Trolling Motor Decision

[Bumblebee_1]

I am planning to buy a new trolling motor soon. The question is Motorguide or Minn Kota? I have always used Motorguide but on the 54 lb thrust that I am looking to buy they all use the Gator flex 360 mount. The reviews on the Basspro website for any motor with this mount are not very encouraging.

What experience do you have with this type of mount on a Motorguide? Is the mount on the Minn Kota any better?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Bumblebee

[MLTSPCS]

MK powerdrive 54 or 55# thrust does not use that mount. My father bought one for his boat not too long ago with the transducer for the depthfinder in the lower unit for around $700. That was with the Lowrance color finder and the universal cables to hook it up. It was a very easy install as I did it by myself and it came out perfect. Just make sure you use 8 gauge or larger wiring all the way from the battery to the motor. It is also recommended(sp.) that you use a small push-button style breaker. You can get these at just about any boat shop for not much $. If you are from the Louisville area we bought the motor guide version for just a little $ at the Just Add Water shop on Dixie Hwy. Hope this helps. CJ.

[alwysfshn]

motorguide all the way i have a 54 lb thrust on my ranger for 11 yrs same motor have had 2 boards put in it in this time also have fished out of several different boat with minnkota and have operated these boats with the minnkota and this has convinced me that there is only one real trolling motor motorguide hey guys not trying to start an argument just my 2 cents:D

[MLTSPCS]

No argument here. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. To each his own. I've just never really used the motorguides that much. I'm sure they are good too. He had said something about the gator mount though, and I was thinking that a lot of the motorguides used that mount. Just trying to give him some different options. CJ.

[alwysfshn]

i believe you are correct that all motorguides do use the gator mount bracket hey if you know of anyone interested in a mount only i do have an extra gatormount i would part with if anyone is interested you can email me @ [email protected] i think motorguide now have a transducer built in the power head of the trolling motor and it is a direct wire up and probably minnkota has the same or not far behind regardless of what you choose im sure you will be happy with it :)

[Fish2win]

Let me throw my 2 cents worth in. For what its worth. I switched to a Motor Guide hand control bow mount several years ago. Between broken cables, foot controls in the way under my feet in the dark and back aches from standing on one foot all day I was fed up.I had never had a hand control even though I had owned first one kind and then the other for 30 years.I started noticing that a lot of guides and pros had hand control motors. Switching to a hand control was the best thing I have done. In fact it has worked so well that 2 of my buddies have switched to the same set up. Mine is on a 19 foot Norris Craft, another is on a 19 foot Bullet and the third on a 22 ft Triton. All three of use have said that we will never own another foot control motor. I have owned a couple of Mercury Thrusters. They were good but loud. One Minn Kota( it was always broken) and old Bird Eagle which was junk a Johnson that I could not keep cables in and two Motor Guides. One of the motor guides is an old white one that must be 20 years old and still runs. Fish2win

[SpotBoy]

I have had two motor guide trolling motors and that will be my last. I bought a 71lbs thrust fw series this spring and the plug has been nothing but trouble. Burnt two up and the motorguide tech said to wire it directly. That is a pain what if I want to remove it.
I have seen the new (and have used one)of the new minnkota pro series with lift assist. Man what a sweet motor.....
My next one will be a minnkota

[Danny]

Spotboy...

I have my MK wired directly. I did this because of fishing on KY and Barkley, it is almost impossible to avoid getting water over the bow of my boat. As a result, I suffered some corrosion in the receptacle. I wired direct as a result. It's not that much more difficult if you want to remove your trolling motor. I simply remove the screws holding the bow plate on, and unscrew the wire nuts that hold the splices together, then pull the wires apart.

so in other words, it is not like you have to add all new wires. I just cut the plug off, and removed the wires hooked to the receptacle and wired it up.

Now let me say this. I did not do all this myself. I would have no idea how to figure out the 24 vlot wiring...LOL. Mike did it for me at Jet-A one day while I was there having some other work done.

I've had no problem since then, and that was a couple of years ago.

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[trentonc2000]

I've never owned a motor guide, but the one's that were on my buddies' boats that i used were crap. 2 out of 3 of them got bent shafts and went downhill from there. I'm sure they weren't top of the line models, but if you spend the kind of money boats are going for nowdays, you expect quality.

I've owned a johnson (crap) and 3 different Minn Kotas. I love the MKs and haven't had any problems with any of them. I'm currently using the Maxxum 74 and it pushes my 04 Stratos 195 with ease on Kentucky and Barkley.

It all comes down to personal preference as you can tell. I think the big thing is to make sure you are happy. The good ones will cost you a bit more, but are well worth it.

[bassin101]

I've had MK and MG and have not had probelms out of either one. I think they are both good motors.