300 hp Optimax or 275 hp Verado. Which one?

[Redlinerobert]

Hey guys,

I spent the better part of Friday at C & C Marine in Modesto picking out the colors for my new bass boat, a Ranger Z22.

There are a couple things I'm having difficulty in choosing, and would love your opinion on.

Motor. Verado 275 or Optimax 300? I know the Verado is slower, heavier, and drinks more gas, but it is smoother, quieter and has a better warranty. As of now I am getting the 300 Optimax.

Trolling Motor. Minn Kota or Motor Guide? I'm looking at either the 101 Minn Kota or the 109 Motor Guide. My last Ranger had a Motor Guide, which I hated. That was on a 2000 Ranger 520 DVX. I understand that they work alot better now.

Electronics. Lowrance 332C in dash and on the bow. Small screen, my last boat had the Global Map 2000 I believe. I liked the big screen but the unit had to be mounted next to the console, which looked a little out of place.

Any opinions or help would be greatly appreciated!

[Catt]

300 hp Optimax, 101 Minn Kota, & Hummingbird   :

[5bass]

300 Opti

Minn Kota

Big screen

[Way2slow]

I don't like black but if I had to pick one of those two, it would have to be the OPTI-POP.

[Gatorbassman]

300 Opti

Minn Kota

Humminbird 987c at the dash

Humminbird 787c2 Combo on the bow

[cravenfish]

From the choices you have.

300 Opti.

Minn Kota

Electronics, I like a big screen at dash( GPS only )

Depth finder in dash( no combos or split screens )

Depth finder at front deck( I dont fish huge bodies of water where it is nessary to have a GPS up front to hold on a spot )

[Al Wolbach]

The last time I checked you could not use a hotfoot throttle with the Verado. That would be enough for me to pick the OPTI.............Al

[Redlinerobert]

300 Optimax is what I originally chose, I'll stick with it.  I didn't know you could not get a Hot Foot with it, that's enough for me.  

As far as trolling motors, overwhelming response for the Minn Kota.  Can I ask why?  

I'll probably end up getting the Lowrance equipment.  I'm familiar with them and never really had any issues with my last units.  

[Catt]

Six of the top 15 Pros use Minn Kota the other nine are paid not to    

[Gatorbassman]

I am part of a group of guys that build electric-only boats. We have tested just about everything out there and we have settled on the Minn Kota for power, battery efficiency, and all around ruggedness. It is heads and shoulders above the other motors.

[HPBB]

can't help you on the big motor, but on the TM I would go for motor guide. I have run Minkota's and Motor guides. The older motor guides sucked, but the new digital motors are miles above the older motors. I have the tour 109# for 2 years and its great. My smaller boat has an older 70# motor guide and it sucks. I use the 50# minkota tramsom TM more than it, But the new digital Tour 109# motor is like night and day from the older motor.

[5bass]

I always had Minn Kota's up until this past season when I saw a Motorguide on sale at BPS.....I wish I hadnt seen it,its the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned.The shaft slides thru the mount on every trip no matter how hard I tighten it,it runs on whatever speed it wants, ex. I'll have it set on 2 low and it will run on 5 high.....pure junk.Prop makes noise (clicks) when I turn it a certain way......I could go on and on.Never again.

[HPBB]

"I always had Minn Kota's up until this past season when I saw a Motorguide on sale at BPS.....I wish I hadnt seen it,its the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned.The shaft slides thru the mount on every trip no matter how hard I tighten it,it runs on whatever speed it wants, ex. I'll have it set on 2 low and it will run on 5 high.....pure junk.Prop makes noise (clicks) when I turn it a certain way......I could go on and on.Never again."

that is what fivebasslimit Said

That is the older Motor guide motors. Like I said I have an older 70# and it sucks, but the new DIGITAL motors are much much better. My 109# is the best I have ever used. That one you bought on sale was the older style motors. I can tell when you said "I'll have it set on 2 low and it will run on 5 high" the new digital motors do not use numbered speeds they are reriable. Take a look at the tour sieres digital motors they have a different pedel than the older motors, they have a different mount than the older motors. they are very different than the older motor guides. They still sell the older style motors and the new digital. You have to look for the digital motors. This debate will go on for ever, its just like the Chevy vs. Ford debate. Just saying look at both motors first. if you havn't looked or used a new tour  Motor guide yet. you will be impressed over the old motor guides.

[Catt]

The new motor guides are better than the old motor guides but they still haven't caught up with Minn Kota.

[.IusePhenixRods.]

Minn Kota all the way Robert!  8-)

[Nick_Barr]

ETEC BABY!!!!!!!

But the 300 Opti is your best bet, if E-rude made a 300, I would get it.

I have always never liked Motorguide, MN has always been the smoothest, most durable there is.

I would alwsays go with the LOWRANCE, Even though the H-Bird is catching up with the Matrix, it still dont compare.

But I would personall get the 332-LMS, but for the guys with some bad vision I guess ya'll could get by with another Windshield that has a screen on it.

[Redlinerobert]

So here are the final stats :

Ranger Z22

Optimax 300

Lowrance 332C and 26 HD

Still in the air on the trolling motor.  

[hootersdoug]

Why Minnkota, here's my $.02.....I have had mine through heavy matts of weeds for 6 hours, and still had enough power to fish in open water for another 2 before I could tell that the batteries were running down a bit.  Secondly, when I did have a problem with the motor (Its a 98 model), I called Minnkota and rebuilt it myself for around $150.  Those weedcutter props are awesome!!!

[Siebert Outdoors]

So here are the final stats :

Still in the air on the trolling motor.

I agree with the motor and electronics.

Go with most other replies Minn Kota.  I've used both and minn kota is stronger, last longer.

[ga_hawghauler]

optimax all the way

[northgabassfisher]

i would go with the motor guide, were I work we have a minn kota repair shop and we have on avarage of about 5 motors or so a week come by to get fixed thats alot of motors. the only problem ive had my motor guide is that the steering cable went out bad and that was only a 15$ fix other then that i love them.

[StatosDadRI]

All the 2005  Classic boats had the 250 Verados  and had hot foots, they are wireless. But what about the 250 HP rule if you fish BASS or TBF you cant fish in any sanctioned tournament?  Then I would go with a  250 Pro XS and not worry about the 3 miles per hour Get a Balanced and blue printed prop. The Boat may have less resale value to also because of the 250 HP limit.  If tournament fishing isnt a factor and resale value go with the  300 XS probalby the best most efficent motor out there. The  Verados' dont belong on a bass boat that was the consencious of many of the Classic Anglers

[HPBB]

your right about the 250 rule.

alittle change .. the verado's were use in the 2004 classic. in 2005 the boats had the optimax 225 pro xs

[StatosDadRI]

HPBB,

Your absolutly correct. With what felt like 2 in one year last year I got my years mixed up. It was 2004 When they where run at Lake Norman for the Jr's and Lake Wyle during the Classic. My son was with Tommy Biffle and the best it would do on the 21X was 67-68 mph with a 250 Verado. Last year I rode with Davy Hite and we where running the canals and Toho 73 mph all day long with the 225 Pro XS and there where some running a little quicker than that. Some guys where pretty upset if they had a 69 mph boat and those boats where getting the attention all night long in the boat yard.

[HPBB]

Not a problem Stratosdadri

I wasn't putting you down, which I know you understood. I just wanted to correct it. Those two classics seem to roll right together and the 2006 being so early almost seemed like 2005.

Those 225 Pro XS ran good up in Pittsburgh. I was on the water all 3 days with them.

I haven't seen any with the new 250Pro xs yet. Have you?

The verado's are good motors, but in the Bass Boat  market I don't see them being the best choice. in other markets they are a better choice. I have a friend that run twin 250 verados on a 28 or 30 foot Whaler. He has been boating for 40 years and he sayes they are the best motor he has ever used, but they fit his boating style.

My Aunt runs a 150 Verado in her Pontoon Boat and its great on that. It pushes it good(your not looking for great speed on a pontoon) and its quiet. You don't even know its running.

The 250 rule!!

I understnd wanting the biggest motor you can get. when I buy my next one I want the biggest I can get. And I am a speed freak, so I understand more HP is better.

Most people that buy a big new Bass Boat will use it for Tournaments. And BASS and FLW have a 250HP rule. Most every smaller circut, even down to the small club level, and open buddy circut fallow BASS and FLW rules, so they would use the 250 rule to.

So if your planning on using it for a "tounament"boat you might want to look at a 250 instead.

If not get the 300 and fly...fly like the wind.