Trying to purchase a new trolling motor.

[YeahSure]

I am about to be buying my first trolling motor so i can finally get off the shore and not have to pay 25 dollar rental fees for the motor and battery every time i want to fish. Can anyone recommend one for around 150 200 dollars? The two that i have found were the minn kota enduras and the motorguide varimax models. How big of a difference would the 30 lb thrust vs a 40 lb thrust. or in the motor guide a 45 lb vs a 55 lb thrust? Any advice?

[Wayne P.]

An easy answer is you cannot have too much thrust when it comes to electric trolling motors. Get the most you can afford and afford to operate. Battery/s and charger/s are needed too.

Of the two models you mentioned, the Motor Guide will give you more run time as compared to the MinnKota of the same pound thrust due to the electronics for the varible speed.

[YeahSure]

Ive been reading alot of reviews saying the motor guide had problems and would not turn off sometimes and things of that sort. Maybe the model of minn kota above the endura?

[endless]

i like my 40lb  bps prowler it goes for 129.99 the 55lb goes for 199.99.its my first motor.if had the extra cash i would went for the 55lb.

[Wayne P.]

BDubb, you can find reviews for both brands that have some type of failure. Lots of users had one brand that malfunctioned and they bought the other brand and swear they wouldn't have another of the first they had. You get that for both brands. It's somewhat like the Ford/Chevy debate.-both have lemons and both have adamant users.

[Brush Hog20]

I have an endura and a BPS prowler 55# transom mount for my pond jumper and a MG bow mount on my triton..  Of the three I like th Minn Kota the best..  Its quieter than the prowler and lighter.  The light on the prowler is handy however and it obviously has more punch than the Minn Kota.  I use the Endura on ponds and small lakes and the prowler on lakes over 100 acres.  I can work em both all day and while they both are pretty doggy at dusk after 12-14 hours of use neither have left me paddling home.  Key is getting a quality battery and charger and take care of the battery..i.e. put it somewhere warm during the winter...

[YeahSure]

Appreciate all the input, I ended up purchasing the Endura 50 off wal mart.com it was about 60 dollars cheaper than anywhere else i've seen it so I decided to pick it up.

[EastMarkME]

You will like it I bet.

I agree that there are always some bad reviews on anything you research on the Net. Look around and you will find someone ticked off with a $200K Mercedes. My response is I'll take it. Some is bad info...hard to tell what ones. They are both name brands.

Hang some people with a brand new rope and they still complain. :'(

Enjoy it !

Mark