HELP..New trolling motor? Which brand?

Hi DeeZee

I would vote in favor of a MotorGuide myself. I’ve had two of them in the last 15 years and they have been rock solid for dependability. I had a Minn Kota before that and it was the worst piece of junk that I have EVER owned, and I swore I’d never buy another one. I would probably exceed FTR’s post size limit if I listed everything that went wrong with that thing.

If I was going to be lured back to a Minn Kota, it probably would be for the AutoPilot feature, but I doubt that will happen. I also think the Minn Kota’s mounting brackets are cheesy compared to a MotorGuide Gator mount system. The MK Genesis system looks nice, but the question I would ask myself is “Would I REALLY want an even more complicated Minn Kota?” I don’t think so.

I’ll be interested to see what other people’s experiences have been, but I plan on sticking with MotorGuides.

Good luck.

Dan

I hesitate to post…but here I go. I am a retailer of Motorguide. That being said, For river use, the Minnkota is far more durable. I have 1st hand knowledge of many, many, unhappy Pin Point owners. MotorGuide’s customer service is deplorable (I hope Dave Robinson in Customer Service is reading this) I would be wary of the Genisis unless they have the auto deploy issue settled. But Minnkota’s customer service is excellent.

Bassin Dan,

Thanks for your input and thoughts. I recently left Motorguide because of the problems I was having with the motors and the multiple circuit boards issues I had with them. I have heard of alot of problems with the Pinpoint motors and now I am victim of this as well. I do agree though that Motorguide gator mounts are the most durable on the market today for rough water running. I do have the gator mount on my boat for the Pinpoint t-motor and have been happy with the stability in rough water. I then took it a step further and put a ram ball from the front deck up to the trolling motor bracket to ensure that the head of the motor does not vibrate. I was told that the circuit boards sauder connections can vibrate and crack under some high impact wave jarring.

I have always like the Minn Kota’s for the reliability and the fact that they seemed bullet proof with the results that I have had. I have heard that the Genesis stow/deploy issues have been resolved but unsure of its ability to work every time. I come from the old school thinking that if I keep it mechanical, I can get it in and out of the water manually.

Thanks for comments here. I will wait and see what the service department says about it and go from there.

For me, my Minn Kota AP has worked great. The nice thing about the AP on the river is that you can set it, and then be able to “hang” over a spot very well. My only regret is not getting a 24v system. I didn’t get to test it out in COLD weather last year, so I can’t advise on it’s durability and reliability on that front. By “cold”, I mean breaking ice to get out!

Steve,
You might want to give Bruces outboards (Sauk Rapids) a call and see what he says about the unit. If it’s a total loss or too costly a fix he might take it in on trade-in?? Not sure, but it’s worth a call and he sells MinnKota. I have jumped back and forth from the cable driven pedals to the motor driven units and it’s a real toss up on which is better. The cable units respond quickly, but they bounce (turn) side to side in big waves. The “power pedal” units turn slow, but hold a course in rough water and you can drag the pedal around the boat, which I like when I have customers bass fishing. I steer the boat from the back and give my customers the front of the boat for casting. Just my thoughts and things to consider. Jon

I put a 74lb Maxxum on 19 ft. Charger and used it for 2 years. I liked the motor so well that when I bought a new boat last year I put the same motor on it.

I have to second Bigweav’s choice. I’ve had the 74# maxxum for a couple years also with no problems. I’m used to cable steering so that isn’t an issue for me. Might be for others though. You may want to check into the new Co-Pilots from Minn-Kota.

I have a Minn Kota Maxxum on my boat, and had a Minn Kota on my last boat, MotorGuide before that. I had the exact opposite experience as bassindan. My MinnKota’s have been flawless, and nothing but problems with the Motorguide.

Plus, I believe MotorGuide has a mtal shaft, while MinnKota has a compositie shaft that is very durable and doesn’t bend. I know I beat mine up a couple of times last summer and it came back unscathed. It is more quiet than the MotorGuides I have fished with also.

The Maxxum is a very nice motor.

Steve – Call me – you can have my 3700 for the weekend – having a jack plate installed on my rig and building a deck up at mille lacs…

It is a 24V so you will need to accommodate with your 36V setup if memory serves me correct.

Ted
[email protected]

I bought my first Electric trolling motor last year. The MinnKota 12v Power Glide 55 came with my 17 foot Lund. While on vacation up at Winni, on the 3rd day of a week long vacation, it quit turning to the left. This model has the 18′ cable. With a trip to Grand Rapids, I found that it was under warrenty, but the part would take 4 days to get there. I couldn’t have that, and they wouldn’t trade it in on a Auto Pilot. So I bought the AP straight out. When I returned home I contacted MinnKotas service dept and what the dealer thought the problem was, (a circuit board) wasn’t the problem. With service on the phone we walked through some trouble shooting and found the problem in the foot pedal. Two days later, I had the new foot pedal and my second motor was for sale.
I just have the little 12v 55 lbs of thrust Auto Pilot now and I think it’s the next best thing to my wife controlling the boat….sometimes better, but that’s for another web site.

Personally the auto deploy model seems a little spendy when most of the time the motor is either up…or down. But if you have the money….Hire a EFN guide and have them raise and lower it for you!

AHHH HUMMM!!!! DEE ZEE is a Guide! On POOL 2

Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be ….that funny!

I just laugh easy Brian.

Thanks everyone for your input. Thats exactly why this is the first place I like to bounce ideas off here because I am able to get everyone’s views on their problems or success stories all in the same breath. I think the Maxxum 101lbs thrust (36v) will be getting the nod for me. I need that extra “uummff” when fishing wing dams on Pool 2 and I need it to last me all day long and most days well into the evening as well. This unit seems pretty bullet proof. I will miss the electric foot pedal from the pinpoint versus a big pedal forthe Maxxum, but I cannot have a motor that id down and out.
Thanks again guys for all the help here.

Ted,
Thanks a ton for the offer, I will find out in the next day or so from the Motor Clinic and see what happens. I will give you a buzz later. Thanks again.

Steve,
I am running the 74 pound Maxxum cable drive, and absolutely love it! I have had tons of problems with the AP. This one is so quick, and easy to operate, I cannot see myself going back. Try mine. Do you have Sunday open?
Tuck

Tuck,

Thanks for the offer. I have committments on 2 this weekend again.
Did you get the quick disconnect for the motor?

The 101 should be here early Friday? Anyone want to buy a Pinpoint 2900 cheap? Still runs!

DeeZee:
I had a AP until it deployed while I was underway at full throttle. Unit was totaled. I liked the consept of it but it turned electronicly and it turned to slow. Cable steering is much better. Up graded to the maxxum, I like it but should have got the 74lb unit. A friend of mine has the 101lb on a 20ft tuffy, works great even when Mille Lacs is rockin’ and rollin’. another buddy has the 74lb maxxum on a Lund predator. Both are happy with there choice. Just make sure you get the longest shaft available and the more power the better.

puddlepounder