Trolling Motor Review: Minn Kota vs. MotorGuide (Pros & Cons)
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
- Found In: Boating, Boating Tips, Fishing Tips, Podcast, Weekly Newsletter: 10-24-21
Which trolling motor do you use: a Minn Kota or a MotorGuide?
A trolling motor is a strategic addition to any boat so you can remain stealthy and quietly drift along flats or a shoreline.
What are some things you should look for in a trolling motor?
The best trolling motors are the ones that work best for you and match your boat to enhance your fishing experience while not scaring the fish off!
So listen in as we share our thoughts on the differences between the Minn Kota and the MotorGuide trolling motors.
Check it out below!
You can watch the video version of this podcast below (which I highly recommend), listen to the audio version by clicking the play button underneath it, or listen to it on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.
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Minn Kota vs. MotorGuide [VIDEO]
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Minn Kota vs. MotorGuide [PODCAST]
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Related Podcasts:
- HOW TO DRIFT A FLAT FOR SPECKLED TROUT (PLUS A SECRET GROUPER TRICK)
- HOW TO CATCH LOTS OF FISH (WITHOUT A TROLLING MOTOR OR POWER-POLE)
Here is a timestamped version:
- 1:14 – MotorGuide troubles
- 2:04 – Switch to Minn Kota
- 2:47 – MotorGuide frustrations
- 6:46 – What trolling motor would you choose for a boat today?
- 7:06 – MotorGuide on a skiff
- 7:22 – MotorGuide benefits in shallow water
- 10:29 – Things to think about when selecting a trolling motor
- 11:09 – Mounting trolling motors
- 12:29 – Minn Kota shaft length
- 13:07 – Trolling motor choice for nearshore reef fishing
- 14:28 – Shaft recommendations based on bow level
- 16:40 – Knowing what you know now, what shaft length would you choose?
- 19:29 – Cons with Minn Kota motor
Conclusion
The bottom line with trolling motors is they are useful but have many pros and cons!
Find the best trolling motor that works for you and suits your boat the best!
What trolling motor do you use?
Let us know down in the comments!!
And if you know an angler who wants to know more about trolling motors, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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When choosing MG and MK models with gps/anchor I went with MG. The remote was less complicated and doesn’t require reading it. I would need to put on my reading glasses to read the tiny screen on the MK. The MG remote is laid out in a way where I don’t even have to look at it……intuitive.
Thank you for telling the truth about the newer Motorguide trolling motor and the customer service that can be expected. I have a story also, I have fished bull shoals lake in north central Arkansas for my whole life during that time every boat I have had in 60 years I have put Motorguide on from tiller stick to cable pedal and waited for them to come out with a anchor lock cable pedal trolling motor then came the tour pro I put my name on back order and waited, got one on boat 10 months ago, first time on water anchor mode inop. Drove 1 hour away for service dropped boat off and 2 weeks later Said it was ready, then 3 times fishing later the motor going crazy it can’t find we’re it is at, back to the shop 1 hr away and 3weeks later it’s ready to pick up, first time back in the water the remote won’t turn the steering and the foot pedal is very hard to turn, now it’s been at the shop for over 5 weeks, The Motorguide customer support every time I called was not interested in solving my issue and letting me do an exchange or sending the motor to them to fix. I am overwhelmed with the lack of Motorguide thanking me for all the years of using their trolling motors and not wanting to go out of the box to get me back on the water. I fish jack pots and local tournaments over many years and was bragging how the wait was going to be worth it for Motorguide. And wow have that been a joke, with my story some fishing buddy’s will not buy Motorguide,it looks like my Motorguide and story will be on video one day and I’ll make a boat anchor with it. As I show the competition trolling motor on the front of my boat.
Great video and tons of information. Luke what size motor do you use on your skiff, lbs of thrust? I am looking at motors for my 17 ft carolina skiff and am torn between the 12 volt 55 lbs and 24 volt 80 lbs not sure if I want to add the extra battery or not.
Hey Matthew, my apologies for missing your question when it was sent in. I have a 24v 80 lb thrust trolling motor on my skiff, and it’s surely more than what I would need for most of the fishing I am doing.
My prior boat was a Carolina Skiff J16, and I had a 12v trolling motor that did a fantastic job.
Review of my 2yr old 36v Rhodan Trolling motor. Skip to the end if you would like to purchase one. Purchased and installed by a AFA Marine of St Pete On 1-15-20. “Authorized installer”
First trip 40 miles offshore I was excited to finally leave my anchor at home. Deployed unit, hit spot lock, and prop would barely spin 6 revolutions a minute at any speed. Came back home. Out a fishing trip and $300 in fuel and bait.
Next day took time away from work and took it to AFA Marine. Once there they referenced me to Rhodan in Sarasota for service. After much complaining they decided to call Rhodan and see if they could figure it out for me. Turns out the Rhino paint was applied to thick and was causing friction on the prop.
Next attempt was 30 miles offshore the following week. Had not learned my lesson yet and left the anchor at home again. Get to my spot and FOB will not communicate with trolling motor. Head back again and yes out a fishing trip and money.
Call Rhodan this time and they give me a long list of stow deploy commands to erase FOB and a long list of stow deploy commands to Learn new FOB. Then a series of calibrations that have to be done to recalibrate it again. Seem to have it working locally.
The next trip is 50 miles offshore. Yes I admit it I am an idiot for not bringing an anchor. Flat calm night. Holds lock for 10 minutes then the multiple rapid beeps of death. Turn off back on, holds lock 15 minutes then rapid beep of death. This goes on all night until I called it quits at 4am.
Called Rhodan again. Rep tells me it is possible I was in a dead area for a gps signal. Told me to try again in a different area. Also to record what was happening if it did it again. That Didn’t sound right to me but ok I try again.
Head offshore “with an anchor this time” Does the same thing. Loses lock after 10-20 minutes of running.
Call Rhodan again and they agreed to pick it up. Four days later they tell me they ran it on their trolling motor raft in a simulated environment and it never acted up. They updated software and it seems to be working.
Took it out again 20 miles offshore. Would not hold lock longer than 15 minutes, but I did notice it was flat calm again.
Called Rhodan again. Told them it seems to loose lock when it is flat calm. They agreed to pick it up again. This time they did duplicate the problem. They called to let me know they could not figure it out but decided to replace it with a “NEW” unit. Remember this phrase as it becomes important to the story.
Next four trips offshore finally I have a unit that is holding lock and working.
Next trip turn it on and it just spins in circles and wraps the cord around itself.
Called Rhodan again. Needed calibrated again despite being calibrated.
Next trip offshore back to no anchor “It is big and clumsy in the boat, and part of why I bought the trolling motor” 40 miles offshore deploy trolling motor and FOB does not work. Come back in out a fishing trip and money.
Call Rhodan again. They tell me the battery is probably dead. New battery does nothing. They then tell me it must be the black control box in the head unit. They send on to me for free. When I take the first screw out of the head unit, salt water pours out of the head. I replace the black box and let Rhodan know that the head unit had water in it. They tell me that is normal not to worry.
The new black box now allows the fob to communicate with the trolling motor. It is working fine locally in my lake. I now spend the next 6 months diving without using the trolling motor. Here is where it gets good. My next trip in the bay locally I deploy the trolling motor and the fob does not work.
I call Rhodan again. They agree to pick it up since all they suggested are things I tried. Two days later a tech tells me the circuit board went bad and they did get it fixed. The problem he tells me however is this unit is Over FIVE YEARS OLD and is no longer under warranty! I have my paperwork in front of me and know it was purchased under 2 yrs ago and it in fact is under warranty! He would have no part of it. Telling me they go by the serial number on the foot not the serial number on my paperwork. I then realize that the “NEW” unit they told me they replaced it with 6 month previous, was actually very old stock! Of course I have a conniption fit, and threatened to sue if they would not stand behind the warranty. They ended up sending it to me for free and it now sits in my garage with 2 months of warranty left. It is also for sale to anyone that can make a reasonable offer. 72” shaft 36 volt. Can come with mounting bracket, charger and three batteries.
Salt Strong brothers, early in the video you talk about customer service. I just wanted to say your sales team REALLY understands customer service. I had one problem with a defective jig pack and they IMMEDIATELY took care of it. Kudos to you guys and I’ll always be an insider member.
PS I’m also catching more fish!
Hey guys I just want to ask a question about the shaft length. I am 6 ft 4 in tall and I have 18 ft hews I have to bend over a lot to turn the handle on my troll motor so what would you recommend for a tall person for a troll motor with a handle. Thanks and I love you program
On MK trolling motors, If you stop your travel, before you hit spot lock it won’t dance around, because it was not moving when you hit spot lock, so less chance of spooking fish.
I like the MK ulterra, I have a riptide, was bought in 2014, finally broke this summer, but I think that’s pretty good, I had it repaired, broke again, last week, so I bought a new one, Yes I have a bad back, But they have come out with a assist motor , check it out, I think it’s the best of both worlds, But for me I’ll stick with the ulterra.
I bought a Ranger RB190 that already had a MK riptide on it and took awhile to get adjusted to using handheld remote. Watching Luke since 2017 you always used hand control and was wondering how much you liked that on skiff style boat. I live and fish ICW near Topsail NC and hate when I hit anchor and hear motor rotate to find spot on. Would you suggest maybe hand steer with power pole instead? Really would like to hear your pros and cons on just hand steer trolling motors. Thanks.
Rhodan, solid trolling motor with the best customer service on the planet. I have their biggest model on my Pursuit 280C. It rocks.