Minnkota Terova Or Motor Guide Xi5

[bassguytom]

I'm trying to decide on what gps Trolling motor to get. I have read good things on both but am leaning towards the ipilot because I have Hummigbird electronics. Also it looks like the the ipilot is a little easier to use. Any info. or input you can give me would be great.

[Wayne P.]

I'm trying to decide on what gps Trolling motor to get. I have read good things on both but am leaning towards the ipilot because I have Hummigbird electronics. Also it looks like the the ipilot is a little easier to use. Any info. or input you can give me would be great.

 

It takes the iPilot Link to take advantage of the Humminbird "follow the contour" Lakemaster feature. Otherwise the iPilot is a standalone function with the depth displayed on any brand sonar unit-just need the transducer adaptor for the sonar brand. Really don't need a sonar/GPS unit at all to use the iPilot.

[Long Mike]

I love my Terrova, despite that I do not have Humminbird units.  I can't speak for the Xi5 units, as I have had no experience with them.  Regardless of which unit you opt for, you will probably love it.  Electronic steer is the wave of the future.  When my budget allows, my next purchase will be the Minn Kota Ulterra.

[Scott F]

I just got a Terrova and think it's great. As you already know, you can link the Minn Kota with some Humminbird models. The Terrova's remote has a display to show you your speed selection, how fast you're going and which spot lock you've chosen. The Motor Guide remote has no display. The Motor Guide's foot pedal is wireless while the Minn Kota is wired. No batteries to replace in the Minn Kota foot pedal. I doubt you could go wrong with either one. They are even priced the same. Few outfits even discount them. I think Minn Kota still has a rebate going on.

[slonezp]

I've had Ipilot since it's ***. On a V2, a Terrova, and now Ipilot Link on a Terrova. No issues or complaints. No experience with Motor Guide. I think BassnChris is selling his Xi5, you might be able to get a deal 

[FryDog62]

Here's an important thing to think about when comparing the MotorGuide xi5 and iPilot Terrova....  Both have a "spot-lock" or electronic anchor feature, and it is one of the best inventions IMO in fishing electronics.  I use it constantly.  That being said, the criticism with the iPilot Terrova is that it doesn't hold as close to the anchor spot as it is marketed to be (5 feet).  Some days it is 5 feet and some days it could be 20+ feet radius from the spot.  The new Motorguide xi5 is reported to have a much better processor and interface with the satellite technology and really holds the spot much closer.  My friends at the big box stores have told me the folks at Johnson/MinnKota are well aware of this and are adding new processors to the trolling motors to tighten up the anchor radius.  The new Ulterra has this new processor but the standard iPilot Link Terrova will not until next year...

 

This may have an impact on when you want to buy and which product...  FYI ~

[Slade House]

I had a terrova Ipilot 80lbs thrust for one year.  in that year i ran it about 289 days .  I sold that thing , and my humminbird 998 SI a few months ago and i bought a Motorguide XI5 and just order a HDS 7 GEN 3 , and here is why.  

THE TERROVA AND THE NEW ULTERRA MAKE THE LOUDEST NOISE EVER WHEN TURNING, period, don't kid yourself that it doesn't affect your fishing.  its seriously loud, and its because of the servos in the turning mecahnism.  the XI5 is silent , period, its so quiet its crazy.   

 

The spot lock feature on the XI5 is a million times better than the MK, period. its calm , cool , and keeps you in the same spot with tiny small adjustments here and there.  the MK likes to wait till youve drifted far enough and then it violently with lots of noise motors you in the other direction.  THE mk will constantly overcorrect itslef and everytime it does it scares fish away period.  don't lie to yourself about it.  

oh and on the XI5 you can adjust the anchor lock position 5 feet in any direction with a push of a button.  

 

The pedal on the XI5 has so much better control and feedback from a spring and actually has a speed knob on it that is controllable with your foot. try adjusting the speed on the MK foot control.  

 

Follow the contour? sorry but id rather have the ability to plot a course on my HDS 7 map and then hit enter and let the XI5 take me on its way.  

 

yes the lack of a digital display on the XI5 remote can be annoying, but i forget about all that with how much smaller it is than the MK.  also the ipilot remote i had would constantly lose power because of badd battery connections and i would have to bang it for it to work about 200 of the 298 days i used it.  

The XI5 takes up less deck space than the MK and the storing mechanism is much better. with the MK  it relies on 2 magnets being aligned to power off, well that only last so long.  

 

YOu think they fixed the noise issue with the Ulterra? Nope, even at icast the minn kota guys acknolwdged it. 

[NEOhioBigBass]

I have to admit I am loving my new Xi5.  I had an older MK PowerDrive (no ipilot) and it was loud and turned very slow.  The new MotorGuide XI5 turns very fast and is almost silent.  The anchor function is amazing.  I was recently following a shore line pitching for bass and hooked into a large Muskie. I instantly threw the XI5 into anchor mode and fought the Muskie for 5 minutes without having to worry about messing with controls or blowing onto shore (it was windy out)  I have a ski/fish model boat and the profile catches more wind than a bass boat.  I used to blow all over the place and spent more time on the trolling motor than I was fishing.  I would even stay away from some places just because I didn't want the hassle of fighting the wind.  Now I can go fish anywhere I want.  The heading lock and anchor mode on the XI5 let me fish without worrying.  Its like I got a new boat.

 

I'm finding I like the remote with lanyard over the foot pedal.  It seems like the MK remote was a lot bigger and may be not as comfortable to wear all day.  I'm sure guys who own the MK with I-pilot will love it just as much.  I just wanted to tell you how much the XI5 has changed my time on the water for the better.

[Slade House]

When i was at icast 2014, i talked with the MK guys and even with the new ulterra TM , they still have the loudest servos ever when it turns.  

[JETSWU87]

I purchased the XI5 GPS 12v for my 165 bass tracker this year and I am in love with it.

 

My biggest complaint all of last year bass fishing was fighting the wind and a sore back from standing on a trolling motor pedal all day would really bother me.  My uncle has a MK wireless unit and it's very loud turning, my XI5 is near silent.  The spot lock feature has by all means allowed me to catch more fish and fish a lot slower no matter the circumstances.  On very rare instances it will wander, usually when I'm in the back of a very tight cove I think the GPS gets spottty.  Over correction is minimal and it really shines in heavy wind.  The "jog" feature is nice to use and the heading lock is nice when you want to retie while traveling.  I don't have a Sonar tied to mine yet so I haven't even unlocked it's full potential and I'm completely satisfied with my investment. 

 

Last year I would avoid windy days, this year I've fished everyday I could possibly so far.  I really enjoy the remote, and havnt even tried to use the pedal yet, getting it off my deck gives me less to trip on. 

 

I purchased my setup though black bear sporting goods, best price I found and I was still able to get the $50 rebate on my setup.

[Further North]

I've had iPilots since they were new, am currently running a 4 year old 101 lb, 36 volt Terrova with iPilot and Link.

 

if the noise bothers you, it'll bother you...it doesn't bug me and since there was no competition when the Terrova came out...that's what I use.

 

"Follow the contour" is NOT the only way to use the Terrova - can can do that, you can off set to a contour, you can record and re-run routes and you can plot a course on your HB fish finder and have it follow that as well.

 

As far as the Terrova not holding dead on a spot, that is somewhat true...if you make sure you are bow into the wind, you'll minimize movement...the other thing that I have found causes some pain is that I think a lot of folks go one motor too light.  I run the 101 (and will replace it with a 112 when it dies) on a Crestliner CMV 1850.  It's light, low to the water almost like a bass boat and doesn't get swatted all over by the wind.

 

With more torque the 101 works a lot less hard than the 80 does, and it doesn't have to correct as hard to get back on your spot.

 

Both these motors are great pieces of equipment and will change the way you fish if you don't already have one.  Boat control becomes a much smaller percentage of you time on the water and you can fish more.  try to find one of each on a boat and play with them, pick the one you like best.