I am looking at replacing my 22 year old OMC trolling motor. I have a chance to buy this one a few hundred cheaper barely used (used 2 trips before replaced boat) and was wondering how folks who had it liked it and what problems they have had. Reason i ask is we were looking at new ones last nite and a customer said "his buddy" had problems with the aluminum frame cracking and breaking. I dont want to spend nearly a grand on a tm with problems when the one we havenworks but is hard to find parts for if we do have an issue again.

Well, I've only had it for a month now, but it is an awesome trolling motor.  The lift assist is worth its weight in gold.  I had a maxxum on my previous boat and it was great too.  I didn't know it when I bought the 70# maxxum, but if you get the 80# or higher model you can add the lift assist to it like the old maxxum pro's or the new fortrexx.

I've had that exact motor with a built in transducer for about 3 years now.  Its been a great motor.  No complaints here.  If you fish big water they make a stabilizing bar for it. to support the head.

I've owned Evinrudes, Motorguides and older Minn Kota trolling motors over the years. The Fortrex is in a different league-- I love it. I've only owned mine (which I bought used) for a month, so I can't speak to long-term reliability.

Yea. We dont fish in tournaments so when its rough conditions we stay home so im not sure we will need the stabilizer bar. I have heard they are a top notch TM and the best cable steer. It just threw me off with that other customer and i wanted to double check on things before we buy. Ive learned its alot cheaper to do research in advance to keep from being burned after the puchase.