Bass Pro Shops has a Maxxum 65 variable speed for $650 but they also have the Maxxum 70 variable speed for a listed price of $879, the cheapest I could find the Maxxum 70 variable speed for was $766 online.

 

So how can they offer the 65lb for such a low price??? 
I'm confused.

 

Before I found out about the 65lb thrust I ordered the 70, I wonder if I should cancel my order and save around a $116 bucks
and lose 5 thrust...

Thoughts?

I'm pretty sure the 65lb is a BPS exclusive, so maybe they get some kind of discount on bulk orders from Minn Kota?

 

What does your boat weight?

What type of waters do you fish?

 

Standard answer for trolling motor size is "get the biggest you can afford".  If your boat is light enough and the waters calm enough that 65lb is adequate, then sure, that 5 extra pounds might not be worth the money.

 

$650 is 85% of the cost of the 70lb

 

65lb is 92% of the power of the 70lb

 

The numbers say the 65 is the better value, unless your fishing conditions require more than 65.  Plain as mud..........

 

TRF

 

 

 

I don't understand the purpose of the 65 lb. Maxxum in Minn Kota's product offerings...except perhaps to sell to a price point...

 

Personally, I agree with the "get the biggest you can afford" strategy.  I run a 112 lb. Ulterra on an 18 ft. aluminum boat...I have yet to run out of power, even on a 12 hour day, and with the exception of very strong current where nobody is going to have success with an electric motor...I can always get where I want to go.

 

...and you wind up running the more powerful motor at a lower percentage of it's capacity most of the time, which is easier on the motor...so it lasts longer.

 

...if your only choices are the 65# and 70# Maxxums...go with the 70#

Its a BPS exclusive. They buy thousands at a time. Is it 12v or 24v?

9 hours ago, slonezp said:

Its a BPS exclusive. They buy thousands at a time.

I guess that's what doesn't make sense to me...it'd make a lot more sense if it had a little more thrust than the standard 70# unit...not less.  Offer Bass Pro Customers something they can't get anywhere else that has better performance.

 

Instead it looks to be a lower output, cheaper version...I wonder what else got left out to drive the price down?

 

9 hours ago, slonezp said:

Is it 12v or 24v?

It looks to be 24 volt...that was one of the first thing I wondered...if they were trying to pedal a "high output" 12 volt unit.

 

Its going on a 2014 Tracker 175, I have the MK edge 45 on right now.

 

10 hours ago, Further North said:

I guess that's what doesn't make sense to me...it'd make a lot more sense if it had a little more thrust than the standard 70# unit...not less.  Offer Bass Pro Customers something they can't get anywhere else that has better performance.

 

Instead it looks to be a lower output, cheaper version...I wonder what else got left out to drive the price down?

 

It looks to be 24 volt...that was one of the first thing I wondered...if they were trying to pedal a "high output" 12 volt unit.

 

It makes sense when you realize that "authorized" Minn Kota dealers cannot charge other than list price unless there is a MK "authorized" promotion. A 70lb Maxxum with the same features costs the same no matter where you buy it as long as the dealers are "authorized". The online discounters are purchasing thousands of standard issue units.  They can offer considerable savings but cannot advertise pricing. In many cases they can't post lower pricing on their websites except in the shopping cart. I'd imagine when you search Minn Kota, those discounters won't even show up on the first few pages of the search, if at all. 

Now, I also believe that a good portion of BPS customers are un or under educated when it comes to fishing/boating/hunting equipment, as are many of their empolyees.

The above, makes the 65lb thrust, makes it a good motor at a good pricepoint. It's a budget motor that is a step up from the BPS branded trolling motors and for someone who doesn't want to spend a ton of money on the motor. I would be curious to know if warranty is the same and if it must be brought into BPS for service.  

5 hours ago, Yumeya said:

Its going on a 2014 Tracker 175, I have the MK edge 45 on right now.

 

If you've got room for the extra battery, and the shaft length is correct, I see no reason not to

13 hours ago, slonezp said:

It makes sense when you realize that "authorized" Minn Kota dealers cannot charge other than list price unless there is a MK "authorized" promotion. A 70lb Maxxum with the same features costs the same no matter where you buy it as long as the dealers are "authorized". The online discounters are purchasing thousands of standard issue units.  They can offer considerable savings but cannot advertise pricing. In many cases they can't post lower pricing on their websites except in the shopping cart. I'd imagine when you search Minn Kota, those discounters won't even show up on the first few pages of the search, if at all. 

Now, I also believe that a good portion of BPS customers are un or under educated when it comes to fishing/boating/hunting equipment, as are many of their empolyees.

The above, makes the 65lb thrust, makes it a good motor at a good pricepoint. It's a budget motor that is a step up from the BPS branded trolling motors and for someone who doesn't want to spend a ton of money on the motor. I would be curious to know if warranty is the same and if it must be brought into BPS for service.  

Makes sense, thanks.  Wasn't aware of the restrictions on MK retailers.