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[QUOTE=winner 2000;520633]thanks for replies guys. R19 great info. i think i've decided to go with the higher thrust and just keep it turned down,if i need more then i'll have it. getting mixed reviews on the variable speed though. lots of customer reviews on both brands seem to be negative and that concerns me.had my doubts about digital also,but that's just an old guy not grasping new technology. that does seem to be a good thing and will use that. but i've decided now is the find the best price time and will go with who ever has it by this weekend. going with 70-75 lb variable digital. old man headin into the brave new world. LOL i over think a lot and the search for new depth finder was a real trip. last thing i used was X-5 Lowrance !! bought an elite 5 DSI gold and have totally brain locked trying to figure that thing out but willing to learn,it has potential my brain's probably not up to. thanks for the help guys and good fishin to ya.[/QUOTE]
Wow I am very surprised that you found mixed reviews on the variable speed. As for me I have no intentions of going back to a fixed speed trolling motor. I have 2-3 other people that I fish with and they have variable speed trolling motors and I am sure they have the same opinion as I do. I think you are making a smart choice by going with 70 lbs of thrust instead of the 55lbs you had thought about at first. You said your boat was 20 ft long. Many years ago 55 lbs may have been the standard for a boat that size but now days you will not see one with less than 70-80 lbs of thrust.
As I said earlier make sure you have the correct gauge wire going from the batteries to the plug up front. If you go with a 70 lb thrust trolling motor it will be straight 24V. The 12/24 volt plug that you have now may or may not work. As I said earlier I am not 100% sure on the wiring of the 12/24V plug. If you get a new plug that is set up for straight 24V I can explain how to wire the batteries in series and how to wire the plug if needed...you want to make sure you have it right or it can be a costly wiring mistake.
Here is another web link to check out. It is the Amazon used/return/scratch and dent items.
[url]www.warehousedeals.com[/url]
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I've been using a MK riptide with copilot for the last two years and absolutely love it!
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R19,i spoke with a MG tech for 20 minutes yesterday and he was very honest and said they had the most trouble with the Varimax. on the bass pro shops page in the customer reviews the varimax really takes a beating. i am now sold on digital and 70lbs but may go with the MK since they are only ones with that meet my wants without the variable speed. oddly enough MG has tiller style with 5 speed in 55 or 105 thrust but not 70-75. checking out MK now and i guess i may be back to foot control and an achin back and knees. the boat is wired now in series with the 24V plug in bow panel. 6gage wire from batteries to panel with breaker at batteries. ready and willin,just need a trollin motor. like a dummy i sold the MK Edge that was on it,should have kept it for a back up i see in 20/20 hindsight.
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update on the trolling motor issue. after waaay too much looking and pondering i bought the MK maxxum 70 tiller TM. then spent too long looking for the exact wire and foot switches i needed, i finally got it the way i wanted it and used all day yesterday in a tournament. the motor worked great and the set up worked well for me. very happy with the whole arrangement. after 8 hrs in a pretty good wind the batteries checked out at 12.44 for A battery and 12.30 for B battery.the motor on 5 will fly the boat and really didn't need above 3 all day.. real happy overall. can't say the same for the fishing,but that's another story.
