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basschaser.
i remember seeing the folks at BCB commenting that they do not like the hot foots. i was just curious as to WHY? im in an 02 Sabre with one already installed for my Yammy VMax 150. im considering disconnecting it. im seem to be doing more idling and slow running, and it wears my leg out sometimes. just looking for pros and cons of each option (hotfoot vs flush mount control). also, if i do disconnect it, should i leave the hotfoot in place, or remove it? all input welcome. cajun catter
I think they echoed my one issue with hotfoots. And before I continue, I use and love em for a safety factor. With the proviso given below however. Once you use a hotfoot, you get used to the idea of picking up your foot and the motor drops back to idle “right now”. Which is as it should be. But when the hotfoot gets a little age on it, and a little grunge on it, and the cable wears a bit and starts to bind a bit, this can change. And there is no worse feeling in the world than suddenly seeing a big log floating down the river in your path, and you lift your foot and _nothing_ happens. Because your hotfoot/cables were not serviced properly, and cleaned, oiled, greased, and the spring return adjusted for a positive return to zero throttle. Yes, they have that metal “C” that you can hook your toe under and lift the throttle. But in a panic stop, when you hit the brakes on your car and get nothing, it is hard to think of all the alternatives you have before it is too late. You could slam it into reverse. You could grab the emergency brake handle or step on the parking brake pedal. But that takes time and time is what you dont have. So, for me, bottom line is that a hotfoot is the only way to go, assuming you are willing to keep it in proper mechanical condition. If the cable gets sticky, replace it. If the pedal gets sticky, take it out and clean it thoroughly and lubricate it. Etc. And in doing that, you will always enjoy the primary benefit of a hot foot which is to be able to keep both hands on the wheel and maintain control in a more positive way. But let it start to bind without fixing it, and it becomes an accident waiting for a place to happen. Some are mechanically inclined. I can usually look at their boat and recognize them. Everything works as advertised. No duct tape. Everything clean and well-lubricated. Controls feel smooth. Etc. They do well with hot foots. For the person with a boat that is dirty, sticky, ie the person that fishes and parks and nothing else, then a hot foot could be a big safety issue. Most boats I see fit the latter category. If you are anal and cant stand it if a switch doesnt work, or a lid doesnt lock, or something doesnt close perfectly, then you will probably do just fine. Problem is, there are far more of the “other type” and I think the BCB folks would prefer to see boats set up so that they will be safer for the entire boating population, rather than catering to the anal owners that keep everything perfect. Fortunately for me, I am and always have been anal. I had a 15 year old boat that looked exactly as good the day it left here as it did when I picked it up. People would not believe me when I told them how old it was. Only the hull ID number could convince them as it had the manufacture date in it. If someone asks me about a hot foot, I generally only ask “are you going to _seriously_ keep it properly set up?” It does not require service every week. But it does require service when it shows any signs of not operating as smoothly as it has in the past. I drove one a couple of years ago and came close to a mishap on a river where rain had washed lots of crap loose. I left the ramp (owner and I were going fishing, he wanted me to drive it to see how the steering felt (it was one of the NFB cable systems that was uncomfortably stiff to steer he thought). I turned up-river and at around 65 or saw saw something unusual just breaking the top of the water. Lifted my foot and nothing happened. Managed to miss a section of a floating telephone pole. I then tested the hotfoot and it would not return to idle reliably. I asked him “have you ever tried to adjust the return spring?” He said “yes. In fact I loosened it a bit as it was hard to hold down on long runs..” I told him that would not be a problem much longer because once he hits something and rips the gearcase off, the long run would be over. I tightened the return spring up and it was good to go… If you understand how important the return to idle is, you will be good to go.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
GREAT explanation above!!! I got in a friends boat to load it on the trailer a while back while he got the truck. I hopped in the seat and started idling through the boat traffic when I realized the friggin hot foot spring return spring is BROKEN! I get her loaded and asked why he did not tell me it was broken, he asked how many boats I drive a year? We go back and forth about the safety issue. Bottom line he still has not replaced it and I have not been back in the boat with him. We take mine, I think he is not replacing it on purpose LOL. Had I not known what to do REAL QUICK I would have hit a boat or two that afternoon. Yes, oldtimer he calls me “anal” all the time LOL!
tis a far, far better thing to be anal, than it is to be injured. —oldtimer57 2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
IMO, there are two huge benefits to a Hot Foot. 1. The most important – Keeping two hands on the wheel at all times. This is really a issue when running a lake with other pleasure boats or really rough wind blown water. In a panic situation with a sudden log in your path, ( like mentioned above ) you just cannot turn the wheel enough with one hand, and back off the throttle with the other. IMO. ( maybe at 50 mph, but not at 75 mph ) 2. In running in rough water, your foot is much more accurate controlling the amount of throttle needed to control the speed and pitch of the boat than your hand. Also, with both hands on the wheel, you can have better control of your boat in total. Me and a bro run a jackpot every Wed evening. We have between 25- 30 boats every week. I can say I have never seen anyone with the safety kill switch attached. That is their choice. I do not use mine either, but having a hot foot will keep a empty boat running a full throttle to who knows where. However, with two hands on the wheel, and taking your high performance BCB boat and learning its reaction to extreme input, I know I will never worry about being tossed out. All of the above is my own opinion and not worth anything. Make your own choice, that is what is so great about this forum. Everyone can share, wrong or right. Eric
To each his own but I would not idle out from the ramp with out a kill switch hooked to a life jacket and a lifejacket on.
The only tournaments I fish require a properly operating kill switch and it must be attached any time the gas motor is running. That being said, my Dad raised me for that to be one of the very first things to do when I sit down at the drivers controls. Like you said BasserTX, “make your own choice”, but I cant see not utilizing all the safety features. As far as the HotFoot discussion….in my opinion, oldtimer is on the money. I have one on my 92 Sabre/ 150 Evinrude and I love it. I prefer to have both my hands on the wheel and feel more in control. However, that is more for wide open running…if you are idling and slow running more, it may benefit you and your leg to not have it. It really is totally up to you and what you decide is best for you.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
One reason some people will not run a hot-foot is motor warranty-Had a friend with 225 mercury- lower unit went out-first question mercury ask was there a hot-foot in boat-no warranty had to claim on insurance-
I have never heard of that. I have run a hot foot since 1991. Merc replaced a lower unit on my original XR6 after 18 months and the hot-foot was never an issue. They replaced a powerhead after 35 months, wasnt an issue there either. Makes absolutely no sense to me as many companies install hot foots at the factory and theres no way Merc wont warranty a boat sold by their affiliated manufacturers… BTW I see a fair number of boaters not wearing life jackets when under way also. My rule has always been motor does not get cranked until all passengers have jackets on, and the safety lanyard is attached to the drivers jacket D-ring, and everything loose is stowed away so there are no flying objects at speed. Difficult to outlaw stupidity IMHO. Education helps some, and seeing the result of someone run over by their own boat helps even more…Last edited by oldtimer57 on July 12th, 2008, 10:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
cotileangler wrote: One reason some people will not run a hot-foot is motor warranty-Had a friend with 225 mercury- lower unit went out-first question mercury ask was there a hot-foot in boat-no warranty had to claim on insurance- The only way I believe this would be an issue is if it appeared that someone put their foot on the hotfoot and reved the engine at the same time they tried to put it in gear. That is pretty easy for a first timer or someone who isnt coordinated. I love my hotfoot and wont own another higher speed boat without one. Having said that, I think anyone who uses or views a hotfoot as a safety replacement for a kill switch isnt correct at all. Just my 2 cents. I learned last year that I cant drive one of these higher speed boats one handed, with time I know I could but to dependant on the hotfoot and my right hand currently. Judd Lasiter
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