Minn Kota v Motorguide

[Screaming_Eagle]

I'm looking for a 55pd bow-mount electric and was wanting any comments you have on the performance of minn kota v motorguide. i've used the minn kota freshwater maxuum and it's easy to operate. the motorguides appear cheaper but i've been told they are more difficult to operate. any thoughts?

[bassfanatic5]

I had a 54 magnum motorguide on my last boat and couldn't say a bad word about it. The 54 magnum had pulse width modulation which helped get longer battery life. I sold it with the boat but when i went to buy one for the new boat you can only get P W M on 24v motorguides and they are a lot dearer to buy and then the cost of 2 batterys as well. So i ended up geting a minnkota with maximizer ( similer to P W M) on the new boat cheaper. I must say that having had both motors i find each had good and bad points. I will say that if you want to stay in the 12v league buy the minnkota as the maximizer gives better battery life. If you go 24v get a motorguide greatwhite with pulse width modulation. After getting used to the motorguide foot control i prefferd it to the minnkota but that could be because i used it the most.
Damien

[Zeeke]

Motorguide = Useless as tits on a canetoad

Minnkota = Just as useless but easier to control and modify ;)

Ive owned both and still own a Minn Kota.. both 55lbers.. Motorguide was great but, steering is shocking, being cable steer, and the foot pedal being up high, you will get cramps in your leg after long periods, with the cable, steering at high speeds can be dificult, if you over compensate while steering and motoring along, the motor can get away from you and whip around to another direction, possibly driving you into another boat, pylon, tree stump and so on, either way, can be dangerous!. another down point, cable is only 5ft long.. and not very flexible so you cant move the foot pedal around the floor to fish different directions, you end up spending more time looking at the floor trying to steer then fish.. you might aswell use a tiller

Minnkota, nice motor, easier to use, foot pedal is small and has a long cable.. 16ft if i remember correctly which means you can fish and steer anywhere in the boat, down side is, steering is a fraction slower, but you do have a full 360 degreee turning and the some.. due to the flexible cable going to the head of the electric, down side is, the plug on the foot pedal is prone to corroding, but if looked after and treated with some Inox based product, you wont have any problems, then you have the autopilot feature on the minnkota, if you feel like trolling, just set the speed, set the direction and put it into constant on and you can troll a lure or 2 behind the boat, or if your keen on casting, set the boat to run along the bank while casting lures at snags.. or for just holding position on a snag during a windy day or when theres a current

then you can get addons for the minnkota.. called Co-Pilot, i have one on mine which i ordered from the states,.. first in australia according to customs.. cost $450.. and it gives me the same control as a foot control, but its a wireless remote, with upto 20 meters of control over the electric, its about the size of a car alarm remote and you can wear it wrist mounted or mounted via a clip on your rod and use your thumb to control it, extremely awesome bit of kit!! its waterproof and floats aswell..

The device that steers the motor for the co-pilot screws into the side plate on the electric then plugs in where the foot control is, then you plug the foot control into the spare plug provided by the co-pilot, giving you both remote control and foot control at the same time, so you can fish anywhere on the boat with full control over the electric!!

Tim

[scott_b]

Zeeke
Mate ,you dont realize how much this helps for a new buyer who hasnt had an electric before.
Thanks mate wamjam

[Fitzy]

I dont always want to be standing on the bow so cable steer motors are out for me when using a leccy & I really enjoy the ease of use the Auto-Pilot gives.

So its gotta be a Minn Kota for me. Long control cable, Auto Pilot & a true maximizer.

Cheers,

fitzy..

[craigie]

If you intend to use your Leccy for trolling, go the Minn Kota !! If your going to spend ALL your time up on the front casting deck, pay close attention to Zeeks comments ;)

I prefer the minn Kota. Had a couple (Bow Mount & Transom mount) that have done the job for me. Hmm my next might have to be the 65lb AP Bow Mount ????

Cheers Craigie.

[Zeeke]

lol Craigie, my comments are only those from what ive found and discovered owning both brands of Electrics.. 65lb would pull the southwind along nicely, but you should go to a 75lb.. then you'll be able to ski behind it ;)

i do 50% of my casting on the front deck, unfortunately since im such a nice guy, usually when i take guys out fishing, its easier to just let them fish up the front while i stand down the back next to the side console with my fly line and spin lines tangling up with the steering wheel and controls, but oh well hehehe

Minn Kotas are by far better quality then the Motorguides, i think the motorguides are seriously only getting good mention due to being so cheap (good for a guy on a very strict budget) and most of the pro guys being given them.. id actually knock back a motorguide if someone wanted to give me a brand new one, ive got a big 5cm diameter hole in the front of my boat just to feed the wire cable through for the motorguide, the wire cable was too short and when the motor was deployed, it left the foot pedal hanging over the bow in mid air..smart move by motorguide there! 20mins of unscrewing wires and cables to fit the foot pedal! Not Happy Jan! bring the minnkota on!

Tim

[flattymattyb]

Hi Guys,

Hey zeeke I have read about that co pilot on the net thought it would be great for those days when your by yourself and you get back to the boat ramp to find three boats (or more) between where you can beach and the ramp just back the car down push the boat out and steer it to your waiting hand at your trailer. I'd love to see the look on some peoples faces as you pushed a captianless boat away from the beach and proceeded to drive by remote control which if I am not mistaken would be small enough to conceal in a pocket etc ;D ;D ;D ;D.

But seriously do you think it would be capable of this as it could come in quite handy on occasion. Besides the fact that it would be bloody brillinat for fighting fish in water with a bit of swell like along kalinga bank on a rising tide, or the seaway which could be fun trying to balance on one foot ;D

Cheers
Matty