Motor Guide or Minn Kota

[LakeAnnaBasser]

i have a hand steering trolling motor on my boat now but i want to get a new one for this upcoming season with a foot pedal...im looking in the 600-700 dollar range for a 70's lb thrust... should i go with minn kota or motor guide

[Wayne P.]

It makes no difference which one. There are those that have had a bad experience with one and got the other in both cases. Its been discussed many times with no definitive resolution. I've had both and have nothing bad to say about either.

Its like the Ford/Chevy question.

[NEKvt]

Don't buy a wireless series motor guide it seems like a good idea but it is really annoying.  I leave the control everywhere but in my boat and constantly have no trolling motor.  Yeah it is my fault, but it wouldn't happen if it was not wireless.    

Also if you do get one that has the composite shaft it has a lifetime guarantee, I did not know this when I payed to get mine replaced.  The threads stripped off at the motor and let water in.  When I called to get it replaced motorguide told me they did not ship from the factory so I called a shop and got one ordered.  Was not until I payed for it that I saw on basspro that the thing had a lifetime warranty.  

That said when I have the controls in the boat, the thing runs well.  

[Cujo]

It is all a matter of preference.  Get what you like.  They are both excellent companies.  Like LakeannaBasser said "do not get the wireless models".  They are slow at responding, have an annoying beeping noise and just are not as smooth as the ones with the cables.  Basically, go to a store and play around and get the one you like.

[fishfordollars]

Your preference. Personally I fish a Minnkota hand steered. Got tired of all the broken cables with the foot controlled ones. You might find that you are not happy with the foot model. JMO, I will never own a foot controlled model again.

[5bass]

I currently have a Motorguide Tour 109 but only because it was on the boat when I got it. It's only 1 year old and is doing well so far, although I dont feel like it's got 109# of thrust like it claims to have.

The previous 2 Motorguide's I've had have been total junk. Very noisy, switches always going bad, etc.... The next trolling motor I buy will be a Minn Kota.

Foot controlled all the way for me.

[HPBB]

I have a Motorguide 109# Digital tour( cable steer) and its the best I have ever used. Had a few MG in the past any they were junk, but this one is great, going on 4 years ( boat see the water about 70-100 times a year) and have not had one, not one problem with it.

Had minnkota's too and seem to be haveing them fix every year. I had a few Powerdrives and hated them. one got ripped of the boat.( that was great) The other I sold. I had to replace the foot pedel 3 times in 2 years that was enough for me.

It will be MG digital tour for me from now on.

[burleytog]

I wish I could combine a MG foot control with a MK shaft and LU.

[Triton21]

I currently have a Motorguide Tour 109 but only because it was on the boat when I got it. It's only 1 year old and is doing well so far, although I dont feel like it's got 109# of thrust like it claims to have.

The previous 2 Motorguide's I've had have been total junk. Very noisy, switches always going bad, etc.... The next trolling motor I buy will be a Minn Kota.

Foot controlled all the way for me.

The MG is 105lbs and the MK is 101lbs.

[LakeAnnaBasser]

I wish I could combine a MG foot control with a MK shaft and LU.

Thats exactly how i feel. The main reason why im leaning towards a motorguide is because i like their foot pedal better.

[Bass_Fanatic]

When I was looking at buying a trolling motor, the one thing that caught my attention was that the Minn Kota had an ascending accleration meaning that if you have it set on 100 and hit the pedal, it wont just take off and throw you out of your seat.  It has been really nice and mine is a 70 lb MK.  The Motor Guides, at least at that time didnt have that feature.

[Way2slow]

The way the MK has to ramp up is one of the main reason I don't like them. A friend of mine has the MK on his and if we know were going to be fishing lilly pads, hydrilla etc, we use my boat. You get wrapped up and I can flip mine on high and it will usually clear itself, his won't. You spend more time reversing and forwarding the motor or pulling it up to clear it than you do fishing. In fact, if were are in his we've got where we usually stay along the edge rather than trying to work pockets over in the stuff.

[cart7t]

In my earlier days of bass fishing I had a motorguide or two.  They were constantly breaking.  Other guys who had them were constantly fixing theirs as well.  I switched to MK and never looked back (except for the hell years that I owned that POS power drive).  

[Garnet]

Min Kota has had that ramp up for years. That new prop with the wings is just junk in weeds. About 10 minutes with a grinder fixed that. Everybody I know removes those wings.

Garnet

[bighed]

For sure an endless Ford/Chevy debate.  I like the MG Tours foot control.  I've had MK's and didn't really like them much.  If you can't cast and reel with one hand better get a foot control.  The hand control is easy on the back and legs though.

[HossFly]

As everyone has stated, both co. have great stuff, but you should choose what YOU like.

Me, i hate foot controls, but, i grew up using hand controls.

I have a foot control on my boat and am almost ready to give it away....lol.

Ask yourself this; where am i going to spend the most time in the water?

In my area, "kota would be the choice (LOTS'A STUMPS, TREES,LOGS), if you spend most of the time on open lakes/resor-"however-the heck-you-spell-it"vores, you may prefer steel...

just my humble O'.....

[Bass_junky]

The ramp up, as stated previously on MK actually extends the life of the TM.  You wouldn't drive your car that way (instant 60 mph) because it would shorten it's life.  I have no preference with MK or MG, although I do have a MK 101.  

My only opinion is do not buy one with electric steering, go with cable steering.  The electric steer only turns at one speed and is very noisy.  

[Triton9]

i would definitely go with the motorguide.i have one on my Triton, and i love it.my papa and my best friend have minn kotas, i am not a fan.

[tkite16]

  Never understood why mg put the skeg so far back that transducer has no protection.   Whenever I look at mg owners  transducers there always beat to hell.

 I have a minn kota .  I cant say its better but I've had no problems.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

I currently own a Motorguide Wireless W75 and I absolutely hate it.  It beeps all the time, it is not as smooth as the cable-steer motors, and it has broken three times in one season (including one time where the lower unit fell off the shaft on plane!).

That being said I intend on buying a motorguide tour edition 70 when BPS has their big sale at the end of the month.  I have used them on friends' boats and they are smooooth.

[R@ngerman195vs]

Until recently, I've always had MG TMs.  Had one when I was stationed in Alaska and beat the living daylights out of it for 8 years and never had a moment's problem with it.  Came home and had a Tour model MG and that thing was a piece of junk.  It was only 3 years old and started having all kinds of problems.  MG quit making the internal part needed to repait it so i sort of got stuck.  My Ranger came with a MK and so far (knock on Wood) no problems in 2 years.  I agree it is a Chevy/Ford thing.  My Dad will only buy MG.  His latest one has the new cable foot control and i have to admit is smooth as silk.  Buy what you know in your gut that's right for you.  Good Luck and Tight Lines!

[LakeAnnaBasser]

i was looking at motorguides earlier. what is the difference between the standard foot control model and the digital one?(and by digital i dont mean the wireless one).... by the way RockvilleMdAngler i actually live in rockville MD but my thing says lake anna because i go down there to a family vacation home to fish every weekend.

[R@ngerman195vs]

i was looking at motorguides earlier. what is the difference between the standard foot control model and the digital one?(and by digital i dont mean the wireless one).... by the way RockvilleMdAngler i actually live in rockville MD but my thing says lake anna because i go down there to a family vacation home to fish every weekend.

The digital model operates with very thin cables and is SUPER Smooth.  My father bought one for his boat last year.  It really is nice.  So far he has had no issues.

[HPBB]

The digital (tour series) also uses a metal foot pedal, where the other uses a plastic one. The digital (tour series) also use 2 cables not one. The mounts that they use are also a lot different. The mount of my 109 tour is a beast, all metal with springs and is heavy very sturdy, the 45pro on my tracker is a lot smaller and not as sturdy

That old MG Tour Tm you had was in a non digital? I think they started making digital tours 4-5 years ago, so if its older than that it was one of their older tour motors. mine is 4 years old now and still going strong with out one issue., when they went to digital tours they made a great motor. They are the best I have ever used. that 45pro ( 2 years old) on my tacker will be going as soon as I can afford a new one. It will be a 82# digital tour for that one

[LakeAnnaBasser]

I ended up getting the motorguide. I just wanna thank every one for there input and advice. It helped make my decision a little easier.