Pro and Cons to Motor Guide vs Min Kota

[PhilAddison]

yamahacatI will tell you to get a MotorGuide due to the following reasons.1. Digital technology has made MotorGuide the most reliable trolling motor built.2. Foot pedal is made out of metal, not plastic like Minn Kota. In addition, the steering system is superior and you will never have to worry about breaking a cable on a MotorGuide Tour Series troller.3. Weighs much less than a Minn Kota and delivers more power!4. MotorGuide shaft length of 48″ is much better looking than the 52″ Minn Kota.5. MotorGuide shaft will bend, not break such as that of the Minn Kota.6. The Minn Kota is more weedless if you stay with the standard MotorGuide prop, but if you get the MotorGuide Hydrilla Hacker prop then the MotorGuide is just as weedless.If youve had MotorGuide in the past and you like them, then the decision is easy due to they are better today then they were 3,4,5 years ago.The built in transducer is the way to go if you desire to see whats under the troller. It is very reliable. I usually get a built in transducer on the troller and then have a spare mounted in the bow of the boat. Good luck with your decision.

[BIGDOG]

I think the Minn Kota is the only way to go. I never have carried a spare wwhile running Minn Kota, but I always carried at least 2 with Motorguide.

[jignpig]

I have used both, mainly Motor Guide on my Cats. I now have a Minn Kota Maxxum on my refurbished Eyra. Plenty of power, VERY quiet. Have yet to see Minn Kota shaft broken unless doing something stupid. Have had access to 2 FTDs with Minn Kotas, absolutely no problems, fishing stump filled Lake Fork and Lake Millwood in Arkansas. Minn Kota has a 45″ shaft that is plenty unless you are in the big open water type waves. If that is the case, the 48″ MG wont be much better.Basically comes down to buyer choice. Yes, Minn Kota uses a cable system vs. digital. I have replaced a broken cable on the water before(and it was Motor Guide), years ago. But if the digital goes out, what does that do??Since buying the MK, I have noticed more of them, but that is mainly because I am looking for them. I have noticed some of the old OMC tm as well.Both are good trolling motors, and I am sure have good warranties(Minn Kota has a 3 year).BTW, I prefer a tm transducer if I am up on deck.Good luck on your choices.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner

[Michael Whitten]

I will amen everything that Phil Addison said about the new Digital Guardian Tour Edition Trolling Motors. They are without doubt the most impressive trolling motors Ive ever run. They are NOT the Motorguide TE 109s of a few years back. If you have not run a Motorguide in the past 3 years, then you have not run a Motorguide. I ran a Minn Kota a prior to the new Digital Advantage technology, and it was a good motor. Had to replace two switches in it, and it was heavy as lead, but not a bad motor.For Jig an Pig–Phils reference to Digital has NOTHING to do with how the motor is steered. That is still a pull/pull stainless steel cable system, and one that has been very reliable over the years. Digital refers to the electronics, now sealed in the foot of the motor in epoxy, so that they are completely waterproof and stay much cooler than the old motors that had electronics in the top as well. This is the key difference in the new generation Motorguides.As far as built in transducers, Ive had good luck and bad with those. I always carry a spare that I can put on the foot of the trolling motor, if the built in fails. This is a factor of the electronics, and has nothing to do with MK or MG.Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN

[TexCaboCat]

Whatever advatange the MG had on the MK being digital is now mute because MK went 100% digital in the 2007 models. They both are great trolling motors now. Buy what you want with confidence. I prefer the MK. In fact I sold the MG that came on my cat to get a MK because I prefer them and they perform much better in the weeds and grass on Lake Fork.God Bless, Stephen

[john1112]

I had my MK worked on by an authorized MK and MG service guy. I spent most of the day witth him and he was adminant MK was more reliable and quieter. Ive owned MK so I cant really compare but according to him, he sees many more MGs for repair than MK.

[billius]

Ive had both…currently have a MG Digital Tour Edition now. Both are good motors. I like the MG better because its easier to pull up out of the water, unless you have the optional lift assist on the MK. That all being said. I doubt that it makes a nickels worth of difference.

[jignpig]

Michael, I should have referenced that a little different. I know the cables are used by MG. I meant that while cables can and do break, a digital panel going out can do in a day of fishing. There has been so much talk of digital and how advanced the technology is, and now MK comes out with digital. There are plusses and minuses to each motor. These days, I do more fun fishing than tournaments, but I trust the equipment I use to function the way it is intended. And both can do the job… it is buyers choice.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner

[basschaser]

I havent run a Digital MG but I have never had the reason too. Yes, I had 2 MKs that the switch in the pedal went out and had to be replaced. Cheap part ($15) and about a 15 minute fix and both of them gave me indications that I had problems before they became unuseable. That is the only problem I have ever had w/ a MK trolling motor and I have been running them for almost 10 years.They are heavier but I base that on the better 360 breakaway mount that you dont have to manually reset (I know the new MGs dont have to manually be reset like the old gatormounts used to). The MaxPro mount w/ lift assist negates this issue and is a huge difference than the older MKs that I used to run.I have never seen a broken MK shaft although I have heard they will break. But so will a Mack truck if you hit something hard enough. I have hit stumps that I thought shouldve broke the shaft but never have. The MK shaft is warrantied for the lifetime if deemed a material or workmanship issue.I did have a buddy break a cable this year but he hit a stump and kept his foot on the pedal and didnt allow it to turn with the impact. I also had 2 buddies that had bad amatures replace under warranty both were useable they just had a bad spot in the amature that required you to turn the prop if you tried to start the motor when in a certain location but they were able to use it thru the day until they could get it repaired.The MK is quieter, more weedless and shaft wont bend to the point you cant use them is the reasons I have stuck with them.I would personally get the universal sonar in whichever motor you pick. The MK US2 transducer includes a temp sensor that their previous model didnt have. You will have to buy a patch cable depending on the sonar unit you have, they make one for each sonar manufacturer.Good luck, it sounds like they are both making a decent unit get which one you are comfortable with.Judd Lasiter

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