Motor-Guide Swap For A Minnkota

[nitrobalddude]

My 2003 Procraft came with a factory installed Motor-guide 12volt 43pnd thrust trolling motor and I would like to upgrade. I fish mostly rivers and the trolling motor is not strong enough to push/pull my boat against the current. So, I'm wanting to switch the Motor-guide 12volt 43pnd thrust out for a Minnkota 24volt 72 pound thrust. Is this possible to do? Will the Minnkota mount to the same place as the motor guide without drilling new wholes in my boat? Will the trolling motor plug for the front of the boat remain the same or does each brand have their own type of plug?

[Rivers Edge]

You will need another battery and more than likely the mounting holes won’t be the same

[ww2farmer]

My 2006 Traker PT170 came with a 12v, 46lb Motor Guide. I ran it for a couple years and decided I needed a bigger one. I put a 24v, 70lb variable speed Minn Kota Maxxum on to replace it. 4 of the 6 mounting holes lined up, I had to drill the other two..........it's no big deal. The Minn Kota will come without a plug on it, so you can just splice the plug off you current motor in so it matches the receptical in your boat. You might want to check the gauge of your wires that run from the battery to the TM plug, most people say you want 6 ga. My boat has 8 ga. and since It's not a long length of wire between batt. and plug, and It's only 17' aluminum boat which that 24v motor pulls around with super ease, I left it alone, and have not had any problems. Other things you'll need...........obviously are a 2nd battery, and a good multi-bank charger.

[B@ssCrzy]

I just made the switch from Motorguide to Minn Kota this year.  Mine did not match up, but that was because I went to a Terrova instead of a cable steer model.  Not sure if they would have lined up if I was going to another cable steer model.  You could still use the old plug and receptacle.  The problem is that the plug is wired directly to the Motorguide unit so you would have to cut the wire on your old unit and then splice the plug into the Minn Kota power cable which would not be very attractive, and won't allow you to sell your old unit.  Plus depending on the model may not be the same gauge wire.  If I were you I would pony up the extra money and get the Minn Kota plug or just wire it directly.  I don't like wiring directly because I have heard of people having issues where the motor turns on due to a short in a switch or the motor and fries the unit and becomes a big fire risk.  I believe someone posted a story about that here on one of the forums.  It is easy to install and should fit where your old Motorguide plug recepticle is. 

[nitrobalddude]

I would rather not cut the plug off of my Motorguide and splice it on the Minnkota, does the Minnkota not come with a plug. Also, my plug on my boat is a 4 prong plug and the prongs are in the patern of a square, is this standard for a Minnkota? I don't want hard wire the trolling, prefer to use the factory plug in. My charging system is a multi charger so I should be ok with a 24volt.

[nitrobalddude]

You will need another battery and more than likely the mounting holes won’t be the same

[nitrobalddude]

How did you correct or cover the two wholes that didn't match up?

[FD.]

The plugs are standard AC plugs you can get at any home improvement store.  Take a picture and go get one.  You will only be using 2 prongs out of the 4 so pay attention when you put the new plug on.

 

I just switched from MG to MK and could only match 2 of 6 holes.  I used a pvc tape over the holes just to keep the water out.  They are not visible under the new bracket.

[nitrobalddude]

What about the fuse under the console, did you have change the fuse to a higher amperage?

[FD.]

I would run new #6 wires from the batteries to the bow and put a 30 amp circuit breaker inline by the batteries.  I would bypass the console completely.

[ksboy]

The three boats I've owned all had the power wires from the TM along the port side of the boat to the battery compartment. I would stay away from the console as there is no need for any trolling motor power wiring  there (it would just confuse the issue). The fuse was installed just before the battery on the positive side. I believe the size of the fuse depends on the amperage of the motor. Don't quote me but I believe a 70# thrust requires a 50A fuse. I think the manufacturer would put the correct size wire (6 or 8 gauge) on their motor.

I don't profess to know much about electricity or mechanics but I believe in the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[FD.]

This is way over kill but you would safe under the worst conditions possible.