Trolling Motor

[fhsfish]

Hey guys

This winter I'm planning to upgrade the TM on my 04 Nitro nx750. It has the factory 12v 46# motorguide on it right now. I'm planning on getting the a Minn kota maxxum 70# 24v. First of all what are yalls thoughts on that TM? Second, I think I remember reading somewhere that MK mounts are drilled so that they will line up with MG mounting holes and was wondering if anybody could confirm this? Any other advice anybody might have is also welcome.

Thanks

[Christian M]

You should always go with the biggest trolling motor you can afford. The Maxxum is the best model that MK has to offer, and you'll really notice the difference between 45lbs & 70lbs. As far as the holes lining up, that wasnt the case for me. I bought my Tracker TX17 with the stock Motorguide 36 in front & immediately switched it out for my MinnKota Powerdrive 55lb. When I mounted it I had to drill 4 new holes & patch the holes from the factory MG motor.

 

As far as installing a new motor, remember your boat is currently set up for a 12v 46lb MG motor. Make sure you have enough room to fit 2 batteries in your hatch. MinnKota highly recommends running the same brand/size/& age battery on all 24v & 36v motors. Also when you install the motor remember that your going to be drawing much more power, so make sure you run the correct gauge wire and your breaker is the correct amperage. If these things aren't correct, you risk damaging your new motor.

 

Good luck and enjoy your new motor!

[BassnChris]

There are alot of posts on this. It's the old chevy or ford, Nitro or Basscat ,ect.

 

I think it boils down to this.

 

Research all the TM available and narrow it down to the ones that meet your needs/wants. (based on features)

Get the one YOU want. (you have to be happy with it...nobody else does)

Get the MOST you can afford. (you can never have enough power)

 

Last year I was on the fence as to get the MK 80 Terrova or the MG TR 82 FB Digital Tour Series.

 

The gps stuff on the Terrrova is nice and it's electronic anchor is great. but I was concerned about any extra wiring for transducers going forward. In the end I went with the MG TR82.

I absolutley love the the MGTR82.........BUT..............last week I was in the throughs of getting ready to sell the MG and buy the Terrova........I really wanted the electronic anchor.  I was almost ready to post it for sale and

I read about Lowrances new Spotlightscan coming out soon. It will only work with the cable steer type TM. So I decided to keep my TM and get the new Sportlightscan when it is available.

 

I will still miss the electronic anchor.................and prob curse under my breath everytime I could use it.  But I will have the one that meets my needs/wants.......based features available.

 

 

As stated earlier in this thread..........you will notice a great improvement with your proposed unit.

[Brian Needham]

chevy vs ford deal for sure.

 

I had a terrova i pilot on my old  boat and loved it (spot lock!!!!) only knock on it was the deployment/stow since it was electric steer.

 

my current boat has a MG 109 on it, I  like the pedal since I am more "left footed" but there are thing I dont like about it

 

so much so I am going to go back to MK, probably the Ipilot LINK this time, or the foretrexx.....but probably the Ipilot Link.

 

as far as the holes lining up. I think it is a crap shoot, I know on the terrova they did not match, but on the maxxum/fortexx I have heard of them matching up.

 

If you were closer I would let you borrow the 72# MG 24v I have lying around to try and sell it to you if you liked it.

 

good luck

[fhsfish]

Thanks for the replies. Does anybody on here that's familiar with nitro boats know what gauge wire they come with from the factory? And if the factory wiring needs to be upgraded what gauge should I be using?

[Brian Needham]

Thanks for the replies. Does anybody on here that's familiar with nitro boats know what gauge wire they come with from the factory? And if the factory wiring needs to be upgraded what gauge should I be using?

 

 

In the Tracker Avalanche I had it had 6 gauge so it was good for a 36v system.

 

In my current z9 it is the same.

 

Both of those boats came stock with a 24v system.

 

Being that your boat 12v they might have only used 8 ga, so I would double check.

[B@ssCrzy]

Went from a MG cable steer to a Minn Kota Terrova and the holes did not line up for me.  My MG was a 94-95 though so it may have just been that it was an older model.  I will say that I LOVE MY TERROVA!!!  I don't have the I-Pilot yet, but the auto pilot alone is worth it.  I find myself fishing more and worrying less about driving the boat.  Took some getting used to, but can't imagine I would ever go back.

[CWB]

You should always go with the biggest trolling motor you can afford. The Maxxum is the best model that MK has to offer, and you'll really notice the difference between 45lbs & 70lbs. As far as the holes lining up, that wasnt the case for me. I bought my Tracker TX17 with the stock Motorguide 36 in front & immediately switched it out for my MinnKota Powerdrive 55lb. When I mounted it I had to drill 4 new holes & patch the holes from the factory MG motor.

 

As far as installing a new motor, remember your boat is currently set up for a 12v 46lb MG motor. Make sure you have enough room to fit 2 batteries in your hatch. MinnKota highly recommends running the same brand/size/& age battery on all 24v & 36v motors. Also when you install the motor remember that your going to be drawing much more power, so make sure you run the correct gauge wire and your breaker is the correct amperage. If these things aren't correct, you risk damaging your new motor.

 

Good luck and enjoy your new motor!

I believe the Fortrex is the best MK has to offer. Most newer boats have 6 ga wiring but no guarantees. You might have to switch out the male and female plug sockets as most are 8 ga. Check to see what ga. the wiring coming off the motor is also. Not really much you can do about that but alot are 8 ga. Agree 100% on the breaker. Don't skimp there. 60 amp min. $50.00 is cheaper than rebuilding the motor. When in doubt, err on the high side.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I had one of those for a few years. It's a good motor. I replaced it with a fortrex.

[Bluebasser86]

I've had 2 70lb Maxxums, one with variable speed, one with 5 speeds. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't have bought the 5 speed, even though it saved me about $70 at the time, the difference between 4th and 5th speed is way too big. I'll go from barely moving into the wind to moving way too fast in one speed. I loved the variable speed one and wish I had kept it. I got the a good deal on the 5 speed and sold the other one to a friend to put on his boat. My old motor is still going strong 6 years of hard use and abuse later, and so is the newer one. I probably put more miles on a trolling motor through a fishing season than a lot guys put on an outboard in a season   so they were getting some serious use. 

You'll probably want to make sure your plug on your boat is a 24V instead of a 12V also. My boat had a 12V when I bought it so I had to switch it out when I mounted the motor. No idea about the holes lining up but I'm guessing they probably won't.