Trolling Motors

[Gator]

I'm seriously thinking of replacing my Merc Thruster with a Minn-Kota or Motor Guide. I can't seem to tell which is the better choice. I personally like the Minn-Kota's shaft since it's flexible but the Motor Guide has a pedal I like best. I'm looking at the 42" AT by Minn-Kota, a 12v system foot control. Any ideas on which is the BETTER CHOICE???
THANKS
Gator

 

[Fishheadspin]

motor guide is better i think. Minn kota has had many issues in the last few years. to much plastic involved. i have a minn kota however and after it has been fixed a few times it does still work. But according to ETM motorguide digital is the best one out there right now.

 

[DHaun]

Gator, I have a bow-mount 42" MinnKota Foot controlled 40AT on my 18' G3. It has worked out well so far and seems really tough and reliable. I left it down and forgot about it once taking off. I thought it would have been bent by all the water it threw up in my face but ended up being just fine. I do not have any seats on my boat since I almost always stand when I fish. The foot control is nearly all composite plastic and lightweight. I rarely use the trolling motor so maybe I am out of practice but I do find the foot control a bit awkward to use standing-up - it's probably a lot easier sitting down, but I really have only used it when trolling for crappie or netting bait.

 

[Gator]

Thanks much for the input. The one I'm considering is the 55AT by Minn-Kota. My boat is 17 1/2 Procraft (can't remember the weight) and I'm thinking the 55 lb thrust should do the job just fine. What do you think?
Thanks
Gator

 

[DHaun]

I would think a 55AT would definitely have the power your looking for. The 40AT does fine on my G3 1860. I sometimes almost lose my balance when its cranked all the way up and I change direction, but like I said it's kind of awkward operating it standing up and I do not have a real need for speed. Mine is new and has not been used a whole lot so I cannot provide any input on long-term durability or reliability.

 

[Fishheadspin]

i have a 50 lb thrust minn kota. 18 ft javelin. 50 will be good anything higher with a 12 volt would suck the life out ofyour batteries. i would look at the minn kota digitals before you buy if money is not an issue. the break away mount is MUCH MUCH better. trust me i have bent the minn kota shaft several times. Partner has the MG and it is a better system.

 

[beetlespin]

I had a 74lb minn kota on my 20ft stratos and i couldnt wait to get rid of it. had several problems. the breakaway mount worked right one time and then never again. i replaced it with a motorguide digital and like it much better. i would definetely reccommend it over the minn kota.

NFCTHP

 

[SNUFFY]

GATOR I KNOW YOUR LOOKING AT OTHER MOTORS BUT IF YOU COULD FIND A JOHNSON OR EVINRUDE...THERE KINDA LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY THEY JUST KEEP ON RUNNING..AND I THINK THEY ARE QUIETER THAN MOST..... IT ALSO HAS A BREAKAWAY CABLE TYPE SYSTEM FOR WHEN RUN INTO A LOG OR SOMETHING...JUST REACH DOWN AND PULL IT BACK TO NORMAL POSITION.......THE ONE I HAVE NOW(54LB 12/24 VOLT) CAME WITH THE BOAT IN `94...I`VE REPLACED ONE STEERING CABLE AND LET SOME FISHING LINE RUIN THE SEAL AT THE PROP LAST YEAR...REPLACE WHOLE BOTTOM UNIT(THE MOTOR) WITH NEW ONE FOR ABOUT 60$ AND INSTALLED MYSELF IN ABOUT AN HOUR...EASY...WILL PUSH MY `20 BULLET IN ALL BUT THE WORST WIND IN 12/VOLT MODE...MY LAST BOAT WAS A`75 15FT ALLISON AND IT WAS A 70`S MODEL 46LB..BOUGHT IT IN `85 AND SOLD IT IN 97` AND ONLY CHANGED CABLE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND HAD TO FIX A COUPLE OF WIRES IN THE HEAD... YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS UP WHEN MERCURY OWNED BOATMAKERS RIG THEIR BOATS WITH JOHNSON TROLLING MOTORS..ONLY PROBLEM IS THEY QUIT MAKING THEM WHEN BOMBARDIER BOUGHT JOHNSON....YOU CAN STILL FIND THEM SOMETIMES AT DEALERS AND FOR ABOUT 6-700$ THEIR HARD TO BEAT,, QUIET, SIMPLE, AND RELIABLE...BEEN FISHING WITH A FRIEND FOR LAST YEAR OR SO AND HE HAS ONE OF THE PINPOINT MOTORGUIDE ELECTRONIC THINGS AND IT IS NICE WHEN YOU SET ON THE DEPTH FOLLOWING MODE...BUT HE`S HAD IT BACK TO THE FACTORY ONCE AND HAD SOME ERROR THINGS POP UP A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR...I`LL PROBABLY GO WITH A MG IF AND WHEN I CAN`T GET PARTS FOR MY JOHNSON...BUT I`M LOOKING FOR A NEW JOHNSON IN THE BACK OF SOME DEALERS STOCK TO STASH BACK...THAT SHOULD CARRY ME THRU THE REST OF MY FISHING LIFE......20 PLUS YEARS OF HARD USE AND ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF PARTS IS HARD TO BEAT

 

[Gator]

Snuffy, I appreciate the info on the Johnson or Evenrude. I'm beginning to doubt the reliability of the Minn-Kota for sure. Motor Guide appears to have a bette rep. My old (1985 model) Thruster still works just fine, thing is it's noisy and everyone says they are always noisy. I was hoping for a quite T motor when I got it but it came on the boat and has been very durable.
Gator

 

[SNUFFY]

YEAH IT`S HARD TO GET RID OF OLD RELIABLE...THE NEW ELECTRONIC THINGS ARE NICE ,,,BUT YOU PAY FOR THE FANCYSTUFF IN RELIABILITY...MY BUDDY`S PINPOINT MG IS NICE AND THE TERRAIN FOLLOWING FEATURE IS NICE AND WORKS GOOD ON FLATS BUT ON A PLACE LIKE BLUFFS AND DROPOFF THEY WORK THEIR SELF TO DEATH...LITERALLY ..THE LITTLE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTORS WERE A PROBLEM WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO BUT I THINK THEY ARE BETTER NOW...AND IT SEEMS AWFULLY NOISY TO ME BUT THEY SELL ALOT OF `EM....I`M KINDA HOPING BOMBARDIER WILL START MAKING THE JOHNSONS AGAIN NOW THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OUTBOARD DIVISION GOING GOOD AGAIN

 

[RangerRob]

... I'm another fan of the old OMC's. Mine on my current Ranger will be coming with me when I trade up one of these days.

This is always a hot topic on BFHP and the concensus there seems to lean slightly toward MK on the current models - of course, the real concensus is that they ALL suck and the old OMC's just need to be brought back! It seems the fancier MK & MG try to get with their technology, the more they sacrifice reliability. Facts are facts though: fisherman are HARD on gear and there isn't a one of us that doesn't take to the water on any given day with something - in or on the boat - that isn't functioning at 100% ... T-motors, reels, big motors, batteries, etc.

 

[Marsh]

I've got the MK with "Co-Pilot" feature. That's a radio-frequency controller the size of a silver dollar that mounts on my fishing rod. I can controll on/off, speed, and direction with the buttons on the controller, while I am fishing, from anywhere on the boat. REALLY came in handy las year while fishing alone and battling a big redfish round and round the boat!

I think the competing models probably offer the equivalent feature, but do not know what they call it. It's the best advance in trollers since the foot control, IMHO. I highly recommend it, especially if you fish alone, or like to move around the boat.

Marsh

 

[SNUFFY]

you know it`s a loud statement when a boat dealer sells boats powered by mercury outboards and puts a johnson or evinrude trolling motor on it. we can only hope somebody will realize the potential for a ressurection of omc trolling motors