Which of these two would you guys say is the better one. I have two choices, a Motorguide Bowmount 71 pound thrust 24 volt 50 in. shaft with a gator flex 360 mount, and the other one, MinnKota Maxxum 70 pound 24 volt 42 in. shaft. The motorguide is 599.99 and the MinnKota is 629.99.

I prefer motorguide, but both have a strong following and both are good motors. That being said, more thrust is usually better.

I don't believe the MG has a lighted directional light in the head. This can be very useful if you do any night fishing. I am not sure about a light in the MK.............

The formula to determine the shaft length needed is measure from the gunnel at the bow to the water and add 22 inches and get the shaft that length or the next longest available.......................Al

I prefer motorguide, but both have a strong following and both are good motors. That being said, more thrust is usually better.

I don't believe the MG has a lighted directional light in the head. This can be very useful if you do any night fishing. I am not sure about a light in the MK.............

The formula to determine the shaft length needed is measure from the gunnel at the bow to the water and add 22 inches and get the shaft that length or the next longest available.......................Al

Heh... This is another question that will never die. Both motors are great, to be honest I doubt you will notice a 1lb of thrust difference. I personally have a Minn Kota. What Al Wolbach pointed out is true that a lighted directional arrow is mighty helpful while night fishing or during low light times. My Minn Kota came with a lighted directional arrow, so it does come in handy I will admit. For $30 take your pick you cant go wrong with either of them. If it where me I would personally go with the Minn Kota, but thats me.

i personally would go with the motorguide because i have both minn kotas and MG's and i like the MG's better.  they are both great motors but i would go with the motorguide

Preferences aside, you have quite a bit of difference in 42-50" shaft.  If those were my only choices I would go with the one that best fit my boat and my needs.  My boat came from the factory with a 42" and I upgraded to a 45" before I took it home.  I haven't been sorry but I don't think I would have room for the extra length of a 50.

I don't believe the MG has a lighted directional light in the head.

They do now, mine is lighted.

My MG is lighted. I had MK and MG. I tend to like the MG better. I think there all pretty good nowadays.

This like the Ford VS Chevy question. Its about preferance. see what one lookes and feels better to you. look at the foot petal and make sure you like how it works. That is the part you will be intouch with.

I go with MG. I have had both. I will say the older Mg were not that great, but these new Digital motor are the best. I think that 71 is a digital? Do you fish lakes with big waves? if so get the 50" shaft.

Like I said I have a MG Tour 109# and its the best I have used. Infact the guys in my Bass club are so impressed with it that the last 3 guys  to buy new Tm's, went for the tour series MG's

This like the Ford VS Chevy question. Its about preferance. see what one lookes and feels better to you. look at the foot petal and make sure you like how it works. That is the part you will be intouch with.

I go with MG. I have had both. I will say the older Mg were not that great, but these new Digital motor are the best. I think that 71 is a digital? Do you fish lakes with big waves? if so get the 50" shaft.

Like I said I have a MG Tour 109# and its the best I have used. Infact the guys in my Bass club are so impressed with it that the last 3 guys to buy new Tm's, went for the tour series MG's

Ford VS Chevy....just what I was going to say.

I do not know if it is still true...but when I bought my motorguide a few years ago....I choose it because it seemed easier to find parts/ service for....at least where I am.

I don't believe the MG has a lighted directional light in the head.

They do now, mine is lighted.

My MG is lighted as well, but for the price of $599 that he is looking at I believe it is the Pro series not the digital series. The Pro series does not have a lighted arrow or at least the one I looked at last night in BPS didn't.

If this motor is a digital series 24V motor for $599 you should get it, they normally run around $900......................................Al

If I had to spend only $30 extra bucks to get a Minn Kota, I'd do it. I currently have a Motorguide and even though its fixed now, right out of the box it was the biggest piece of junk I had ever seen or owned. The almighty Gator Mount stripped immediately and the speed relay didn't work. (If I set the speed on 3, it might run on 5, set it on 5, it might run on 2.....I just never knew what it was going to do)

I have owned both brands at different times on different boats and Minn Kota beat Motorguide every time. And the one BIG THING that in my opinion sets Minn Kota apart from MG's is that the MK's are super quiet. That cant be said about any MG I 've ever owned. Fish KNEW I was coming with the MG's. A quiet trolling motor is a must.

Food for thought  

If you plan to attach a transducer for a depth finder the Minn Kota's skeg will protect the transducer, the Motor Guides skeg will not.  

My experience has been the opposite i can't stand minn kota but i've never seen a problem with motor guide for me personally the minn kota motors have a very bulky foot pedal and louder in my experience opposed to the motor guide that has a smoother more compact foot control and is quieter and they have the machete props. I had always fished with minn kota beforehand but after using a motor guide i wouldn't want to switch back. Also i have a friend with a 21ft Bumble Bee with the tour series digital 82lb and its the smoothest quietest motor i've operated.

the MG Tm that favebasslimit is talking about is an older style MG, not a digital. Like I said the new MG digital motors are light years ahead of the older style MG. the digital doesn't have numbered setting for speed the digital is a veriable speed setting.. I have had my MG tour serie digital for 3 years and not one problem, not one.

This part right here is what puts me off your Motorguide:

...with a gator flex 360 mount...

After reading the reviews on Motorguides, they are good enough motors, but that GatorFlex 360 mount is a MAJOR downfall.

Personally, I like the composite shaft on the minnkotas.  Fishing around big boulders in big waves the last thing you want is a bent shaft.  From all I've heard the Minnkotas have better power management too.  My only regret:  I wish I'd have gotten a cable driven Maxxum instead of a powerdrive.  After 7 years I'm on my 3rd powerdrive foot pedal, while I've never heard of people having problems with the maxxum style of pedals.

Food for thought  

If you plan to attach a transducer for a depth finder the Minn Kota's skeg will protect the transducer, the Motor Guides skeg will not.  

Good point, Catt.  And . . . . . .

smallfry stated:

Personally, I like the composite shaft on the minnkotas.

One of the lakes I fish on a regular basis is a veritable stump field with trees broken off a foot or two below the surface.  The water is stained enough where many of these aren't visible.  I believe the composite shaft on my Minn Kota has saved me quite a few headaches.  

Otherwise, I think you can't go wrong with either of these brands.

MK hands down.  Not only is Minn Kota quieter but I love the fact that my transducer is protected by the skeg.  I recently bought a new 70lb MK EDGE w/ a 60" shaft for only $649.  Im not sorry and i'll never buy a MG ever!!!!

I have had both.  I have a MK Maxxum 80 right now and have been happy.  I like the gator mount on the MG better.  You'll be happy either way.

GO BIG RED

My partner has a MinnKota Maxim and it has infinite variable speed.  Between variable speed, low noise and composite shaft, the MinnKota is a really good choice.  I had a couple of motorguide motors through the years and they just were not as nice as the comparable MinnKota.  There is a reason that the motor is $30 more.  I might be the only person on the planet that is on the original footpad on my powerdrive though.  

Chevy/Ford! You know what you prefer or like whatever the reason.

Go wireless!

Something very conveient and easier to use!

Takes less space, and for a few axtra $$$ you get a handheld smaller than an IPOD!

I have an MG 45. and it's fantastic!