Minn Kota or Motorguide

[Bandit1]

I know this is another Chevy vs. Ford question, but here it goes. I just bought a new (to me) 18' Nitro. It needs a trolling motor upgrade badly. I have had a motorguide for years. Just curious what everyones opinion is as to the pros & cons of each motor brand. I am looking at around a 70- 80 lb thrust, 24 volt units. The ones I have had have been the 40-50 lb thrust, 12 volt units. So I don't have much, if any, experience on the bigger 24 volt units. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Jason Chamness

[Striper18]

Bandit, I have always used Minn Kota for my trolling motor. They have always done well for me. Replacement parts are a little easier to find around here also. Just upgraded to a Traxxis 55 pound thrust from my 40 Endura.

[demodan]

I know this is another Chevy vs. Ford question, but here it goes. I just bought a new (to me) 18' Nitro. It needs a trolling motor upgrade badly. I have had a motorguide for years. Just curious what everyones opinion is as to the pros & cons of each motor brand. I am looking at around a 70- 80 lb thrust, 24 volt units. The ones I have had have been the 40-50 lb thrust, 12 volt units. So I don't have much, if any, experience on the bigger 24 volt units. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Jason Chamness

Like I mentioned in an earlier post...."Doug du man" Rebuilt my Tracker!!!...it's stronger now, than it was when my father baught it! I had it changed over to a 24 volts, from a 12 of course! And I was going to by a new trolling motor..NEW!!! I wanted the warrenty...and the satisfaction of having a new one right out of the box...wanted to know what that felt like. A2O was moving there store to a new location...and they had some great close out sales! So...being a motor guide dude most of my life...out of the price, and the only one they had left then...was the Edge 70 thrust Minn Kota, for less way less than $500, still in the box!!! I had to jump on that!!! I have a tournament TX17 Tracker...and that sucker pushes that boat like you can ski behind it...ha ha ha (thanks Doug). I have to be carefull that I don't have it on high...and pointing right or left...when I step on it! I've had it out only once sence I got my boat back from Doug...I fished for 4 hours alone on Guiest Creek lake, in Shelby Co.m,....was it the weekend before Thanksgiving??..I boated two nice lunkers...one pushing 5 pounds, both on a 300 CB!!! Never had the trolling motor over 3...and it moved me in the wind like arrow!!!...I felt like I was 8 years old again...and opening Christmas presents, (come on guys, you know the feeling),...while fishing that evening. So Im giving Minn Kota...the "edge" for now!! Demo Dan

[offdtop]

Cabelas has a reconditioned trolling motor section I bought a replacement 101lb thrust for about $400 cheaper than new. They a factory rebuilt and have the same 1 year warranty as a new one, and I dare you to compare as far a looks to a new one. If I need another minnkota I will definately go there for sure. My MinnKota ROCKS!!!

[smljaw]

http://lexington.craigslist.org/boa/1592814640.html

Saw this on craigslist. Guy's out of Berea. Might be worth a look...

[crappie chaser]

I had to replace my trolling motor 2 years ago, it was a mercury 40-50 lbs thrust and 12 volts. My controll cable broke and i could not get the parts to fix it. I compared price and warrenty and talked 2 and ask amillion people a millon questions and finally went with the minn kota maxxum 80 lbs thrust 24 volts. I love this motor!!! It cuts thru the wind, the waves what ever!!! If you fish a lot of shallow cover or just rough on things like me they can take a beating and keep on running smooth!!!!! I would recomend minn kota to anyone!!!

[kygorski]

if you got the coins, I'd opt for the minn kots auto pilot type.Yes they are slow on recovery in some cases, BUT the motor didn't get you into one of those situations did it?I've had several guides that came with boats I bought, and they didn't hold up, one was a corded model that never worked when it came out of the factory box. But what ever kind you decide on, first check on who does the repairs. If it calls for shipping,think it over. I had a motor guide that spent more time on the UPS truck than it did on my boat.

[RICHYD4U]

Just went through this same dilemma this past fall when I bought my new boat (to me also), and the great guys on here gave me great advice. I ended up buying a 80# MK Terrova w/AP and love what I see. Haven't had a chance to use it (cursed winter!), but can't wait! Good luck!

-Rich

[Swift1]

In my honest opinion they are all junk................but I prefer chevy

[Todd2]

Motorguide, only one I've ever owned. It was on the boat when I got it six or seven years ago and it's still ticking...

[Dave Stewart]

Both are good trolling motors. One piece of advice....if you are going to be in rough water with it, make sure you put a tie down on it and a bounce buster, rough water is what breaks more trolling motors than anything. Having said all that, the Motor Guide 82 lb/24volt on my boat has been there for 5 years now....only repairs I have had to do are replacing the steering cables about once a year...but considering I put an average of 400 hours a year on my big engine, the hours I put on the trolling motor are astronomical and I basically wear out the steering cables...but it is an easy and cheap fix.

Forgot to mention that I have replaced the prop a number of times on mine, but that is because I am digging bottom with it at certain times of the year to get back to the fish....they are not made to plow bottom...LOL.

[hairball]

I had to have one of mine worked on a couple of years ago and really thought I'd wind up buying a new one. I couldn't decide which one was better, so I asked the mechanic working on it which one he would buy if he had to put a new one on his boat that day. I figured somebody who works on them every day and sees all of their faults and shortcomings would be a good source to ask. He said as far as he was concerned, their quality was pretty much equal. I pressed him for an answer and he said he would go with Motor Guide only because that is what he has always had on his boat.

Right now I have two Evinrudes, but when I can no longer find parts for them it'll probably be Motor Guide for me, primarily because I had a 1984 34# Brute that was indestructible.