Minn Kota | i-Pilot Link Remote Cradle | Bluetooth Holder Mount | 1866670

Product Overview

The Minn Kota | i-Pilot Link Remote Cradle | Bluetooth Holder Mount | 1866670 is a high-utility, secure storage mount engineered to keep your advanced wireless trolling motor remote perfectly accessible and safe from deck damage. The i-Pilot Link touchscreen remote is a powerful, high-end piece of marine technology. Allowing it to slide around loosely on fiberglass console dashboards, bounce inside cup holders, or sit unprotected on the casting deck exposes it to severe impact shock, screen scratches, and the risk of being stepped on or kicked overboard. The Minn Kota 1866670 cradle solves this challenge completely by establishing a dedicated, snug-fitting dock that immobilizes your remote while keeping its full-color touchscreen fully visible and operational.

This versatile mounting cradle features a smart, multi-functional layout tailored for active anglers. Out of the box, the cradle comes equipped with a heavy-duty, integrated composite belt clip. This allows you to wear the remote directly on your waistband or safety vest, keeping your hands completely free to hold fishing rods, landing nets, or steering wheels while maintaining instant access to your motor's controls. For captains who prefer a stationary setup, the belt clip can be unbolted or unclipped from the main housing, allowing the flat back of the cradle to be surface-mounted directly to your boat's console dashboard, gunwale wall, or electronics rail. The cradle uses a snap-in retention design that grips the remote securely through rough waves, while still allowing for quick, one-handed removal when you need to walk away from the helm.

Key Features

• Secure Snap-In Retention Grid: Custom-molded to hold the contours of your i-Pilot Link remote perfectly, preventing the remote from vibrating or popping loose during high-speed hull pounding.
• Dual-Function Removable Belt Clip: Outfitted with a high-tension belt clip for mobile, body-worn access that can be easily removed to facilitate permanent surface mounting.
• Console and Dash Mountable: Flat rear chassis allows for easy drill-down mounting onto fiberglass or aluminum dashboards, keeping your trolling motor controls centralized.
• Unobstructed Screen and Keypad Access: Carefully sculpted side cutouts ensure that you can view the entire LCD screen and press all primary navigational keypads while the remote is docked.
• UV-Stabilized Marine Composite: Molded from heavy-duty, high-impact black composite material that resists structural cracking, fading, and degradation under continuous intense sunlight exposure.
• Integrated Lanyard Access Path: Designed with a tailored opening at the base that allows your remote's safety neck lanyard or wrist tether to remain attached while the device sits inside the cradle grid.

Compatibility Information

The Minn Kota 1866670 Remote Cradle features a precise compatibility matrix that is tied directly to the physical dimensions of specific Minn Kota remote form factors. It is engineered **exclusively for use with Bluetooth-enabled i-Pilot Link remotes manufactured from 2017 to 2023** (such as Minn Kota part number 1866650 / 2994076). These remotes feature a specific sleek profile with a large color touchscreen panel.

It is critical to verify your hardware before ordering, as this cradle **will not fit** legacy, non-Bluetooth i-Pilot Link remotes manufactured in 2016 or older, which utilize a thicker, bulkier shell casing. Furthermore, it **is not compatible** with standard, non-Link i-Pilot remotes (such as model 1866550) because the non-Link remotes have an entirely different layout with physical button grids and a smaller screen. Lastly, this cradle does not accommodate the newer 2024+ Advanced GPS Navigation (QUEST or updated brushless series) wireless remotes, which feature a totally redesigned ergonomic footprint. It mounts smoothly onto any clean, flat marine surface using standard fasteners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this product package include the actual wireless remote, or is it just the plastic holder mount?

The Minn Kota 1866670 package consists **strictly of the holding cradle and its integrated belt clip**. The wireless i-Pilot Link remote controller, neck lanyards, and surface-mounting deck screws are sold separately. This product is designed as an aftermarket replacement for a broken factory cradle, or as an extra mount for anglers who want to place multiple docks around their boat—such as one at the bow casting platform and a second one back at the primary steering helm console—allowing the remote to be shifted between positions depending on where you are fishing.

Can I charge my i-Pilot Link remote using the USB cable while it is secured inside this cradle?

Yes, absolutely. The structural engineers at Minn Kota sculpted the base of the 1866670 cradle with a dedicated structural cutout that aligns perfectly with the lower rear rubber charging port flap on the i-Pilot Link Bluetooth remote. This smart layout allows you to plug in your 5-foot USB charging cable (model 1866460) while the remote is snapped securely into the dash mount. This is an exceptional setup for long tournament days, as it allows you to run the remote continuously on shore power or dash power without worrying about battery drain while running your spot-locks.

What size and type of screws should I use if I want to bolt this cradle permanently to my dashboard?

To mount the cradle permanently to a fiberglass console or aluminum bulkhead, you must first remove the belt clip to expose the rear mounting surface. Use two small, marine-grade stainless steel pan-head sheet metal screws (typically #6 or #8 size, roughly 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in length depending on your dash thickness). Before drilling your pilot holes into a fiberglass dash, always place a piece of masking tape over the target spot to prevent the gelcoat from cracking, and verify that the area behind the dash is completely clear of electrical wiring harnesses or steering cables.

Is the belt clip strong enough to prevent the remote from falling off my waistband when jumping waves?

Yes, the integrated belt clip is molded from a high-tension, industrial-strength composite polymer that exerts significant clamping pressure. It features a heavy hook lip at the bottom of the clip that catches onto the underside of standard tactical belts, thick waistbands, or heavy life vest webbing. This safety hook prevents the cradle from sliding upward or slipping off your body when you make sudden movements, jump heavy boat swells, or lean over the gunwale to net a trophy fish, keeping your expensive touchscreen remote anchored safely to your person.

Can I adjust the angle of the cradle once it is permanently screwed down to my boat dash?

The standard 1866670 cradle features a fixed, direct flush-mount backplate design, meaning that if you screw it directly to a flat dashboard surface, it will sit completely parallel to that surface without any tilt or swivel adjustments. If you require a fully adjustable layout that allows you to tilt or rotate the remote toward your line of sight, you can easily adapt this cradle to aftermarket mounting networks by bolting a standard ball-mount base (such as a RAM® Mount diamond plate) onto the back of the cradle using the existing screw holes, giving you infinite articulation possibilities.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.