Hot Foot issues?

[MIKE TREMONT]

Anybody else have any trouble in the past? I was listening to Ultimate Bass a couple of weeks ago. Gary Dobyns was on as one of the guests and he mentioned that he was not a fan of the Hot Foot. I wondered what problems that there could be, I thought as far as safety it was a plus?

Then came yesterday afternoon....

Chris and I were heading in for the weigh in. We were down south heading north to Konocti Vista. Wind was blowing pretty good out of the north. There were 3 to 4 footers in the narrows. We just passed Shag Rock about 75 yards off shore when I had a horrible mushy feeling from my foot and we lost all power. If you've never been there, it's not a good place to be in.

I climb under there to see what's up, luckily the cable didn't break, which is what I thought happened. I was able to jam the thing back together, but as soon as I got on pad and hit a wave the thing broke again Luckily a light went off and I was able to jam my foot in there on the bracket that broke and control the throttle. We made the weigh in with a few minutes to spare. All of the fish made it as well. I was concerned about that, as I pumped most of the water out of the livewell to get the nose down faster.

We didn't do so well in the tournament, but man was it good to be back on land.

The reason for the post is that I'm not sure whether or not I should repair the Hot Foot or just use the hand control. Anyone else have any horror stories they care to share?

[Team Fugowee]

What part broke?
I've used them since the late 80s on 4 boats and the only thing I've broken was the spring.

[Slippy]

i wouldent own a boat without one, i like to keep both hand on the wheel specially in rough water.

[chris_hughes]

Without a doubt that was one of the most hair raising moments I've had on a boat the waives were getting pretty big and we were on day 2 of our trolling motor batteries so who knows what could of happened if the cable did break. When things go wrong they go wrong fast it, we didn't realize what could of happened until we got back to the ramp. Never been so glad to be back on land.



Chris

[Slippy]

could you have motored back in idle speed?

[Tobe]

Mike,

The same mechanical problem can happen to your hand control.

Personally, I wouldn't know what to do without my Hot Foot. In rough water, I want two hands on the wheel. There’s not very many people that can drive a bass boat like Gary Dobyns so I’ll take all the help I can get.

Maybe the reason he doesn't like a Hot Foot is because his legs were so long in those 520's they would have had to of mounted the Hotfoot in his rod locker to fit him.

[Tobe]

*NM*

[larry G]

tobe

do you like the hot because they can move it close enough that even you can reach it and still see over the dash?

[Greg_Cornish]

Glad you made it Mike. I've been caught in the Narrows once in those conditions. NEVER again.

[Kentuck]

I love mine although I had mine stick in the wide open position twice last year. It's an older model so I don't have that flange that goes on top of the toes like some I have seen. The first time it came unstuck before I could do anything and the second time I had to reach down and pull it back by hand.

[Tobe]

tobe

do you like the hot because they can move it close enough that even you can reach it and still see over the dash?

I can't in the new Z520s dude!

[M. Warner]

I wouldnt be without a hot foot. I have never had any problems with mine. I love having 2 hands on the wheel when running lake meads rough water. Thats the only reason why I have one is for the rough water.

[MIKE TREMONT]

Team Fugowee What part broke?

The bracket that pivots on the base that controls the throttle cable. There's a notch on that bracket that let's the pedal float. The upper portion just snapped.

I'm going to pull it out tonight and I'll post some pics of it. I'm going to see if the guys in the shop can weld it up for me, but I kind of doubt it since it looks like a stamped aluminum cast. If they cant weld it I'll see if the brother in law can machine one out of solid piece of aluminum.

My boat is 8 years old and only have 317 hours on it. I'm pretty conservative and a decent boat handler when it comes to the rough water. I am pretty surprised that it broke, and it couldn't of happened at a better time .

Slippy could you have motored back in idle speed?

No way sir. We had about 5 to 8 miles to go? Straight into that head wind. I don't know how hard it was blowing, I know I've seen worse, but it was solid.

[Hipster]

Mike first off glad you are safe!! and that partner you chose over me!!! Well Chris is s good guy been in my boat a few times

See Phil at Capitol City Marine!!!!!!!!!!

Tell him Mark sent ya and you will be taken care of!!!!!!!

I have had a foot prdeal problem once and he took care of it!!!

Mike See Phil at Capitol city Marine hell Chris will agree with that!!

Mike I would never steer you wrong


One ARMED Mark typing

[Greg_Cornish]

......I'll see if the brother in law can machine one out of solid piece of aluminum......

Whenever something of mine breaks that could be safety related that's the first thing I try to do - re-engineer it to be safer. I think you got a winning Idea there Mike. I'd also tell the manufacturer. I'm sure they would be concerned also.

[Team Fugowee]

Is this a top feed hot foot? Sure would like to see the pic's!

[Bassinlee]

It's a great idea to just leave your cables in place on your hand control when you add a hotfoot to your boat. Mine are still hooked up; they just sit below the hotfoot cables inside the cowl. That way, you're just a quick snap or two away from being able to continue if your hotfoot goes cold.
-Bassinlee

[MIKE TREMONT]

Here's the pics, hopefully a picture is worth the thousand words.
Sorry they are so big, but I don't know how to resize them.



If anyone knows a contact at T-H Marine, I'd like to see if they are interested in seeing these.

[MIKE TREMONT]

If anyone has a contact at T-H marine I would appreciate it. I've checked the web and asked around, but it seems that this single part is not available? I have left a message and photo's with T-H marine, but they have yet to respond. They were quite clear on their web page that they are wholesale only, but I was hoping...

Any help would be appreciated, I hate to have to buy a complete assembly. The piece cannot be welded, and I won't get to see if I can have one machined until next week.

Thanks, Mike

[Lance]

Mike,
Im just wondering what you were doing with the lady's hi heel shoe on your work bench (first pic)

I had a hot foot on my last boat but on my new one I opted not to get one. And to tell you the truth, I'm glad I didnt get it. I can move around the boat in 5 mph area's, I can keep it gunned while putting the boat on the trailer, cant do that with a hot foot.

[MIKE TREMONT]

Dang did my night time shoes show in that pic . It's a sorry sight to see me trying to squeeze my 13's into my wife's size 5's .

Thanks Lance, I also want to hear why some of you choose not to run the Hot Foot. It will help in my final decision.