Motor Guide vs Minn Kota 2024
Bass2124 reply :
My Minn Kota edge 70 after 2 years has fried the lower unit......I bought it right after my Minn Kota Powerdrive 55 also fried on me after 4 years. I don't know what the normal life of trolling motors are but for $700 units that seems a little short. So do I switch over to Motor Guide???? All the reviews say Minn Kota are the better motors but for me I haven't had much luck with them. I am looking at the X3 55 and the edge 55. Customer service has been responsive and helpful at diagnosing issues (alot) at Minn Kota but their product isn't impressing me. The X3 is $30 cheaper at Cabelas and I have a $250 gift card to put towrds it. What should I do? Take another risk with Minn Kota or jump over to Motor Guide???
Scott F reply :
If you want an opinion concerning durability, call someone who services both brands. I did that several years a go when I was having my Motor Guide repaired. Taught me quite a bit and was a big influence on my purchase back then. All of the models that were available then are no longer made so the info I got then isn't relevant today.
tcbass reply :
I love my Minn Kota Ulterra I believe it features that the Motor Guide doesn't like auto stow/deploy.
clh121787 reply :
I'm a motor guide owner for now...
Way2slow reply :
That's like the Ford vs Chevy argument. In bow mounts, I've always preferred MG's, in transom mounts, it never mattered to me. I have a like new $1,500 MinnKota with I-Pilot sitting in the corner of a storage building I took off my boat and put the 10 year old motor guide back on if that's any indication of which I prefer.
Maico1 reply :
Can't speak for Minnkota but just replaced my MotorGuide W75 with a Xi5 80 after 10 years of use. Only problem I had was the circuit board went south about year 5/6 . Since they are plug and play it made real easy to replace myself.....
12poundbass reply :
Chevy vs Ford
RUSS9999 reply :
My Minn kota is 15 years old and runs like new. Minn Kota is all I have ever had and will stay with them.
Al Wolbach reply :
I've had both and like both. As far as foot controlled motors, I like the MK motor but the MG pedal. If you operate in heavy weeds MK gets the nod, as their props perform better in heavy weeds. But both make good units and should last much longer than yours have lasted.
Choporoz reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 8:47 AM, Bass2124 said:My Minn Kota ... after 2 years (died)......I bought it right after my Minn Kota .... also fried on me after 4 years. I don't know what the normal life of trolling motors are but for $xx units that seems a little short. So do I switch over to Motor Guide???? All the reviews say Minn Kota are the better motors but for me I haven't had much luck with them. ..... Customer service has been responsive and helpful at diagnosing issues (alot) at Minn Kota but their product isn't impressing me. ...... What should I do? Take another risk with Minn Kota or jump over to Motor Guide???
I could have written this. My experience is with transom mounts and with MK chargers, but similar experience. I have one MK TM that is 8-9 years old and going strong. But more recent products aren't getting it done for me. I had another MK TM which had a switch crap out after less than 2 yrs, and lower unit AND second switch fail within another year. I went through a number of bad chargers. Customer service/warranty service were always top-notch, and I'd always belived MK was the better, longer lasting product.....but I, too, have wondered if QC isn't slipping...and if I should switch.
Way2slow reply :
QC??? Are you serious. Look where this stuff is made. These companies are at the mercy of what the contractor making them sends them. That's why they strive to make customer service so good. They have little control over the quality of the item they ship you so they try to keep you happy by providing excellent service when it does fail. After all, they are normally making tons of money on the item, so they can afford to swap out several if need be.
My son's brother in law is the chief engineer at a Trico Wiper Blade plant in mexico, just across the border from Texas where he lives. He gave me several sets of their top of the line consumer blades for each of my vehicles that cost approx. $17+ for each, depending on where you buy them. Those blades are sold by Trico for about $3.50. The rest of the price you buy them for are the different markups added to them by the time you buy them. He also said you can't buy their best quality blades, they only sell them to OEM manufactures.
A5BLASTER reply :
I have owned both for several years and several diffrent models from both company's and at the end of the day.
My choice is Minnkota, main reason is better features and it cost less in my area to have one repaired and there are more shops around me that repair and sell Minnkota then motorguide.
My biggest complaint between the two is gthe dang aluminum shaft the motorguide has that tends to bend if it hits a log head on, my one and only remaining motorguide has had its shaft straightens 4 times since last January.
tcbass reply :
On 8/2/2017 at 6:15 AM, A5BLASTER said:I have owned both for several years and several diffrent models from both company's and at the end of the day.
My choice is Minnkota, main reason is better features and it cost less in my area to have one repaired and there are more shops around me that repair and sell Minnkota then motorguide.
My biggest complaint between the two is gthe dang aluminum shaft the motorguide has that tends to bend if it hits a log head on, my one and only remaining motorguide has had its shaft straightens 4 times since last January.
When I first got my Minn Kota Terrova I accidently went full speed ahead into a dock attempting to retrieve a stuck lure. The shaft looked it it was at a 65' angle.
It bent right back and never had a problem. Couldn't believe it. I'm a believer in MK products after that. When they say unbreakable they weren't kidding.
Also my bro crashed my boat into a dock doing similar thing. The plastic side cap on the motor bent way back and I thought that was gonna break. It didn't. Incredible.
tander reply :
You can get a lemon with any brand, I never had trouble with a Minn Kota.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I've had both and prefer Minn Kota. Part of that is I like to run my trolling motor into things, and metal shafts don't do well when they run into things. The emergency break-away in my Maxxum has saved my TM more than once.
Sam reply :
May I suggest you invest in a long distance phone call and speak with Robbie Patterson at Propeller Dynamics in Chester, Virginia.
Robbie owns the leading trolling motor repair shop on the east coast. Both Cabela's and BPS send their client's trolling motors to Robbie's company for repairs.
804.706.1847
Robbie is honest and he will give you his input on the differences between the two brands, and you can get his input about the burned out units.
WIGuide reply :
Being around boats a lot, I've seen my share of tm issues. Not saying they all don't have issues at times, but from what I've seen and experienced Minnkota seems to have more issues than Motorguide. They also seem to be more popular, so on a percentage basis they could be very close, that's hard to tell. Just a quick story that sums it up for me, a few years ago I was fishing in a tournament on the Mississippi River. Water was just below flood stage so the current was absolutely ripping on the majority of the river. The club was somewhere in the 17-19 boat range and the field was split pretty close to 50/50 as far as tm brands go. In that one day of fishing 4 trolling motors burnt out....all 4 were Minnkota. I'll stick with Motorguide until they give me a reason not to.
clh121787 reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 7:57 PM, 12poundbass said:Chevy vs Ford
Chevy vs Cadillac
12poundbass reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 12:58 AM, clh121787 said:Chevy vs Cadillac
Depends on the model ?
On 8/2/2017 at 3:44 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I've had both and prefer Minn Kota. Part of that is I like to run my trolling motor into things, and metal shafts don't do well when they run into things. The emergency break-away in my Maxxum has saved my TM more than once.
Didn't MG switch over to composite shafts now? I know my W45 is composite and I thought once the Tour model was discontinued they went to composite.
J Francho reply :
Meh, what pedal do you like better?
38 Super Fan reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 11:19 PM, Choporoz said:I could have written this. My experience is with transom mounts and with MK chargers, but similar experience. I have one MK TM that is 8-9 years old and going strong. But more recent products aren't getting it done for me. I had another MK TM which had a switch crap out after less than 2 yrs, and lower unit AND second switch fail within another year. I went through a number of bad chargers. Customer service/warranty service were always top-notch, and I'd always belived MK was the better, longer lasting product.....but I, too, have wondered if QC isn't slipping...and if I should switch.
Minn Kota definitely isn't building them like they used to IMO. I had an old one on my Tracker, that thing was build like a tank compared to the new edge I just bought. Hell, they didn't even tighten half the screws in my new one before they shipped it. I don't know if MG is any better, but I'm very disappointed with the way MK has gone downhill.
clh121787 reply :
My x5 80 has been pretty good for the most part. The new design eliminates a lot of torque steer compared to my old maxxum. But I still prefer a fortrex. I logged a few hours on a friend's ultrex it's pretty incredible . that's gonna be next year's tax return upgrade
crypt reply :
flip a coin and close your eyes........
12poundbass reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 6:17 AM, clh121787 said:My x5 80 has been pretty good for the most part. The new design eliminates a lot of torque steer compared to my old maxxum. But I still prefer a fortrex. I logged a few hours on a friend's ultrex it's pretty incredible . that's gonna be next year's tax return upgrade
This is what I was talking about. The Xi5 vs the Utrex that's Cadillac vs Chevy like you said. Everything else is the same across the board.
clh121787 reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 7:44 AM, 12poundbass said:This is what I was talking about. The Xi5 vs the Utrex that's Cadillac vs Chevy like you said. Everything else is the same across the board.
Ultrex blows the xi5 out of the water. Cable power steer vs electric steer. I'll take a cable steer over any electric steer any day. I've operated several electric steer motors ulterra, terrors, xi5, and I can't stand them. But it's personal preference. They do have great features. Spotlock lock link etc. But those don't out way the feel of a cable steer to me.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 1:31 AM, 12poundbass said:Didn't MG switch over to composite shafts now? I know my W45 is composite and I thought once the Tour model was discontinued they went to composite.
They might have, haven't had to look at a TM for several years thankfully. I have an older model MG on my johnboat that has the metal shaft but it barely reaches the water and is on a much lighter boat so if I do hit something it has much less weight to damage it. I had a boater bend a MG shaft at about a 45* angle hitting a stump square on 100% at Truman Lake, MO during a tournament several years ago, wasn't fun.
12poundbass reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 9:59 AM, clh121787 said:Ultrex blows the xi5 out of the water. Cable power steer vs electric steer. I'll take a cable steer over any electric steer any day. I've operated several electric steer motors ulterra, terrors, xi5, and I can't stand them. But it's personal preference. They do have great features. Spotlock lock link etc. But those don't out way the feel of a cable steer to me.
I'm in agreence with you on the Ultrex. All the other models are pretty much the same across the board.
3dees reply :
I was a life long motorguide user. last year I got a new X5. first trip out and the direction arrow went crazy. took the head off and could not fix it. called MG and they told me there was no fix yet. I was surprised at the cheap plastic parts inside the head. bought a new boat this year with a Fortrex. love the motor. MG should never have discontinued the Tour models.
12poundbass reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 9:04 PM, 3dees said:I was a life long motorguide user. last year I got a new X5. first trip out and the direction arrow went crazy. took the head off and could not fix it. called MG and they told me there was no fix yet. I was surprised at the cheap plastic parts inside the head. bought a new boat this year with a Fortrex. love the motor. MG should never have discontinued the Tour models.
I'll start by saying I currently have a MG and have had a MK. I've had no issues with either.
My brother in law used to work at Attwood in Lowell, MI which is where a ton of the MG TM's are assembled. He has said they have in the past few years switched over to more cheap plastic parts and have had several issues since then. It's not a dig against MG by any means, more of a "listen to your customers"
clh121787 reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 9:04 PM, 3dees said:I was a life long motorguide user. last year I got a new X5. first trip out and the direction arrow went crazy. took the head off and could not fix it. called MG and they told me there was no fix yet. I was surprised at the cheap plastic parts inside the head. bought a new boat this year with a Fortrex. love the motor. MG should never have discontinued the Tour models.
My x5 has that problem. But it doesn't bother me anymore. Which is the beauty of a cable drive you learn by feel, muscle memory and foot position which way you're going to go. But none the less after buying a 1000 dollar unit I surely didn't expect the arrow to go out after a few months. Plus 1 for fortrex
gimruis reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 7:57 PM, 12poundbass said:Chevy vs Ford
Ford > Chevy 
Junk Fisherman reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 9:59 AM, clh121787 said:Ultrex blows the xi5 out of the water. Cable power steer vs electric steer. I'll take a cable steer over any electric steer any day. I've operated several electric steer motors ulterra, terrors, xi5, and I can't stand them. But it's personal preference. They do have great features. Spotlock lock link etc. But those don't out way the feel of a cable steer to me.
For a nearly 50% higher price, I hope for your sake the Ultrex is a better motor.
With that being said, the Xi5 turns incredibly fast. In over a year of use I have never been in a situation where the motor did not turn fast enough. I have some minor design issues with the motor but overall I am happy with the Xi5. Love the wireless pedal. 8/10
clh121787 reply :
On 8/6/2017 at 8:45 AM, Junk Fisherman said:
For a nearly 50% higher price, I hope for your sake the Ultrex is a better motor.
With that being said, the Xi5 turns incredibly fast. In over a year of use I have never been in a situation where the motor did not turn fast enough. I have some minor design issues with the motor but overall I am happy with the Xi5. Love the wireless pedal. 8/10
You like it for the same reason I dislike it. Wireless pedal. Can't do it.
Further North reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 8:47 AM, Bass2124 said:All the reviews say Minn Kota are the better motors
Really? All of them? I must be reading the wrong ones... 
They're both great motors from great companies. Go with the one that has the features and performance you prefer.
Further North reply :
I'm not going to say this is the problem the OP is experiencing...but with one exception every person I know who has "burned out" a trolling motor has not had anywhere near enough motor for their boat.
I saw that the OP had 12 volt units...but no mention of the size of the boat...I would not run a 12 volt unit on any boat bigger than a pretty light 15 footer...even there, I had a 55 lb. Terrova on a Tracker V-14 Pro...and it was usually out of juice by the end of the day after running hard all day. I seldom run my 36 volt Ulterra above 4 with the exceptions being heavy current or very high winds.
When a motor is under-powered for its application, it gets run on "high" all the time and often for longer than it would were it matched to the boat better.
Junk Fisherman reply :
On 8/8/2017 at 6:54 AM, clh121787 said:You like it for the same reason I dislike it. Wireless pedal. Can't do it.
You enjoy having a wire on the deck?
tcbass reply :
On 8/9/2017 at 3:58 AM, Junk Fisherman said:
You enjoy having a wire on the deck?
Only negative about my Ulterra. Because I move the pedal around, it would be nice to have wireless pedal with a backup cable.
Further North reply :
A wire on the deck is no big deal unles you are somehow trying to stand between the pedal and the trolling motor and do something...and I can't think of anything important that needs to be done in that 12" space.
tcbass reply :
On 8/12/2017 at 10:01 AM, Further North said:A wire on the deck is no big deal unles you are somehow trying to stand between the pedal and the trolling motor and do something...and I can't think of anything important that needs to be done in that 12" space.
I move around a lot on the deck and sometimes fish two people, I don't want to step on it and damage it if at all possible.
Russ E reply :
with most models it is a Ford vs Chevy type of argument. I have owned both.
The Ultrex is completely different. It has changed the way I fish. The wind almost always blows here in Kansas.
A cable steer motor with Auto Pilot and Spotlock gives me a lot more time fishing and less time controlling the boat.
Further North reply :
On 8/12/2017 at 11:20 AM, tcbass said:
I move around a lot on the deck and sometimes fish two people, I don't want to step on it and damage it if at all possible.
You wouldn't damage it unless you're wearing metal cleats...I'm exaggerating a bit, to make the point, but both Motor Guide and Minn Kota build the units with the expectation that they are going to get used in a pretty rough environment...
But as I said above, if you're managing your cable (I coil up my excess and secure it with zip ties, there's little reason to have much more than about 2 foot of loose cable and mine is more like a foot), there's not a lot of times you'll be between the pedal and the motor...there's just no that much room up there...
tcbass reply :
On 8/13/2017 at 1:15 AM, Further North said:You wouldn't damage it unless you're wearing metal cleats...I'm exaggerating a bit, to make the point, but both Motor Guide and Minn Kota build the units with the expectation that they are going to get used in a pretty rough environment...
But as I said above, if you're managing your cable (I coil up my excess and secure it with zip ties, there's little reason to have much more than about 2 foot of loose cable and mine is more like a foot), there's not a lot of times you'll be between the pedal and the motor...there's just no that much room up there...
You're probably right about not damaging it. I have mine zip tied and about 2 feet of wire hanging out too. I just don't like stepping on it. It's a $2,400 motor, I'd just hate to damage the cord and break it.
Further North reply :
On 8/13/2017 at 2:37 AM, tcbass said:
You're probably right about not damaging it. I have mine zip tied and about 2 feet of wire hanging out too. I just don't like stepping on it. It's a $2,400 motor, I'd just hate to damage the cord and break it.
Yep...for some piece of mind, cords can be replaced pretty cheaply.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
I'm a die-hard MK fan myself. Never had an issue with mine unlike with MG. But... My newest boat came with a perfectly working MG so i will use it till it goes out.
Further North reply :
On 8/12/2017 at 11:45 AM, Weedwhacker said:with most models it is a Ford vs Chevy type of argument. I have owned both.
The Ultrex is completely different. It has changed the way I fish. The wind almost always blows here in Kansas.
A cable steer motor with Auto Pilot and Spotlock gives me a lot more time fishing and less time controlling the boat.
More time fishing and less time messing with the boat is what Terrova and Ulterra users experienced for years. It absolutely changes the way you fish.
Combining that functionality with the responsiveness of the cable steer is what is revolutionary about the Ultrex.
Give it power trim like the Ultrex and I'll upgrade tomorrow!
...What'd be really cool would be auto-power trim so that if the sonar senses bottom less than...say 6"...under the motor it'd come up by itself. With a way to disable it of course...or some fisherman would complain it'd snap the rods he left on the TM, somehow...
tcbass reply :
On 8/14/2017 at 8:41 AM, Further North said:More time fishing and less time messing with the boat is what Terrova and Ulterra users experienced for years. It absolutely changes the way you fish.
Combining that functionality with the responsiveness of the cable steer is what is revolutionary about the Ultrex.
Give it power trim like the Ultrex and I'll upgrade tomorrow!
...What'd be really cool would be auto-power trim so that if the sonar senses bottom less than...say 6"...under the motor it'd come up by itself. With a way to disable it of course...or some fisherman would complain it'd snap the rods he left on the TM, somehow...
Auto trim would be cool. The new Etec has auto trim, although it's for getting the boat on plane, not ground clearance.
Further North reply :
On 8/14/2017 at 9:15 AM, tcbass said:
Auto trim would be cool.
It would. Be nice to not have to worry about running a $2800 (the Ultrex is $2700) trolling motor into the bottom...
I wish they made a short shaft 112 Ulterra with iPilot Link. The shortest one they have is 60".
tcbass reply :
On 8/14/2017 at 10:08 AM, Further North said:It would. Be nice to not have to worry about running a $2800 (the Ultrex is $2700) trolling motor into the bottom...
I wish they made a short shaft 112 Ulterra with iPilot Link. The shortest one they have is 60".
I can't believe they don't, that's not very smart.
I think you can cut down the shaft length, but that would probably void warranty and who wants to take a saw to their $2,700 motor.
Further North reply :
On 8/14/2017 at 10:31 AM, tcbass said:I think you can cut down the shaft length, but that would probably void warranty and who wants to take a saw to their $2,700 motor.
No-can-do on Ulterras. The toothed belt length is programmed into the software that deploys and trims the motor.
I asked right away...that motor head can be a PITA sticking up in shallow water.
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