Minn Kota or MotorGuide 2024
Bankbeater reply :
My 14 yo transom mounted MotorGuide trolling motor bit the dust this past weekend, and I am looking for a replacement. I can't decide on a new Minn Kota or a new MotorGuide. I am leaning toward Minn Kota, but I wanted to hear what everyone else thought also.
fishnkamp reply :
Minn Kota makes a fine trolling motor. Which model depends on what size you want. I ran a pair of Minn Kota Endura C2 55 pound thrust trolling motors on the back of my reservoir rig right up till I sold it. The reservoirs here in MD. are quite large and have only one launch on several of them. This meant batteries were my only fuel allowed so, I ran a bank of two batteries for each of the trolling motor. I never worried about getting back and those motors performed flawlessly. Traxxis is another nice line with a bit more power options. Good luck on your search.
Fishes in trees reply :
Back in the day when I fished BFL's and didn't own a reservoir ready boat myself, I had two tournaments spoiled because a Motor Guide trolling motor failed - steering cable broke. One of those times was at Grand Lake for a wild card regional. I'd been there a couple of days, my draw boater hadn't and I knew where some fish were. They were on a point 20 minutes or so from the put in area. Points are windy at Grand Lake. We got there - I caught a 15" fish on my first cast and then his steering cable broke. No way to steer in the wind and no way to drift. 8 pounds over two days got a couple of guys into the All American as co-anglers. I was on fish and a Motor Guide Trolling motor let my down and it wasn't even mine. I'll never say anything nice about Motor Guide Motors, even now - 13 or 14 years later, but you do what you want.
crazyjoeclemens reply :
I've only used Minn Kota trolling motors, but I'm extremely satisfied with performance and reliability. I have a small aluminum boat that I use for small lakes that don't allow gas motors. I power it with an Endura C2. With two large deep cycle batteries, it'll run a heck of a lot longer than I care to be out on the water. It also has plenty of power to buck a decent headwind, if it happens to get breezy while you're out there.
dsqui reply :
ive been lucky enough to have used both and out of the two neither were better then the other eachone had its qualities and each one had something i wish the other had
Brian6428 reply :
I've only ever used a motor guide, and I have been very pleased with it. The only problem I have ever had with it is one of the steering cables snapped. Fortunately it did not happen to me during a tournament. Changing the cable wasn't that hard. If I was buying a new boat, I would go choose to have another cable driven motor guide on it.
A-Jay reply :
Minn Kota TRAXXIS 55 LB
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
MK fan
gimruis reply :
I've only ever used minn kota, but I've used both electric steer (power drive) on a deep V tiller in addition to now using a cable (maxxum) on a bass boat. The power drive foot pedal has needed replacement 3 times in 14 years and my Father is on the 4th one. The replacement pedal is about 80 bucks but the sensors simply wear out over time so there's nothing you can do. I mostly see one specific model on most pro and semi-pro bass boats in tournaments which is the Minn Kota Fortrex.
jbw252 reply :
I have only owned & used Minn Kota brand. They work well for me.
S. Sass reply :
Motorguide 10 yrs old according to previous owner only the cable to raise or lower it has broken. I just bought the boat this year so far works fine for me.
I've had two transom mount Minn Kotas from Walmart on a couple other small boats. Neither lasted 2 seasons.
I figure just bad luck MinnKota is a huge name I'm sure they are quality products. I would not be afraid of either brand. Maybe look at warranty and features and get the best price.
dsqui reply :
also now that i think about it the major factor that would make me really choose one or the other is what locator you are running if it be himmingbird and you htink you may ever go big get a minnkota if its lowrance and you ever may go big get motorguide or if you are like me and run garmin just pick one and hope that is the brand they eventually buy probably gonna be motor guide
Goose52 reply :
Both companies have been in business for a long time and both make good products. For a transom-mount, the decision is somewhat harder as there are not as many distinguishing features as there are on the various bow-mount models. However, there are differences in tilt and handle mechanisms, shaft material, etc., so there are some things you can look at.
In my case, I initially went with MK and have had no reason to change. I went with the Traxxis model due to the features that A-Jay posted above (folding handle, tilt, depth adjustment, shaft material). I started with a 45 lb Traxxis and then added a 55 lb thrust to use on the bigger/windier lakes. I still have both of them. Between the two of them, they have been on the water about 400 times as my primary propulsion.
WIGuide reply :
I've had the opportunity to use both and I can say I'm not a Minn-Kota fan at all. I've seen and had more of them break down whether it be foot pad issues or motors burning up. My dad buys and sells boats as a hobby, and has owned literally hundreds of them and has had plenty of Minn-Kotas that have had issues. Not nearly as many Motorguides aside from the Laser ll's back in the day. Those were garbage, but aside from those I've had nothing but good luck with MG.
One more little tidbit, I fished a tourney on the Mississippi in the spring a few years ago. Water level was just under flood stage, so the current was ripping. When all was said and done, 4 trolling motors quit working that day, and all of them were Minn-Kotas. None of the Motorguide guys had an issue.
Way2slow reply :
That's like Ford or Chevy.
For tiller steer I have both and can't say I prefer one over the other. As long as it's variable speed.
For bow mount, I had always run MG until a couple years ago, I bought a Terrova US80 with the I-Pilot. I fought with that thing for a couple of years until a while back the $150 foot control went out and gave me a reason to put my old MG back on, There are things I liked about MK but the getting it in and out of the water was one thing I hated about it,
Redlinerobert reply :
Last two boats had a MotorGuide. New boat comes with a MinnKota. Looking forward to trying it out.
Way2slow reply :
With the Terrova, If you can keep it in the water are not chasing lures in shallow water and to the bank to get them unhung, it's an OK TM. My problem was I have to take a lot of inlaws that can't cast and spend more time going shallow to get lures than I get to spend fishing, an that Terrova ain't no fun when doing that. Now in the summer when fishing deep and working submerged structure, the anchor hold and gps was nice.
I was just thinking about making a mount that would let me use either one. Then I can use the MG when fishing shallow bass and the MK when chasing schooling bass and fishing deep.
dsqui reply :
heres a question for one of you knowledgable fellows on the terrova or the new motorguide xi5 when you use there anchor ability thing where it holds you on a specific spot does it matter what brand sonar you use? heres why i ask, kvd is a spokesman for motorguide (which i believe is lowrance units) and hummingbird (which is minnkota TM) so if he is using his anchor feature does that mean he runs a lowrance chartplotter as well as a hummingbird or do they work with all of the above?
Wayne P. reply :
On 7/9/2016 at 6:07 AM, dsqui said:heres a question for one of you knowledgable fellows on the terrova or the new motorguide xi5 when you use there anchor ability thing where it holds you on a specific spot does it matter what brand sonar you use? heres why i ask, kvd is a spokesman for motorguide (which i believe is lowrance units) and hummingbird (which is minnkota TM) so if he is using his anchor feature does that mean he runs a lowrance chartplotter as well as a hummingbird or do they work with all of the above?
KVD does not tournament fish for walleyes or crappie so he does not use a electric steer motor that would have an anchor feature. Very few, if any, bass pros use electric steers.
dsqui reply :
oh so the anchor and contour follow features only work if you get an electric steer motor... i did not know that learn something new every day...so why arent the cable driven xi5's and terrovas alot cheaper since it seems you loose alot of features
contium reply :
On 7/9/2016 at 6:24 AM, dsqui said:oh so the anchor and contour follow features only work if you get an electric steer motor... i did not know that learn something new every day...so why arent the cable driven xi5's and terrovas alot cheaper since it seems you loose alot of features
There is no such thing as a cable driven Xi5 or Terrova.
On 7/9/2016 at 6:07 AM, dsqui said:heres a question for one of you knowledgable fellows on the terrova or the new motorguide xi5 when you use there anchor ability thing where it holds you on a specific spot does it matter what brand sonar you use? heres why i ask, kvd is a spokesman for motorguide (which i believe is lowrance units) and hummingbird (which is minnkota TM) so if he is using his anchor feature does that mean he runs a lowrance chartplotter as well as a hummingbird or do they work with all of the above?
The Xi5's anchor mode and Terrova's spot lock (as well as other features) are built into the trolling motors. They don't need to be hooked up to a sonar. Using a compatible sonar does increase the features however.
bmcphoto reply :
15 years ago I would say motor guide. But they changed dramatically. Most of the reviews are poor.
ive not had issues with minnkota motors. The big advantage also with MK is that repair info and parts are readily available should something go wrong.
as a third option look at Watersnake by Jarvis marine. They get very high reviews. I think they are made in Austrailia?
Further North reply :
They're both great products, both will be fine...unless they aren't, in which case the warranty will cover it.
I run Minn Kota, but could go Motor Guide easily. Buy what you like, based on how much you like it and what it costs.
Master Bait'r reply :
Ford vs Chevy
Stihl vs Husky
If you don't already know why you want one over the other it likely does not matter all that much in reality. You're almost guaranteed to enjoy and be satisfied by either.
DelcoSol reply :
I have had both. I prefer the composite shaft of the MK. I also like the foot pedal on the MK better. When my motorguide tour goes it will be replaced with a fortrex.
slonezp reply :
On 7/9/2016 at 6:24 AM, dsqui said:oh so the anchor and contour follow features only work if you get an electric steer motor... i did not know that learn something new every day...so why arent the cable driven xi5's and terrovas alot cheaper since it seems you loose alot of features
There is a new hybrid trolling motor Minn Kota introduced at ICAST. It combines foot pedal control with the gps features of the electric steer
dsqui reply :
On 7/17/2016 at 10:15 PM, slonezp said:There is a new hybrid trolling motor Minn Kota introduced at ICAST. It combines foot pedal control with the gps features of the electric steer
hmm now this is interestingg and ive been thinkin about gettin a new TM too as i think mine is just a little small for my boat
On 7/17/2016 at 10:15 PM, slonezp said:There is a new hybrid trolling motor Minn Kota introduced at ICAST. It combines foot pedal control with the gps features of the electric steer
any idea when this hybrid will become available for purchase
gimruis reply :
I think I read that it would be available Fall 2016. It has a very steep price tag
dsqui reply :
ya no kidding lol i finally found the info after i posted all that. at that price knowing since i run garmin half the features probably wont work ill pass. ill probably end up with a motor guide x3 or x5. the position lock would be cool i just dont know how much i would ever really use it to have to change half my boats crap and rewire my trolling motor leads im only set up for a 12v system. plust i couldnt bring myself to fork out almost half what i paid for my boat just on a trolling motor.
Further North reply :
On 7/17/2016 at 9:35 AM, Master Bait'r said:Ford vs Chevy
Stihl vs Husky
Yup.
No matter which one you like, there will be someone who's had a bad experience with the other (or had a friend who had a bad experience with them) and will bad mouth them for years...ignoring the idea that they got one of the inevitable bad ones, or that maybe things have improved since 1987...
Bell curves are real...for every single manufactured item on the planet.
I'll stick to my idea that they are both great products, pick the one you like best, or is cheaper and meets your needs/wants.
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