trim switch installed on the steering wheel also.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

I made my own "hot foot". I noticed it in mags and always thought it was a great idea to have both hands on the wheel so I had morse cable make me a cable to adapt to my boat. I run a center console (saltwater) so the hot foot wasn't an option but I achieved a "hands free" ride with a trigger throttle. Both hands still on wheel and WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Pic doesn't look right because wheel is turned all the way left. When running straight, the trigger sits at the 2 o'clock position.

settle1 reply :

lol pretty neat....i think a hotfoot is a must....imagine running 60 and getting tossed oout of your seat with the throttle still down that aint gonna happen with a hot foot

fishinfool reply :

I bought my first bass boat this past season, it doesn't have a hotfoot and I actually like the throttle arm better. But of course i've never had a hotfoot so don't take my word to heart. I can see why it is safer and more comfortable, but for someone who's 6'5" 220lbs, I don't have that much leg room under the console in the first place, trying to move my leg and foot around to suit the pedal. Just my opinion of course, heck you may see me out there next season w/ a hotfoot. lol.

DDbasser reply :

Quote
lol pretty neat....i think a hotfoot is a must....imagine running 60 and getting tossed oout of your seat with the throttle still down that aint gonna happen with a hot foot

I never thought about that!!!

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Exactly, whether it's a hot foot or a trigger throttle, both are spring loaded, when you let go, so do they.

BASSMAN1301599783 reply :

Quote
lol pretty neat....i think a hotfoot is a must....imagine running 60 and getting tossed oout of your seat with the throttle still down that aint gonna happen with a hot foot

I thaught thats what the pull cord kill switch does. Kill the motor if you fly out.

settle1 reply :

yea thats what it does and if you dont run a hot foot i would definitely use the kill cord....i dont use the cord i guess i should but from my experince with the hot foot when i get loose in the seat my foot comes off of the throttle before i get out of shape......i do wish i could have both throttles....because just cruising at slow speeds the hot foot gets tiresome to me

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

I use both. You can never be over prepared on the water.

jbh3 reply :

If you don't use your kill switch you are not only endangering yourself if you get tossed. Your rig doesn't particularly care if you are behind the wheel or not. It keeps going. WEAR YOUR KILL SWITCH. How hard is it??!!

DDbasser reply :

I never get behind the wheel of my boat without first putting on my life jacket and then clipping my kill switch on.

Now, that being said.

A friend of mine that used to fish bass tourny's had an idiot on a waverunner cut across in front of him and he had to cut the wheel hard to keep from running over the guy.

When he did he slid out from behind the wheel, he only had one hand on the wheel the other on the throttle, his kill switch came unplugged like it's supposed to but it didn't kill the engine.

I also always check my kill switch before pulling the boat off the trailer.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

checking the kill switch is always part of my pre-trip inspection. I have had them go bad on my saltwater rigs before. Salt gets in between the contacts.

srwshooter reply :

hi to all ,just joined this forum, i had a jet boat built this spring and it has a hotfoot ,i'll never own a boat without one again . running the rocks its real nice, believe me if you hit a rock you want the boat to stop. its real nice for loading the boat to.

kbj3579 reply :

I just bought a new Champion, which came with a hotfoot installed. Like fishinfool I too am 6'5, (wish I was 220), I wasn't sure if it would work for me either, but after some adjusting, I absolutley love it. Yes there are some draw backs to it, ie. making long runs not at WOT, but the control over the boat is huge. Like another person said above if you are on a big lake with lots of traffic, it's a lot safer to navigate.

By the way checking the kill switch is an idea I haven't thought about. Good suggestion. It's things like that you tend to forget about. That's what makes this forum great.

Glenn reply :

I have it on my Ranger. Love it for all the reasons listed above. The only caveat is when you're loading the boat back on the trailer on a steep ramp.... you know, the kind you need to "throttle up" in order to pin the boat to the front bumper while you run up front to hook it up. Kinda hard to do that with a hotfoot. :

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

kbj3597- I just submitted an article that is more of a checklist. Good resource to keep on hand. Keep an eye on the mainpage, will be up as soon as Glenn has time .(provided it passes inspection)

bassdocktor reply :

I agree sometimes your foot will get a little tired on a long run. I guess that is why they now make a hot foot with cruise control. I don't really know anything about it other than you can get it with I believe electronic cruise. I saw it advertised about 2 months ago in a boat magazine. I'm not sure if its's available yet or coming soon.

bassdocktor

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Hotfoot ??? 2024

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