MinnKota vs Motor guide help needed

I’m looking for any advice to help me decide between a 24 volt MinnKota Maxxum 74# bow mount/foot control and a comparable 24 volt Motor Guide (looks like either a 71# or 82#). I’ve been a Motor Guide man for years. But recently, I’ve had people tell me that Minn Kotas have passed up Motor guide in technology and quality. I know this may be like a Ford vs. Chevy question, but I am looking for any advice. I fish mostly current in the river so I need long lasting power, but take trips to Leech lake and need something that can take a beating in waves and wind. I also fish a lot of heavy weeds (wild rice and lily pads) for bass, so I need something that runs very weedless. I’m not concerned much about selecting the right pound thrust, but I’m thinking about quality and dependability. And I’m just looking at the basic bow mount, cable driven foot control, not auto pilots or remote controls. Any advice on either the Maxxum or comparable motor guides is much appreciated!!!
thanks
Randy

Maxxum… I have owned both, MinnKota is the way to go! I have 4-5 buddies that have the Maxxum too, all of them love them too. You just can’t go wrong. On the flip side, I am very curious to see how Motor Guide does with the new PTS or whatever they call it; the old Pinpoint technology. I would strongly reccomend the Maxxum- with the longest shaft you can get.

MinnKota all the way.Myself i wouldnt even think about another Motor Guide.Nope!

i got a little 12 vilt minkota 35 lb thrust maxium it goes threw the weeds like no tomorrow and the bigger ones do to

ill cut right threw the heart of the thickest weebeds on the lake and generally dont miss a beat

motor guide has supposedly solved all there problems with there troling motors the new digital seris is suposed to be better

http://www.bassfan.com has a product review of them

my vote is minkota

I have had both in the past and have yet to have problems with either. If I was going to buy again I guess I would have to go with Minnkota. I have heard more horror stories about the Motor guides than I have the Minnkotas.

I had had two MinnKotas and both had problems. I have had a MotorGuide for the last 4 years that has been better motor, but not perfect. All were transom mounts. I think will try the Minnkota the next time as I do like the tilt handle.

In the transom mounts I don’t think there is much of a difference any more between the two brands. For a bow mount, look closely at all the extra mounting hardware.

Dave Gulczinski

The Chevy Ford analogy is right on. I have been happy with my MinnKota and have also had MotorGuides that were trouble free.

The new MotorGuides are coming out with the Sonar Ready series with a built in transducer. Compatible with Bottom Line, Eagel/Lowrance, Garmin, Pinpoint and Humminbird. They also have some cool stuff with the Digital Steering and PTSv Tracking system. (Like the old PinPoint shore track and creek track)

I did not see this new stuff listed on their website, but am sitting here looking at a fancy brochure I picked up at the Boat Show. If I was in the market for a new bow mount, I’d be taking a serious look at the new MotorGuides.

Jon J.

Yeah, this is a issue that could go many ways.
PErsonally, I had Motor guides both bow and transom mounts on my previous boats and had both units repaired 2 times on one unit and 3 times in another in ONE season. Evidently, the circuit boards were the problem child in these particular models. I had the 24V in both motors, I forget what exact model numbers they were. The motors were not bad motors from a functionality standpoint, but mine were problems struck from the get go!

Since then, I went back to the Maxxum 101 motor from Minn Kota and have been 100% trouble free with this unit. This unit delivers everything I could ask for in my style of fishing.
Good luck in your purchase!