ALright, so my transom mount MK TM is going out and i decided to get a bow mount for my boat. I have a 14ft' semi v. Basspro is having the 6 month payment plan going on as of now too so i plan on getting it from there(online). My budget is $450. Strictly for bass fishing. Couple questions i need to ask.

1. How many # thrust should i get and will be enough power to move around?

2. Minn Kota or Motorguide? Most reliable?

3. Hand steer or foot controlled? Leaning on the foot controlled.

4. How long of a shaft? 36",45",48"?

So i was looking and Kind of leaning towards the MK Power drive v2. Comments on it?

No one? i need to order it asap so please chime in. thanks

With your budget, you have eliminated the Power Drive and have put yourself into the 5 speed 45# thrust motor in the Minnkota or the equivelent Motor Guide in 46# thrust of the foot control models.

The 42"-45" shaft models should work well.

As to which brand, you will have detractors for each, pick the one that suits you best.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10200462_225001000_225000000_225001000_225-1-0

Hand controlled for small boats is usually my advice. I have a small jon boat and stand up on the front deck with the hand control and an extensio. If you position yourself just right you can use your legs to motor about and its a lot less weight than the foot controlled models on the front and sucks less juice than the powerdrives. On bigger boats foot controlled is way to go.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10200462_225001000_225000000_225001000_225-1-0

Hand controlled for small boats is usually my advice. I have a small jon boat and stand up on the front deck with the hand control and an extensio. If you position yourself just right you can use your legs to motor about and its a lot less weight than the foot controlled models on the front and sucks less juice than the powerdrives. On bigger boats foot controlled is way to go.

I would choose the hand control but i dont have a deck in the front and don't plan on building one to stand on because it isn't really stable.

With your budget, you have eliminated the Power Drive and have put yourself into the 5 speed 45# thrust motor in the Minnkota or the equivelent Motor Guide in 46# thrust of the foot control models.

The 42"-45" shaft models should work well.

As to which brand, you will have detractors for each, pick the one that suits you best.

The 45# powerdrive is only $434. So in the past 3 hour researching i've concluded in choosing two motors. The Powerdrive or the edge. The remaining thing that i'm deciding on is the electric or cable steering. I would def. choose the edge, but as mentioned before i don't have a deck in the front. Will the cable be long enough to come pass the front seat?

You are correct about the 45# Power Drive, I missed that on the list.

Personally, I wouldn't have a power drive type in any brand since I don't troll as a presentation and I just bass fish. I prefer the more precise control of cable steer and want to spend my time fishing instead of fooling with a hand controlled motor. I've used all the types.

yup. After reading a couple reviews and people were having problem steering with the powerdrive i might consider the edge instead now.

I have a friend who has a power steer and loves it. I had one on my boat and finally gave it away. I hated it the entire time it was on the boat. With a cable control I know what direction the motor is pointed without looking, by the position of my foot. That is impossible to do with a power unit.

I have had better luck with MK. Good luck.