I've had the new Xi5 for a few weeks now.  I love the TM but I've learned a few things I didn't know before making the purchase.  I thought I would list them for any of you guys thinking of getting one for your boat.

 

1. The wireless foot pedal takes some getting used to.  The first time I used it I thought "what have I done, this thing sucks!"  But, I got used to it and like it quite a lot now.

 

2. It's a complete waste of time/money to mount an external transducer.  The wire has to be run down the shaft and when the motor turns 360 degrees, the wire gets bound up, stopping the motor from turning.  It also limits how far you can lower or raise the shaft.  This TM is not made for an externally mounted transducer.

 

3.  The internal transducer is SONAR only.  The internal transducer cable supplied with the trolling motor doesn't match up to my forward mounted Hook2 fish finder, it's a 7 pin connector, I think.  I'm attempting to find out if the newer Hook2's will will connect as we speak.  If anyone out there knows the answer please post it.  The point being, if you use an HDS, Elite Ti or Ti2 up front, and want to have downscan/sidescan, you can't use the internal transducer.

 

4.  It will interface with the console mounted Lowrance Elite Ti2 (all the Elite and HDS units) with the use of an NMEA 2000 cable, allowing you to use the control functions of the TM through the fish finder.  The Xi5 has the wire used to make the connection already installed.  You only need the NMEA 2000 cable.

 

5.  There is some interference on the front mounted Lowrance with the external transducer.  But I'm told this is fixable.

 

6.  The fob (remote) control is excellent.  You can run the TM from anywhere in the boat (or out of the boat for that matter).  My third time out, I was alone so had to park the boat at the dock while I parked my truck.  I let the TM down, took the fob with me and let the boat drift.  When I returned, I steered the boat back to the dock with the fob and climbed aboard. 

 

7.  The spot lock feature is excellent.  I've tested it numerous times both in high winds and no winds.  It works almost perfectly in windy conditions but gets a bit confused when there is no wind.  It will still hold you on your spot, but may take a bit longer to settle in when there is no wind.

 

8.  The "cruise" control is excellent.  You can set it in the direction you want to go.  Set the speed and forget about it.  I've been blown off course once, during a fairly high wind.

 

9.  The 80 pound thrust is very powerful.  A couple of times, while on spot lock, the motor decided it needed to be somewhere else in a hurry and went sideways at full speed.  If you aren't ready for this, it can knock you out of the boat.  I'm not sure why it did that, but it only happened twice (on my first test trip) when there was very little wind and hasn't happened since.  Had I not been within a few feet of a concrete water inlet I would have left it alone to see where it took me! 

 

10.  It's a bit more effort to deploy and recover than some motors.  It's completely different from most cable steer motors.  The shaft has to be slid outward, then the mount pivots allowing the motor to swing down into the water.

 

11.  The depth of the motor is easily adjusted (which I like a great deal).

 

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things so feel free to add your own thoughts.  Overall, it's a great trolling motor.  Works as advertised.  Has a bit of a learning curve not found in standard cable type motors.  Limits your ability to use downscan and sidescan in the bow, but makes up for it with excellent spot lock, cruise control and the fob.  Hope this answers a potentially new buyers questions.  Oh, if anyone knows the answer to the Hook2 connector question please reply.

 

 

 

 

Excellent write up and my Minn Kota Terrova has very similar traits about it that I too like and dislike, same as you do. I still wish I had went with the Ultrex (and I still may) but so far I can't complain too much.

 

Get this cable to link the 7 pin to the hook 2

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Lowrance-PIN-XDCR-Adapter-HOOK2/dp/B077PDKLYD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lowrance+7+pin+to+hook&qid=1618345354&sr=8-1

Mine spins around like an idiot and chokes itself with the power cable fairly often.