Trolling motors

[DUMAN]

Motorguide vs Minn Kota. Any input?

[ww2farmer]

I'm partial to Minn Kota as I run a 24v 70lb thrust variable speed Maxxum on my aluminum boat and it's terrific, way more TM than that boat needs, but that's what I want for fishing in wind, and heavy slop.

 

That being said, my only comparison to Motor Guide, is the 12v, 45lb thrust 5 speed motor that came on my boat. It was fine, just not suited for my needs. It's not really an apples to apples comparison.

 

 

[slonezp]

Yes those are trolling motors

[BrianinMD]

Chevy vs. Ford discussion....

 

No set answer, it is personal preference.

[RoLo]

I've owned several Motorguides and several Minn Kotas.

When you're churning thru nasty maidencane & pondweed, you can't beat Minn Kota's "Weedless Wedge2 Prop".

Another cool Minn Kota feature is the "Digital Maximizer", which extends battery life dramatically.

I've bought my last Motorguide, and from now on it's Minn Kota.

 

Roger

[slonezp]

What kind of feedback are you looking for? I've only run MK and have never had an issue 

[frosty]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

Yes those are trolling motors

Huh hum... brands of trolling motors 

[crypt]

had motor guides on all my boats. have not had any problems that caused me any grief. they just work.

[Ski213]

It's definitely a Ford vs Chevy kind of question.

 

I'm assuming you're tm shopping. I've only had mk. No issues with them. I just happened to start with mk and have stayed with them. I'd imagine if I had started with motor guide I would prob still be running them.

 

Based on what I've seen and heard I don't think one is really better than the other. You'd prob be happy with whichever one fits your specific needs the best. 

[WRB]

What features are you looking for and price range, both are the best in the business for bass boats.

Tom

[clh121787]

9 hours ago, BrianinMD said:

Chevy vs. Ford discussion....

 

No set answer, it is personal preference.

I can't speak for the e- drive motors , I can't stand those. But I got an x5 80# about a year ago,  I wish I would have spend the extra 200 bucks and got the fortrex  . The plastic locking tabs have already broke. The arrow wont stay in alignment. But other than that I like the motor guide overall. It's cheaper than the fortrex for a reason 

[3dees]

die hard MG for many years. last year I replaced my 5 speed with an X5. 10 minutes into my first time and the directional arrow broke. took it apart. really cheap plastic gears. couldn't fix it. lots of people with the same problem. just ordered a new boat with a Fortrex. I'm done with MG. the Tour models were the best.

[Al Wolbach]

If you are talking cable steer models I like the MK motor/shaft with the MG pedal. I do believe the MK has an edge in weeds as Roger stated above.

[Fishes in trees]

I am bigoted against Motor Guide because back in the day when I was fishing BFL co-angler I had 2 tournaments ruined because the steering cable of my boaters Motor Guide trolling motor broke.  Once was when he tried to reverse direction in a fairly heavy chop.  The other was I don't know exactly why.   Don't really care all that much.   All that I know is that once the steering broke, tournament was over for the day for me.

 

A year or so later, before I purchased my current boat I was introduced to a regional Minn Kota sales manager by a pro fisherman that I kinda knew.   Anyway, after hearing my tale of woe, he told me that the Minn Kota Maxxum steering was "more or less indestructible" and should I ever bust one he'd replace it.  That was 15 years ago.  I have worn out one Maxxum trolling motor, but the steering was still fine on it.  On my second one, have't worn it out yet, but steering is still fine.    That is the story why I choose one over the other - I was snake bit by Motor Guide - twice.

[Lonnie Clemens]

On 2/24/2017 at 5:50 PM, RoLo said:

Another cool Minn Kota feature is the "Digital Maximizer", which extends battery life dramatically.

I've bought my last Motorguide, and from now on it's Minn Kota.

 

Roger

 

Hi Roger,

I will have to see what the "Digital Maximizer" is.  I don't not have a trolling motor yet.  But I am up for saving on battery life etc....

Hi Minnow, 

 

I went to a boat show yesterday.  The only trolling motors that I saw were Minn Kota's.  My first and only trolling motor was a Motor Guide and it was an excellent motor. 

 

Lonnie

[RoLo]

34 minutes ago, Lonnie Clemens said:

 

Hi Roger,

I will have to see what the "Digital Maximizer" is.  I don't not have a trolling motor yet.  But I am up for saving on battery life etc....

Hi Minnow, 

 

I went to a boat show yesterday.  The only trolling motors that I saw were Minn Kota's.  My first and only trolling motor was a Motor Guide and it was an excellent motor. 

 

Lonnie

 

 

In short, with Digital Maximizer the drain on the battery is proportionate to your throttle setting.

I too have been pleased with Motorguides I've owned, but have also been burned by Motorguide,

but not by Minn Kota  (once bitten, twice shy),

 

 

[junyer357]

I replaced my origional 21 year old omc trolling motor with the fortrex 2 years ago. I have fished with and used both mk fortrex and mg tour editions before replacing mine.  I liked the fortrex best. Lift assist alone makes it better to me. You can get an accessory from th marine to help with motorgiude but its still an aftermaket part. It doesnt seem like a big deal until you realize how much you pick them up and down in a day of fishing. The mg just gets heavy. 

 

I will reccomend one either way with the variable speed over a fixed 5 speed. Better life on batteries as well as never being between speeds. 

 

At the end of the day both are truly great motors. So try both if you can and decide for yourself. 

 

If you have the budget and fish offshore alot id take a look at the ultrex. Its a fortrex with gps spotlock. Seems to be the hottest thing going on the pro tours this year. 

 

 

[Catt]

Minn Kota for two reasons 

 

First Weedless Wedge2 Prop

 

Second the "skeg" on the Minn Kota is positioned forward which protects my transducer.

[gim]

13 hours ago, junyer357 said:

If you have the budget and fish offshore alot id take a look at the ultrex. Its a fortrex with gps spotlock. Seems to be the hottest thing going on the pro tours this year. 

 

I have a feeling that most pro rigs will have this soon if they don't already have it.  Basically a fortrex with spot lock...I like that description.

[tander]

Used Minn Kota forever with no problems. Motor Guide might be just as good but I will stick with MK.

[WIGuide]

Personally I'm a Motorguide guy. I've had and seen too many issues with Minnkota over the years. I'm sure they make their share of great products that people have no issues with, but I've seen my fair share of issues. For example, in one tournament I fished in a few years ago on the Mississippi, the water level was just under flood stage, and in that day of fishing 4 trolling motors burnt up... all of which were Minnkota. This past season, a club member bought a new boat with a Fortrex and almost had the trolling motor come off and fall in the water because one screw on the bracket was loose and that holds everything together. After he found that out he saved a few others from the same issue by tightening their screws as well. I've heard a lot of people having to change circuit boards in their Minnkotas. My dad buys and sells boats as a hobby so he sees more tm's than the average person, and has had many of their power drive motors that have had issues with them aside from the horrible design of the footpad. That being said, the Motorguide Lazer (electric steer) trolling motors were garbage as well, and you could not pay me to take one off your hands. I've also got to use the new Motorguide X5 and was not exactly thrilled with it. 

[Choporoz]

I have used transom mounted MK's for past 8 years.  I realize this isn't what most of you are using/looking for.  However, the issues that I've encountered are related to gearing and electrical, so might apply to discussion.

 

I have a MK 30 that was my first trolling motor.  It is on its 8th year and works as good as the day I bought it.  I don't baby it -- it stays in the car from March through Thanksgiving -- I use it at least 2 dozen times a year and aside from a crack on top housing and yearly cleaning under the prop, it has treated me very well.

 

Four years ago, I added a MK 55 - also transom mount -- I run two motors for transiting when I don't have gas outboard on jon boat.   The 55 was nothing but headaches.  The 5 speed switch was shot after one season.  I replaced it with OEM from MK that lasted one more season.  I replaced that one with an aftermarket ebay special that worked fine.  The gearing started to go last year -- play in the prop and prop shaft.  Getting inside to work on it with anything less than a blow torch or hacksaw was impossible. 

 

In similar vein, I used MK's portable charger for 5 years with no problem, whatsoever.  Replaced it with same a few years ago and have had nothing but trouble -- switching off, overheating, etc.  MK warranty replaced it - twice...each was worse than than previous.

 

Their customer service has been great -- however, my (very limited) experiences have indicated that materials or workmanship may have declined in recent years. 

 

I'm going to replace the 55 with an MG in coming weeks.