Any of you have experience with Motorguide TM. I have two Minn Kotas, both work but I see MG has a manual control much like MK but $100+ less. I’m going to use the simplest most basic model for the Watermen so I need to start looking into them.
These two are what I’ve found. If anyone knows of a different brand, please let me know.
I went simplest with a minn kota I think it is an edge bow mount for my sons jon and should’ve spent an extra $100 and got the variable speed with the digital maximizer. The one I got has 1-5 speed forward and maybe 3 reverse. It is a battery killer. It takes as much current on 1 as it does on 6 because it uses resistance for the speed control. The digital maximizer uses pulse length variation to control speed. Similar to a vfd kinda. The ones with 0-100% are the good ones not the 5 speeds. His you can’t seem to get to go slow enough and do a lot of on off crap to stay in the sweet spot spider rigging. As far as minn kota vs motor guide Ive had 1 motor guide and had no trouble but was 30 yrs ago. I love my minn kota.
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I’ll keep that in mind.
I’ve had both along the way. No major issues with either. I had to replace the speed controller on a MK at one point, no big deal. I held out being a stubborn Luddite for many years trying to avoid the complexities of the newer tech. Now that I have a remote unit with spot lock I’m never going back. I can guide anywhere on the boat and even fish at the same time. Only issue now is getting the guy on the bow to strip into the cockpit. I’ve had a few fly lines chewed up while on spot lock.
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Avoid Motorguide like the plague. I had one that needed repair and took it to a shop. I asked the tech if I should pay for repair or buy a new one - he opened the door to his shop and there were no less than probably 30 Motorguides hanging up in line for repair. He told me he’d be honest with me and said they keep him in business, but he’d never buy one. I went with Minn Kota after that and sold the MG for parts.
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@Birdyshooter
I did that to myself, chew up a Fl that is
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@coconutgroves
You’re the second person I’ve heard that from however, I live near a MK service center, Ables marine. Whenever I go there they have a dozen MKs waiting for service.
Thanks for sharing that
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I would keep an eye out for people upgrading from the KISS - keep it simple…to others like the MOVE, Garmin, etc.
I would give a call to your local service center…here in South Florida…many times when an angler upgrades at a shot like Master Repair or Inshore Marine Specialties, they just leave the older unit if it’s a hassle to sell…or will have the shop sell it for pennies on the $.
I had an older MK as my first TM and installed the Master Repair extension handle…worked great…
DC
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I have been running a MG Xi3 for a couple years now. It’s a 55# thrust/12-volt model running on a lithium battery. No complaints. I did cut the shaft down for a better fit, but it pulls my side console Mosquito around with ease. I do not have the anchor mode, but the remote is nice.
Since MotorGuide has been discontinued, you may be able to find a deal on one, Vinny.
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@VinnyL If you want the SIMPLIST set up for that super minimal skiff, I will send a pic of mine. I only want the TM in the fall, when I am fishing solo, plug and spin, the water is too deep and brown to sight fish. All the rest of the time, you don’t want that thing on there. I use a 12v transom mount with the head turned 180 deg. Paired with a Birdsall TM deck mount system. Four machine screws removes the TM. The round plate is the only thing that stays. It’s not as convenient to deploy or stow, but it’s way lighter.
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Same here with the cut down shaft as well, except I’m running a group 27 wet cell battery. I can fish 2+ days on a charge, and that’s pushing around in heavy current. The only issue I ever had was water intrusion into the steering box, or transmission as they call it. I don’t know how it happened, I just know MG wouldn’t warranty it. I bought another one, swapped it out myself, then tore the old one down and rebuilt it. It works but makes a little noise.
The insulation on the pigtail from the base to head did crack and peel after several years, but because of where my boat is parked, it gets sunshine on it a lot.
The lanyard remote is simple with only motor speed and left/right steering, easy to operate without looking at it.
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There were a few years where the pigtail wiring harness coating cracked. Had it happen as well. Known issue and it was fixed with a different insulation compound, I was told by MG.
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Good point - I am located in Austin and so was the shop, so the majority of the trolling motors were freshwater Motorguides. At the ocean I can easily see Minn Kota being the majority in use, so as a result more would need repairs.
From my experience, my Minn Kota as been solid, although some small issues here and there.
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@coconutgroves
Well thought out!
Sir, what kind of operation are you running? I know guide fees are high, but making some guy strip in the cockpit for a trip seems extreme! 
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