From my experience (I have had several of both), minn kota beats motorguide all the way around. In the past Motorguide was a little more durable, as they used an all alluminum shaft - but now MK makes the composite shaft which is a little lighter and more durable. As said before MK is usually a little more quite. Since they are both digital, MK's have much fewer circuit problems than motorguide. For standard units, Motorguide's gator mount I think is a little better, but the MK's with lift assist (now only on fortrex) is by far the best mount I have used. The foot pedal on a motorguide is a little smaller - but both seem to function as well.

I just bought a new trolling motor, and I did a great deal of comparison. I talked to a few reps from each, and service dealers for each. I ended up getting a Fortrex - and I could not be happier. I found the newer MK's to be all around better. If you have a 24v or 36v, I would pay the extra money for one with variable speed and the digital maximizer. The ones with speeds 1-5 only, have the same amp draw on any setting (speed 1 draws just as many amps as speed 5, and dissipates the extra energy as heat through the lower unit). The ones with the variable speed (10-100) have a digital maximizer where it controls the amp current on and off to deliver the speed you want - it has nearly doubled my battery time (I run at 50% most of the time).