Life Span of a Trolling Motor

[surfer]

I am bouncing around the ideal of getting one of the remote control and auto pilot trolling motors. Since they are expensive I want to know that I would get my money back out of the unit before it dies. 5 years would be a minimum and probably still leave a bad taste in my mouth. 10 years would be ideal and I would consider that a value.

How long has your trolling motor lasted you?

For those that have auto pilot or remote control how long do you go without problems?

Any one have anything good or bad to say about digital steering?

[Jig Man]

I have a Motor Guide TE82.  It has been on my boat for 5 years.  I have over 300 hours on the Opti and figure I fish at least 3 trips for an hour on the engine.  My trips are from 6-10 hours so if I averaged 7.5 hours per trip and made 900 trips that would be 6,750 hours on the trolling motor and I have only had to replace the little piece of metal that keeps the direction arrow pointing correctly.  (And yes I have been around 900 times in the last 5 years.  I fish at least 150 days per year.)

My motor may die tomorrow but if it does, it doesn't owe me anything.

[RobDar]

I think this is real hard to judge...there are alot of variables...but I have seen some OLD OLD OLD trolling motors that are still running.

[DMB Fan]

Last year I replaced the original Tm that came w/ an '84 Ranger, Minn Kota maybe and it was still running good, not for a 17'. I was still able to sell it for bow mount on a 14'jonny. $40.  Both MK and Mg are quality motors, get the foot lbs you want and keep the rest simple. You'll avoid the brain strain.  

[cart7t]

What do you mean by the trolling motor dying? Anything can be fixed, just depends on how much you want to spend.

Because those MK power drive, auto pilot, maximizer, remote controlled TM's have all that bling on them, they become more susceptable to failure. If you want a TM less likely to have a break down, buy a simple cable foot controlled TM like the Edge series.

I've had my All Terrain MK for close to 10 years now and have only done some routine maintenance.

[6x]

The key to the question. The remote/PD motors. My experience was BAD. The steering is controlled by servo. Not cable. The steering is very jerky. And unsafe. I once bent down to undo the ancher rope. My dog stepped on the power switch and i cut my hand on the prop. This was done in the stow position.

MK has made updates to the new terova model.  MK exchanged mine. And i went back to the cable steer model. Please dont by a PD> Unless you are going to put it on a pleasue craft.

[surfer]

By dieing I mean having to put an amount of money into repairing it that makes me regret its initial purchase price.  Such as when X fails at one week past warranty date and cost 1/3 of the original purchase price.  At that moment it is no longer a good investment it is an ongoing investment.  So if something in the system breaks every 2 years and costs 1/5 of the initial price then at 10 years I am at double the purchase price.  I guess that is what I am trying to get a feel for.

Sounds like so far every one likes the reliability of the motors and the jury is still out about the remote control and Auto pilot.  I guess I should have asked about the cable steer vs. digital (edited initial post).  I currently have cable steer, but as soon as I take my foot of the pedal I'm doing circles.

Jig Man.  I am Green with ***.  Thats a lot of fishing.  It's encouraging to hear your motor has treated you so well.

[cart7t]

Don't take my reply the wrong way. I owned a MK power drive motor for 7 years.

I would never own one again.

The only way I'd ever recommend one is for the following situations.

You fish on an electric only lake.

You do the majority of your fishing off shore - on structure away from the bank or cover.

Those motors are the last thing I'd put on any bassboat. The minuses far outweigh the plusses.

BTW, they do break down more than cable steer units and the cost to repair is higher.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I have been averaging 1 to 2 MK endura 55's PER YEAR for the last 3 yrs.  Enough is enough.  First the speed switch in the handle goes and if you don't replace it ($40 if u do yourself) then it somehow screws up other things that make the whole unit turn into a smoke bomb at 3am.  But only on the day that the paddle is in the "other" boat,lol.

I'm very hard on equipment.  

[Jig Man]

"I currently have cable steer, but as soon as I take my foot of the pedal I'm doing circles."

How does that happen? Are you running that thing in some kind of constant on?

I only take my foot off the pedal to get another rod or change a bait. I do move it on and off the power switch but not off the foot control pedal. That way I am always in control of the boat with a 1-2" movement of my guiding foot.

[Micro]

I have a Shakespeare transom mount trolling motor that is as good as the day my grandad bought it - some 25 years ago.

My Minn Kota Power Drive 55# thrust on my 1548 jonboat has operated perfectly for years.  I use a cabled-hand remote for control, instead of the foot control.   They most certainly have a place on a bass boat.  I often fish alone, and I can control the motor from anywhere in the boat.   It isn't jerky like someone said, it is very smooth.  It has been reliable since I've had it, and it sips power.  I can fish all day on one fully charged 27 series battery.  It's easier to mount than a manual foot control model, and a helluva lot easier to take off if you have to leave your boat out.  I recommend them highly.  

[Tin]

I have to "play" with my motorguide usually once a year, but I think it is like 5 or 6 years old. Next year I'm going Minn Kota. If you fish shallow and are prone to hitting objects that dont move the shaft on a Motorguide just wont stand up to it sorry. Also Minn Kota motors will go through grass much much better than a Motorguide. The only thing bad I have experienced with a Minn Kota is if you are in a trolling motor only lake and you run it from 70-100 for a long period of time you will have wires melt or fuses pop. (Happened to me in two seperate boats on the same lake in 25+ winds) But a motor will last as long as you take care of it and dont treat it like I do.  :

O ya not trying to offend anyone or say one motor is better than the other just stating my experiences.

[Micro]

The only thing bad I have experienced with a Minn Kota is if you are in a trolling motor only lake and you run it from 70-100 for a long period of time you will have wires melt or fuses pop. (Happened to me in two seperate boats on the same lake in 25+ winds) But a motor will last as long as you take care of it and dont treat it like I do. :

I've never had that happen. I have three Minn Kotas. I have a Power Drive Bow Mount 55# thrust, a transom mount Riptide 50# thrust, and an Endura 30# thrust. They get hard use, on hot days. If you have them on a circuit breaker and connected to proper gauge leads, there is no reason for "wires [that] melt or fuses [that] pop." If that's happening, there's something wrong, and it ain't the brand.

[Tin]

It wasnt my boat, they were both boats donated in Junior Bassmaster tourneys. Both were 80 lbs. Maxxum's though I do remember that. And one was in a brand new Ranger z20. I love Minn Kota's though, the only reason I still have the Motor Guide is because I'm a poor college student, low-budget, lol. O ya, are making fun of my English [that]? Just kidding.

[StatosDadRI]

Since I have repaired and rebuilt TIN2loose's trolling motor several times this summer I can attest that he can torture test a trolling motor.  He is the only one  I know who can fish on 100% and later say "I fished slow today"  

Those failures on Minnkota 80lbs have alot to do with the fact that people upgraded to them and the  Minnkota 80lb motors draw the highest amperage of  ANY 12-24 -36 volt motor.  They draw  56 AMPS on the Minkkota spec sheet.

While the wiring, plugs and connections may have been adequate before the 80lb Minnkota will  find the wekenst link.

If everything is ok then they are great motors. I run one and have installed 4 for friends.

3 years and it's like new. 2.9 gps on high no wind.

[Tin]

Thanks dad, I'll take that as a compliment. tin2loose... How many tourney's have been won out of your boat by the way?...goose egg

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Thanks dad, I'll take that as a compliment. tin2loose... How many tourney's have been won out of your boat by the way?...goose egg

DOH!!

Father and son,....can you feel the love???  ;D

[ThomasL]

I have a tear in my beer!  :'(;D ;D ;D

My only comment to this is buy what you want don't settle on price.I looked a 12v motorguide with the older gator mount(like the tours have)and finally found one in mass.The dealer had bought up a bunch before they went to that 360 mount,i'm happy with mine!

[surfer]

"I currently have cable steer, but as soon as I take my foot of the pedal I'm doing circles."

How does that happen? Are you running that thing in some kind of constant on?

Yes it has a constant on switch and i will use a low speed constant on to avoid the on / off repetition that I am superstitious of for spooking bass, but that's another thread. While in the constant on if I take my foot of the pedal I am doing circles. Sometimes with my foot on the pedal if I look down to tie a knot I will look back up and find myself 90* of coarse. There is probably something wrong (bent shaft?) with mine as it came with the boat. The constant juggling of attention span in order to stay on track sucks (for lack of a better word).

[surfer]

Thanks for all the great testimony. It is good to hear from guys who use and abuse the equipment. It is the only way to learn what holds up to the punishment.

Going by LBH's account and some other who listed the model and brand name I am starting to feel that choosing the top line is better than choosing one brand or the other.

Endura 6 strikes against it by LBH

Endura 1 plus by Microp

PowerDrive 1 strike by Cart7

PowerDrive 2 pluses by Microp and Stratos

Touring Edition 1 big plus by JigMan

All Terain 2 pluses by Cart7 and Senile1

[StatosDadRI]

Thanks dad, I'll take that as a compliment. tin2loose... How many tourney's have been won out of your boat by the way?...goose egg

3 consecutive JR STATE Champions won on my boat , thats right all those years you were on another boat :'( :'( :-/ in the State finals

The Goose EGG is is right when you aboard

[senile1]

I'm very hard on trolling motors.  I constantly fish timbered waters with stickups just below the surface that are often not visible.  Also, my bass boat is only 15' 6" so my trolling motor control box sticks out over the edge of the boat when I have it stowed.  All it takes is to bump it against a pier a couple of times to crack the control box.  Still, other than the normal replacements of direction indicators, shear pins, and the top half of my control box, the parts that really matter stand up well on my Minn Kota AT.

[SteveFinMD]

I have a 1989 bow mount mg that is still going strong.  There should be a cable tension adjustment screw on the bottom of your foot controller if it is like mine.  Proper tension may let you take your foot off the switch without going in circles.  Good luck.

[bassboy1]

Time for another strike like on the powerdrive.  Cart tried to talk me out of it when I first bought it, but I didn't listen.  The main reason was, and the only reason I looked at it was, because I needed the small mount, and would later need the 18 foot cord, on a boat we were restoring.  Well, my needs have changed, and since I now have other options open, it makes me realize it could be better.  When I first started, I didn't have any other options, so I could suck it up and live with it.  

It steers way to slow.  The foot pedal is designed ALL WRONG.  Not made to be practical on a foot, and the speed control is impossible to work, if the pedal isn't bolted down.  The momentary on is nice though.  The deploy method leaves a lot to be desired as well.  

Cart mentioned that it might be nice in elec only.  When I started fishing those lakes, was when I decided I hated it.  A bow mount, on a jon, without an outboard skeg as a rudder, going long distances is going to drift side to side.  The stern will just start turning a little bit, using the TM as a turning point.  You have to remain in constant control, and start to fix it before it gets out of control.  You can't do that in a powerdrive.  It is to unresponsive, and jerky.  

The only way I can see it used, is for slow trolling, with a big boat, that is going to "drift" for no real reason.  Other than that, it isn't really a bass fishing trolling motor.  

But, on a plus side, everything functions properly, and it is 5 1/2 years old.  Great quality in terms of workmanship, but just a bad design.

I am trying to get rid of it, in favor of an Edge, or All Terrain, on my smaller boat, and a Maxxum on my larger one.

In terms of how long does the average TM last, I just picked up a 1988 Evinrude 43 pound 12/24v hand control to keep as a spare.  It shows plenty of signs of use, but still works.  And, I got it for $13.75.

[HPBB]

First off I fish 75-100 days a year. 90% out of my bigger boat. and I use my TM alot and use it in shallow water, lots of weeds, rocks, and just for fun the big waters of lake erie.

When I bought my One boat ( 1990 Sea Nymph GLS 175) in 1995 it had  a 36# 12 volt Minkota PD on it. well that motor lasted one year for me and had to change it. So I got another MK, a 55# that one lasted 3 years, when it suddenly deployed at 40mph, ripped it right off the boat. so I got another Minnkota PD, a 52# power drive. In 4 years of owning that motor I had to change the foot pedal 3 times. when the petal went for the fouth time I said that was enough. I did want a bigger TM, so it was time to upgrade. I ended up getting a Motor guide Digital Tour Series 109# 36 Volt TM. the best thing I ever did.  4 year and not one problem with that motor, and if it goes tomorow. I'll buy another one in a second. I bought another petal for that MK. I have it on my 14 foot V-hull and every time I use it I remember how much I hate it