Should I get a Hotfoot?

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Is there any reason not to get a Hotfoot?  I gather it is better for handling rough water so you can have both hands on the wheel.  I have a Tuffy X-190 with a F175 if that makes any difference.  Thanks for any advice. 

[fiker]

Friends of mine that fish a lot of big water have them.  I can see a lot of advantages to having one. 

I fish a lot of inland lake chains.  For me, when idling from one lake to another my thoughts are that I don't want one. 

Having said that, every time I'm in rough water on Erie or Clair I wish I had one. 

[dartag]

with the hot foot and blinker trim your hands are on the wheel all the time.  unless you are eating your lunch while driving across the lake.  Which I do a lot.  had mine for 10 on my Ranger for 10 years.   only caution is if you install yourself make sure you don't run the screws through the bottom of the boat.   you  will also need a longer throttle cable.  There is a learning curve landing and docking the boat.  You will no longer have control from the throttle handle.  it will only be used for gear shifting.

would never have another bass boat with out one.

[32eml24]

Hotfoot horror story... My spring snapped on the pedal and it got stuck full down... I pulled kill switch in time... replaced with beefier spring... took a bit of getting used to driving onto trailer as well as idling no wakes.  If you have the horsepower you really should have both hands on the wheel.  Big water I can see it helping too.  Me personally I enjoy driving my normal throttle 90hp yamaha on the river boat more than the hotfoot with the big horsepower. 

[dartag]

My Hotfoot has a stirrup that you can pull back the throttle if the spring breaks.   
Try and find someone with one and see if they will let you drive it to see if you like it.

[djkimmel]

You don't want one if you have strong 'braking' instinct! I actually had that problem for a short time when I first got my hotfoot but after that I love the HotFoot for driving in rough water especially.

If you have long no wakes to drive often it can build good calf muscles.

I've had some people claim it isn't as safe for rough water but I think they just never had the time to get used to using one. With both hands on the wheel it is easier to control the hotfoot fine-tuned and stable. I think it is safer to have both hands on the wheel actually.

[21XDC]

Bullet boats wont sell a boat without one... I resisted this as I was used to hand throttles in all of my other boats. Once you get used to it, You wont go back.

[dartag]

Watch the video's of people getting thrown out of boats.  A Hot Foot or Dead Man's Throttle as it is referred to shut the throttle down.  Also use the shutoff teather at all times.

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Thanks guys for the advice.  This is a project for over the winter. 

[1BADAIR]

After 2 years i still cant decide if i want one in my ranger. I believe I know of one person Dan is refering. Says you tend to drive faster in rough water with one

[motocross269]

I have a hotfoot...It is great in rough water on big water but stinks in long no wakes..
It's personal preference... Iaconnelli and Clapper don't use them and if memory serves me right neither does Balog so there are some good anglers out there that don't use them....
I wish they would come up with some version that you could change back and forth on the fly..

[djkimmel]

I actually thought there was a version that allowed you to keep the hand throttle but it may be one that hasn't been for sale for a long time, from the 'old days.'

[Hollada]

The new G2's have a fly by wire option that allows both hotfoot and hand throttle

[dartag]

The new G2's have a fly by wire option that allows both hotfoot and hand throttle

Gulfstream.??  What,   did you buy a Jet now.

[Manxfishing]

Here's the video on the G2 with the hoot foot

[djkimmel]

I wonder if he had his kill switch attached?? He didn't have a life vest on - not safe at much speed, especially standing up.