motorguide wireless series good or bad???

[crappie chaser]

I bought a trolling motor tonite and when i got home i had a totally different model than the one that I bought. (Kid At the store loaded wrong one) I thought I was getting a motorguide digital series and when I got home it was a wireless series. are these good motors?? my old troller was a mercury thruster plus and it ran great 4 25 yrs. cant seem to get parts and i guess its time to upgrade? If these arre quality motors then maybe i should keep it, if not i need to exchange it,the prices were the some and its a hour and a half drive to where i bought it. Comments and opinions please!!!!??!!

[EtecRanger205]

I had the same thing happen to me. I took it back and exchanged. The motor may be a good motor, but if it breaks you are unable to turn it. That motor relies on a signal (wireless) from the control to the motor. Just seems it opens to much to the possibility of something else to go wrong. I run the tour digital 82 lb and love it. Its a personal choice.
BTW I got a gift card for 25.00 when I talked to the manager and explained how much time and expense I was put out, due to there error. Good Luck.

[phoenix]

Unless they have changed them, most of those wireless or electric steering models, use a plastic gear to do the steering. I have seen a few of those gears shredded. And it doesn't take much do do it.

[crappie chaser]

come on guys 93 lookers and only 1 opinion, that cant be?? ive been trying to research this wireless contraption, but id really like to hear what actual fisherman think about this trolling motor. ive talked to afew that said they would like to have 1 but nobody that actully has 1. Are they durable and reliable, are people happy with there performance. Elecranger, thanks for your 2 cents on this. those same questions come to my mind as well. Come on guys lets hear what you think!!!!

[Fisherjoe]

I have used a 24V 75# for over a year and am very happy with it. The "key fob" remote is very handy as long as you are not a run and gun fisher. The footpad is OK , but takes some getting used to...it does not have a momentary feature. I run it on high speed a lot and the batteries hold up very well.

[SecretWeapon]

come on guys 93 lookers and only 1 opinion, that cant be?? ive been trying to research this wireless contraption, but id really like to hear what actual fisherman think about this trolling motor. ive talked to afew that said they would like to have 1 but nobody that actully has 1. Are they durable and reliable, are people happy with there performance. Elecranger, thanks for your 2 cents on this. those same questions come to my mind as well. Come on guys lets hear what you think!!!!

I have the 24v 75lb thrust wireless with the built in transducer. I have used it for going on 2 years. I so far have been very pleased. I will agree with some who have posted here about it taking a little to get used to. But, after a little use it will become second nature.

Plus and minus.

Plus: It has many options. With the wireless foot pedal it can be mounted any where. Very low profile (easy on the legs and lower back). With the key phob option; I can give it to my partner to control from the back deck while I retie. Works great on windy days! I also use it when by myself when changing lures. There is no feedback on the pedal or motor movement on it's own. So this is nice that the motor doesn't change direction due to wind/waves. It has a small bracket so it takes up less room on the deck plenty of room under the shaft. Much less wires to deal with on the deck. I have the series with the built in transducer and temp probe. I have it connected to a Lowrance X67c depthfinder and it has the clearest screen/no feedback clutter I have ever seen.

Minus: I doesn't have a light indicator on the top of the head. I do a lot of night fishing so this was not an option. I installed a small red light to the top with ease to solve this problem. If the motor was to quit turning do to malfuction, you still can raise the motor up a little off the turning backet and turn it manually to get you by. I have done this it real shallow water and has worked very well. I don't know a about it's relibility? Have had it going on 2 years and has worked well. How will it hold up? Time will tell.

On a side note. I owned the digital series also before I purchased this one. It was a very nice motor as well. Had to replace it due to hitting a stump at full trolling motor speed breaking the mount and bending the shaft. If I had it to do over again, I still would give up a little thrust and buy the wireless again.

Hope this helps!

Justin Hires
Director www.USABassin.com
Guist Creek Division

[Dave Stewart]

I don't know much about the remote units....so can't say one way or the other their performance...and I am sponsored by MG but still not going to say they are good or bad since I have never had any experience with them. I will say this though....if my steering cable breaks...and they do from time to time because I put so many hours on my trolling motor...I can replace it in a few minutes on the water...if that remote goes out on you....how you gonna fix that?

[Hlleonard]

Do many of you fellas use the minn-kota powerdrive trolling motors....I have always use a cable unit with the exception of a few day period a good many years ago about the time the electric steering units first came out.....I bought one of those because I liked the flexibility of the electric foot pad....I returned it because I had to look at the motor head to know which direction the thing was pointed in,you couldn't tell by the position of the foot controll the way you can by the cable foot controll......the thing would continue to wrap the wire around the shaft if you left your foot on the button...I like the idea of raising the motor by pushing a button....(gittin old and lazy)

[catdaddy863]

I have a minn-kota power drive and I love it. I fish Elkorn and C-river alot and have bounced off everthing known to man and have never hurt the gear.Battery life is great(2-3days is no problem)and like Secret Weapon says I pull it up a bit above the lock- in notch and have a old drill handle attached to it and use it manualy.The composit shaft is bullet-proof.The only draw back is deploying it,but after you figure out the trick it is no problem.The long cable is great to be able to run it from anywhere in the boat.When the youngins are with me sometimes I sit in one of the console seats and run the controls with my hands.

[crappie chaser]

hey guys great advice and alot of good and bad stuff to think about. im still kinda new at making posts on here, but I think this is a great board!! thanks for all your help! Wishing you all GOOD FISHING!!!!!!!!

[Medicine Man]

I have one and it does take some getting used to. I wear a size 13 boot and the controls are a little close together so I sometimes hit the wrong switch. Tennis shoes no problem. It is quicker than you think. I agree with the above post that it needs a indicator light on the top and until you turn it back on you dont know what speed the unit is set at...about threw myself out a couple of times. Dont let it hit bottom to hard, not a metal housing, some kind of poly and it cracks easy, learned the hard way. Warranty'd without an issue.

Overall I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.



hope it helps