I just can't seem to catch a break! As some may remember, a couple of weeks ago my trolling motor took a dump on me. I bought a brand new Motor Guide 54lb trust Gator Flex trolling motor to replace it. I get on the lake today for the first time with it on the boat and it takes a dump on me too!

The same thing as the other one! When i push the foot pedal front/back the motor shaft doesn't spin. The cable is not broken(i checked). It worked for about 3hrs before it did it. I paid over $500 for the piece of garbage! My first question is, can i take it back to the store i bought it from(Wal-Mart) and get a refund. Or do i have to call the warranty because it is registered.

Also, can you guys recommend a reliable trolling motor for me. My boat is a 16ft fiberglass bass boat. I want a motor over 50lb thrust and it has to be 12v. My new one came with the Machete III "weedless" prop but it is NOT weedless at all. It sucks in the grass. I need a more weedless prop as well

Your help and experience is greatly appreciated!!!!!!

Take it back and get a MinnKota.  They're far more weedless than MotorGuide.

Take it back and get a MinnKota. They're far more weedless than MotorGuide.

Really!?! I have always been a MG user but i am starting to change my mind. Any specific model?

I'd look at the 55lb edge model for your boat.  

Take it back and get a MinnKota. They're far more weedless than MotorGuide.

Agreed. I believe that MinnKota's are the best trolling motors avalible.

    I almost forgot to say this, but get the Weedless Wedge II prop.  This things slices through Hydrilla (and other aquatic veggies) like nothing you have ever seen!!!!

A 55lb MinnKota Edge would be a good fit.  I run a 70lb Edge on my 16ft Nitro and it acts as if it where a 101lb MinnKota!!  However mine is a 24v so in your situation go w/ the 55.  YOU WONT REGRET A MINNKOTA!!! ;D

Update: I took the motor back to Wally World and explained the situation and they gave me a full refund! All i have to do now is find a new one. A lot of people have recommended Minn Kota to me. It's just that i have always used Motor Guide with no issues(the old motors).

My main need in a trolling motor is it's ability to stay weedless. The majority of my fish come from flippin/pitchin heavy cover. The motor i just took \back could not even go through scattered grass. For $500 i expected a lot more.

I want the biggest lb thrust i can get but still keep it 12V. Please keep the recommendations coming guys. I need to pick one and try to have by this coming weekend.

Take it back and get you a hand operated Minnkota. End of cable and all associated problems. I did it 16 years ago and have never looked back

How about this one guys? Has anyone tried this kind. I really want to eliminate the whole cable/pedal thing!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_91236____SearchResults?ordProd=Y&CMID=TOP_selectitems#itemDetail

I wonder if i am doing something wrong because both of the trolling motors broke in the same way!?!

There have been a couple discussions on the wireless vs cable trolling motors in the last month or so.  I have several friends with that powerdrive and i honestly do not like it (mostly because of the pedal).  You have to just tap each side of the foot pedal to change  your direction, its not a traditional rocker style pedal. They also have trouble with the speed adjust (slide style) going out.  The old powerdrives stow and deploy sucked.. but it may have been improved as it has been advertised.  I personally like the digital steer style though, I had a MG digital steer that was very good but it got taken out by a deer.  I recently switched to a Terrova and although I have not tried it on my boat, a friends was enough to convice me it was good.  It does have the rocker style pedal but you still get the benefits of a digisteer such as optional remotes, autopilot, etc. plus very easy stow/deploy.

To go over it kinda quickly... the digital steering styles will turn a little bit slower than a cable type.  For some this seems to be a problem, but I think it is alot less noticable in new motors than the original digi steers. I believe MG even advertises theirs as a complete 360deg turn in 2 secs (dont quote me on that).  Digital steers will use a little more battery, since you are actually using battery power to turn instead of translated foot power.  However with the new battery saver tech you get alot more out of your batteries anyways, and from the reviews I have read people go a day or two easy on those digital steers with no recharge and that was easily the case with my MG 24v.  Digital will give you more of an advantage for any trolling or remote use.  And dont listen to the hype about more to go wrong with a digital steer, your case is perfect evidence that cables steers are not any more reliable... and infact, of the 15 or so digital steers I see alot, none of those guys have had problems to date (other than the pedal I mentioned).  Ok that wasnt so quick.

Man, after having a couple go bad it is REALLY hard to settle on anything! I am also looking at the Minn Kota Maxxum models. Any input on those?

Ive heard good things about them, but I believe they are just the 5 speed type. Which translates into having those times when speed 2 is not enough and speed 3 is too much sort of thing. I used to have a 5 speed MG and that didn't bother me, until I got one with variable and now they do bother me. Also harder on battery life than the variable speeds style. Just my 0.02

Edit: Now that I look closer, it appear most MK are 5 speed styles Looks like the Fortrex is the only one I see off hand that is a variable cable steer bowmount, I could be wrong though.

Now that i have you helping, what is variable speed control? I have always had 5 speed!

How about this one guys? Has anyone tried this kind. I really want to eliminate the whole cable/pedal thing!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_91236____SearchResults?ordProd=Y&CMID=TOP_selectitems#itemDetail

I wonder if i am doing something wrong because both of the trolling motors broke in the same way!?!

Don't bother with the power drive models, they have more electronics in them and are not known to be very reliable. I owned one with autopilot about 6 years ago and they are nice if you just need to stay on a straight breakline or whatever but if you need to go in and out of pockets and along a winding breakline they are almost useless, the turning speed is rediculously slow. They are better suited for walleye fishermen.

I can't see how you could be doing anything wrong, unless your banging on it or turning it too hard/fast and it hits the stops hard.

Also, don't turn them fast when the motor is out of the water, there is no water resistance restricting the turning speed alowing it to bang the stop. Otherwise they should be the most reliable style of TM around, theirs almost nothing to them.

I do recommend MinnKota though. Edge, Maxim, Fortrex, their all good.

Now that i have you helping, what is variable speed control? I have always had 5 speed!

TM's have either a set settings of speeds or they can have a variable control where the speed settings are whatever you want the TM to run at. While far better because you can dial your speed in perfectly to whatever conditions they're also more expensive (usually $100 more for MK) and also have extra electronic circuitry involved in the speed control that can fail.

The difference between the edge and Maxxum series MK's are in the beefier mounts for the Maxxums along with the availability of variable control on the maxxum and built in transducers. They are more expensive lb vs lb than the edge series. They all use the weedless wedge type prop which is very effective cutting through weeds.

Avoid the Power drives.  I owned on and never will again.  Great idea but it was never refined for bass fishing.

Now that i have you helping, what is variable speed control? I have always had 5 speed!

TM's have either a set settings of speeds or they can have a variable control where the speed settings are whatever you want the TM to run at. While far better because you can dial your speed in perfectly to whatever conditions they're also more expensive (usually $100 more for MK) and also have extra electronic circuitry involved in the speed control that can fail.

The difference between the edge and Maxxum series MK's are in the beefier mounts for the Maxxums along with the availability of variable control on the maxxum and built in transducers. They are more expensive lb vs lb than the edge series. They all use the weedless wedge type prop which is very effective cutting through weeds.

Avoid the Power drives. I owned on and never will again. Great idea but it was never refined for bass fishing.

cart7t

Do they all have the weedless wedge II though? Is the Maxxum worth the extra $180 over the Edge? I like the 360 break away feature because i like fishing under water stump fields and hit them often. It doesn't specify if the Edge has a similar feature? I will not be getting the built in transducer though!

How about this one guys? Has anyone tried this kind. I really want to eliminate the whole cable/pedal thing!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_91236____SearchResults?ordProd=Y&CMID=TOP_selectitems#itemDetail

I wonder if i am doing something wrong because both of the trolling motors broke in the same way!?!

i can make you a great deal on of of those thats been used about 3 times.

Now that i have you helping, what is variable speed control? I have always had 5 speed!

TM's have either a set settings of speeds or they can have a variable control where the speed settings are whatever you want the TM to run at. While far better because you can dial your speed in perfectly to whatever conditions they're also more expensive (usually $100 more for MK) and also have extra electronic circuitry involved in the speed control that can fail.

The difference between the edge and Maxxum series MK's are in the beefier mounts for the Maxxums along with the availability of variable control on the maxxum and built in transducers. They are more expensive lb vs lb than the edge series. They all use the weedless wedge type prop which is very effective cutting through weeds.

Avoid the Power drives. I owned on and never will again. Great idea but it was never refined for bass fishing.

cart7t

Do they all have the weedless wedge II though? Is the Maxxum worth the extra $180 over the Edge? I like the 360 break away feature because i like fishing under water stump fields and hit them often. It doesn't specify if the Edge has a similar feature? I will not be getting the built in transducer though!

No. They have the composite shaft which flexes when it strikes something.  I hit a log once going full speed with my old AT, the previous version of the edge,  I was using those TM mounting bolts that BPS sells.  It nearly ripped the TM off the front of the boat with only one of the bolts still intact but the TM was undamaged.  I can't honestly say the $180 difference is worth it if you're talking a 55lb edge vs a 55lb maxxum.

yes, the edge TM's have the WW2 prop.  

So the actual shaft will flex!?! That doesn't sound very reliable! Also, another question for everyone, what would be need to install a 24V motor? Anything electrical or just add another battery?

I just can't seem to catch a break! As some may remember, a couple of weeks ago my trolling motor took a dump on me. I bought a brand new Motor Guide 54lb trust Gator Flex trolling motor to replace it. I get on the lake today for the first time with it on the boat and it takes a dump on me too!

The same thing as the other one! When i push the foot pedal front/back the motor shaft doesn't spin. The cable is not broken(i checked). It worked for about 3hrs before it did it. I paid over $500 for the piece of garbage! My first question is, can i take it back to the store i bought it from(Wal-Mart) and get a refund. Or do i have to call the warranty because it is registered.

Also, can you guys recommend a reliable trolling motor for me. My boat is a 16ft fiberglass bass boat. I want a motor over 50lb thrust and it has to be 12v. My new one came with the Machete III "weedless" prop but it is NOT weedless at all. It sucks in the grass. I need a more weedless prop as well

Your help and experience is greatly appreciated!!!!!!

It could be possible you bent the shaft on both motors either by hitting something or by the way you mounted it. Is it possible you bent the shaft?

I highly doubt it! I was fishing open water with no obstructions when it happened. I was cruising along in a straight path when the pedal just went limp on me. At first, it would work if i pushed the pedal backwards only. Then, it went out all together!

So the actual shaft will flex!?! That doesn't sound very reliable! Also, another question for everyone, what would be need to install a 24V motor? Anything electrical or just add another battery?

Not reliable?

The TM mounting bolts sheared off except one,  the TM itself was undamaged.

Not sure how much more reliable you can get.  Well, you could go with another MG.  Steel shafts that bend on a dime.  

So the actual shaft will flex!?! That doesn't sound very reliable! Also, another question for everyone, what would be need to install a 24V motor? Anything electrical or just add another battery?

Not reliable?

The TM mounting bolts sheared off except one, the TM itself was undamaged.

Not sure how much more reliable you can get. Well, you could go with another MG. Steel shafts that bend on a dime.

MY MG had an aluminum shaft(probably worse)! No more MG though. I just dont understand what you mean by composite shaft that flexes? Is it the actual shaft that bends or is there rubber inserts inside the latch door that allow the shaft to move?

The actual shaft flexes. The upper section is aluminum, and the lower is the composite.

Sorry these are best photos I could get by myself.

No Pressure

With Pressure

And if you get a MinnKota you can get a sweet looking footpedal like this. 8-)

Guys i really appreciate all your help and input on this! So, it all boils down to this. I have narrowed it down to three choices and i need your help picking one.

1) MinnKota Edge 55lb thrust 12V $499.00

2) MinnKota Maxxum 55lb 12V     $679.00

3) Convert to 24V system and buy MinnKota Edge 65lb thrust on sale for $429.00