Trolling Motor Decisions

[Stratocat_Joe]

When I bought my Bass Tracker Classic XL three years ago, the first thing I upgraded was the trolling motor to a MG Xi-3 with Pinpoint GPS (MG's version of Spot Lock).  It only came with a wireless remote for operation, which I didn't think would bother me.  Eventually, I added the wireless foot pedal; however, I've been through two of them and neither function properly.  Now, the Pinpoint GPS is not functioning properly.  When I hit the anchor button, the motor spins in circles and appears to be looking for a GPS signal.  I've performed all of the calibrations again, with no success.  I called MG and they said I needed to take it to an authorized dealer for repair.  Unfortunately, it's no longer under warranty and, according to the dealer, the part to fix it is almost $450 with another $250 in labor needed to fix it.  I only paid around $1,000 for the motor when I bought it new (bought it in May of 2020, just before Covid- pricing went into effect) so I'm not thrilled about spending $700 to fix it. The TM still works just fine, sans the Pinpoint GPS feature, but I've grown tired of using the remote constantly.  I feel like I'd like to have a foot-controlled trolling motor to be more efficient while fishing.  It's a little annoying to make a cast and then reach for the remote to redirect/operate the TM.  So, I can either spend $700 to fix the GPS in my current TM, or, I can sell it and buy a foot-controlled TM.  If you had approximately $700 to spend on one, which would you choose and why:

 

1. TM with spot lock feature but operated by remote; or,

2. TM w/o spot lock but foot-controlled?

 

At this point, I'm really not interested in spending the $1500+ to get a TM that has both spot lock and foot controls.  I mainly fish Lake Eufaula and Lake Seminole along the AL/GA line; although, I generally stay in the upper-ends of both due to being in a smaller boat.  Thanks for taking the time to read my post and, as a first-time boat owner, I appreciate any insight.

[Woody B]

I use spot lock a bunch, but I rarely use my remote so I understand why you want a pedal.  I'm too busy fishing with my hands to mess with a remote.  

 

If you look around locally I suspect you'll be able to find a used non spot lock trolling motor for a bargain.   I gave the Edge that came on my Classic XL to a friend who's old motor had died.   I sold my Terrova for almost as much as I paid for it when I changed to 24 volts.   

 

Again, my suggestion is, try to find a bargain on a used one.  That way you'll be sure you don't want spot lock.   You'll love deploying and stowing a scissor lift trolling motor compared to the electric steer.   

[WRB]

Try contacting The Trolling Motor Doctor 562/988.9444 in California. They maybe able to help you or know someone in your locality that repairs your TM or has a used TM in your price range.

Tom 

[Stratocat_Joe]

30 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I use spot lock a bunch, but I rarely use my remote so I understand why you want a pedal.  I'm too busy fishing with my hands to mess with a remote.  

 

If you look around locally I suspect you'll be able to find a used non spot lock trolling motor for a bargain.   I gave the Edge that came on my Classic XL to a friend who's old motor had died.   I sold my Terrova for almost as much as I paid for it when I changed to 24 volts.   

 

Again, my suggestion is, try to find a bargain on a used one.  That way you'll be sure you don't want spot lock.   You'll love deploying and stowing a scissor lift trolling motor compared to the electric steer.   

Thanks, Woody!  I've been perusing Marketplace for awhile.  I am a little skeptical at buying a used TM...but, if the right deal comes along, I may jump on it.

15 minutes ago, WRB said:

Try contacting The Trolling Motor Doctor 562/988.9444 in California. They maybe able to help you or know someone in your locality that repairs your TM or has a used TM in your price range.

Tom 

Thanks, Tom!

[Susky River Rat]

I would never have another TM without spot lock. I had an edge before my terrova and spot lock is one of the most valuable/useful things for me. Terrovas have spot lock a wired  electric foot pedal and a remote. I know it sucks but, I’d just buy a new one. Boat stands for break out another thousand. 

[Born 2 fish]

I have to have spot lock but if you don’t a minnkota fortrex would be my choice.

[Stratocat_Joe]

@Darnold335 and @Born 2 fishBoth of you seem to be saying that having the spot lock feature is more important than having a foot-controlled TM.  Can you expand on that preference?  I enjoyed the spot lock feature while it worked on my mine but I always found myself wanting foot control.  The MG wireless foot pedals were nice to have while they lasted... unfortunately, they didn't last long.  And they were an extra $200!  Luckily, one was replaced under warranty (1-year) but the replacement only lasted about six months, conveniently after the warranty expired.  Another thing I should add is that I have a Livescope set-up; but, it's on a separate pole mount mainly due to the fact that they don't seem to function well on spot lock TM's, particularly the "stow and deploy" models like my Xi-3, where the whole TM shaft runs through the mounting bracket for stowing/deployment.  So, if I fix the spot lock feature on my TM, I'll need to have a free hand to control the TM (when I'm not spot-locked) and/or the Livescope.   This is another reason why I've been thinking about going with a foot-controlled TM that I can attach the LS transducer to. I agree that spot lock is a nice feature for fishing a particular spot...I'm just trying to figure out if it's more important, and efficient for fishing, than foot-control.  So, in your opinion, why is spot lock more important than foot-control?

[gimruis]

I have a Minn Kota Maxxum 24 volt bow mount that has a 70 pound thrust. It’s a cable drive foot pedal control only. I do not have spot lock. I have no use for a remote, as I use both hands to fish almost 100% of the time.

 

The primary reason I bought this was because it was the best option at the time when I bought my boat in 2015. Modern spot lock had not been introduced yet. The Ultrex came out a year later.

 

I have a 12 foot talon that I use in conjunction with the bow mount, and I do not fish rivers. So it works pretty well. Eventually I would like to upgrade to an Ultrex but I can’t justify getting rid of a perfectly good operating Maxxum to do it. A new one is in your price range.

https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/freshwater-trolling-motors/maxxum

 

[Susky River Rat]

@Stratocat_Joe I do not run live scope. I cannot comment how that works with spot lock. I mainly fish rivers with the occasional lake. So to be able to stay on an area in current for me is key.  I do not use shallow water anchors because of the added weight on the transom. Outboard jets are very finicky with weight. I know people who do run them with jets I just prefer not to. I also never anchor. It’s a pain unless I’d choose to catfish which is once a year. 
 

even in lakes I will use spot lock to position myself. I like that I have no worries about boat control and can just focus on fishing. I can also love 5-10 feet in any direction spot lock again and now I can fish a completely different angle or depth. Keep in mind the boat will want to spin bow into any current or wind. 
 

When I do not have spot lock on and am just drifting and I hook up I will hit spot lock to now blow by the area I caught the fish while I’m fighting it. I can honestly spot lock has put more fish in my boat. 
 

I do notice when I am in heavy tree cover or underneath a bridge spot lock can act a bit unpredictable. This is nothing I would give it up for though. 

[WRB]

Don’t know what the TM issue is but sounds like it can’t find true north GPS signal. Sometimes the problem is the GPS puck location?

The MG wireless foot control isn’t popular because of lag time to respond, mechanical foot control is a better option imo.

The brushless TM’s are  $3K and resolve a lot of those issues.

Tom

[gimruis]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

The MG wireless foot control isn’t popular because of lag time to respond, mechanical foot control is a better option imo.

That’s another reason why I still use the cable steered Maxxum. It has immediate response when I turn. I do a fair amount of fishing in close proximity to docks and this is a valuable asset. The electric steer versions have terrible turning response and they are loud.

[DaubsNU1]

For what it’s worth…I fished an old Minn Kota All Terrain 40 lb cable steer trolling motor with no spot lock for 23 years. It fished well for what I did. I was dead set on getting another cable steer trolling motor with spot lock when I upgraded boats. 

 

Here is where life thew me a curve ball.  Three years ago my brother got his dream boat, and put a Minn Kota Ulterra on the bow. Initially I did not like it, preferring the quick response to the cable steer foot pedals. Well, three years later, guess what is sitting on my bow…yep, Ulterra. 

 

It is networked to two Helix 9’s and I am still trying to figure it all out.  I bass fish mostly and the Ulterra has been great. I set the auto-pilot on a path using the remote that is hanging from my belt. It’s quick and easy, and out of the way when I want to cast. I use the foot pedal to make minor corrections as I go along. 

 

If I get a snag, or hook a good fish, I can easily tap the spot-lock with my foot. And I’m stopped. 

 

Brother’s Ulterra has been rock solid, no issues. 

 

You have some decisions to make — repair or replace. 

 

Good luck!!

[Stratocat_Joe]

7 hours ago, gimruis said:

I have a Minn Kota Maxxum 24 volt bow mount that has a 70 pound thrust. It’s a cable drive foot pedal control only. I do not have spot lock. I have no use for a remote, as I use both hands to fish almost 100% of the time.

 

The primary reason I bought this was because it was the best option at the time when I bought my boat in 2015. Modern spot lock had not been introduced yet. The Ultrex came out a year later.

 

I have a 12 foot talon that I use in conjunction with the bow mount, and I do not fish rivers. So it works pretty well. Eventually I would like to upgrade to an Ultrex but I can’t justify getting rid of a perfectly good operating Maxxum to do it. A new one is in your price range.

https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/freshwater-trolling-motors/maxxum

 

Thank you for the reply.  I've been looking hard at the Maxxum and it might be the direction I go in.

[Stratocat_Joe]

7 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

@Stratocat_Joe I do not run live scope. I cannot comment how that works with spot lock. I mainly fish rivers with the occasional lake. So to be able to stay on an area in current for me is key.  I do not use shallow water anchors because of the added weight on the transom. Outboard jets are very finicky with weight. I know people who do run them with jets I just prefer not to. I also never anchor. It’s a pain unless I’d choose to catfish which is once a year. 
 

even in lakes I will use spot lock to position myself. I like that I have no worries about boat control and can just focus on fishing. I can also love 5-10 feet in any direction spot lock again and now I can fish a completely different angle or depth. Keep in mind the boat will want to spin bow into any current or wind. 
 

When I do not have spot lock on and am just drifting and I hook up I will hit spot lock to now blow by the area I caught the fish while I’m fighting it. I can honestly spot lock has put more fish in my boat. 
 

I do notice when I am in heavy tree cover or underneath a bridge spot lock can act a bit unpredictable. This is nothing I would give it up for though. 

Thank you for expanding on your preference.  It's funny that you mentioned the unpredictability of spot lock around a bridge.  One of the things I don't like about the MG Pinpoint GPS is it's unpredictability, too.  I was fishing next to a bridge and it must have lost GPS connection and took off in a circle, running me right into the bridge.  That's the issue with it now is that it just takes off on it's own at darn near full-speed, which can be hazardous while out on the water.  

[Susky River Rat]

@Stratocat_Joe mine doesn’t take off. It just can’t seem to find “home” it’s not as bad under bridges as it is heavy tree cover. So instead  of the 3ft it says it will stay it it might be 6ft?  I do know the windier and more current there is the better it seems to stay straight. Sometimes I do a get a case of the “rock” where it will keep over compensating till I manually get it back straight and spot lock it again. 
 

Is it perfect? No. I would never want to fish without it though. The pros outweigh the cons for me. 

[Stratocat_Joe]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Don’t know what the TM issue is but sounds like it can’t find true north GPS signal. Sometimes the problem is the GPS puck location?

The MG wireless foot control isn’t popular because of lag time to respond, mechanical foot control is a better option imo.

The brushless TM’s are  $3K and resolve a lot of those issues.

Tom

I'm pretty sure that it's a GPS issue but my MG doesn't have a separate puck...it's all self-contained in the TM.  As this is my first boat and TM, I don't have a ton of experience with others.  So, the lag on the foot pedal wasn't an issue for me.  The first one just stopped connecting to the TM and the second one stopped turning left, both of which are common issues with the wireless MG pedals.  When the product worked, they worked great for me as a weekend angler.  I just expected more longevity than 3 years on something I spent $1,200+ on.  Perhaps that's why I'm not interested in spending $1,500 now for a similar setup and am leaning towards a basic, old-school, cable steer TM.  

[Stratocat_Joe]

7 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

For what it’s worth…I fished an old Minn Kota All Terrain 40 lb cable steer trolling motor with no spot lock for 23 years. It fished well for what I did. I was dead set on getting another cable steer trolling motor with spot lock when I upgraded boats. 

 

Here is where life thew me a curve ball.  Three years ago my brother got his dream boat, and put a Minn Kota Ulterra on the bow. Initially I did not like it, preferring the quick response to the cable steer foot pedals. Well, three years later, guess what is sitting on my bow…yep, Ulterra. 

 

It is networked to two Helix 9’s and I am still trying to figure it all out.  I bass fish mostly and the Ulterra has been great. I set the auto-pilot on a path using the remote that is hanging from my belt. It’s quick and easy, and out of the way when I want to cast. I use the foot pedal to make minor corrections as I go along. 

 

If I get a snag, or hook a good fish, I can easily tap the spot-lock with my foot. And I’m stopped. 

 

Brother’s Ulterra has been rock solid, no issues. 

 

You have some decisions to make — repair or replace. 

 

Good luck!!

If I end up going to a basic, foot-controlled TM, I know there will be times that I miss the remote control, too.  There have been plenty of times that I've been in the back of the boat (or sat down to retie) and it was nice being able to still control the TM with the remote.  Decisions,  decisions...

[Captain Phil]

I bought my first foot controlled electric trolling motor in the early seventies.  That one thing probably changed bass fishing more than anything else before or since.  Boat control is one of the most important factors in this type of fishing.  It's not that noticeable in open water fishing.  In close quarters, it's one of the most significant.   I have probably used most every trolling motor made.  I may not have owned them all.  Fishing draw tournaments gave me this opportunity.  For years I used bow mounted cable driven foot controlled motors.  Nothing gives you more precise control.  I owned a Terrova with spot lock and remote when I fished out of my pontoon boat.   Those motors are perfect for Pontoon boats where drifting in the wind and current are a factor.  My son, who fishes coastal waters, loves spot lock because it holds the boat against the tide. When I purchased my current bass boat, I wanted more control.  I found the electronic remote cumbersome and sloppy, so I went back to a cable driven foot control.

 

Unless you have a really small boat, you want a 24 volt motor.  For bass fishing where there is heavy grass, you want the most powerful motor you can fit on your boat.  Hydrilla is tough, my current Minn Kota cuts through it like butter.   Personally, I would not put another electronically controlled remote trolling motor on my bass boat.   Give me a cable foot control and I'm happy.

[Susky River Rat]

@Captain Phil I do like the cable as far as feel goes. It is superior in that regard. I prefer the electric ones though for comfort.

[Stratocat_Joe]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

I bought my first foot controlled electric trolling motor in the early seventies.  That one thing probably changed bass fishing more than anything else before or since.  Boat control is one of the most important factors in this type of fishing.  It's not that noticeable in open water fishing.  In close quarters, it's one of the most significant.   I have probably used most every trolling motor made.  I may not have owned them all.  Fishing draw tournaments gave me this opportunity.  For years I used bow mounted cable driven foot controlled motors.  Nothing gives you more precise control.  I owned a Terrova with spot lock and remote when I fished out of my pontoon boat.   Those motors are perfect for Pontoon boats where drifting in the wind and current are a factor.  My son, who fishes coastal waters, loves spot lock because it holds the boat against the tide. When I purchased my current bass boat, I wanted more control.  I found the electronic remote cumbersome and sloppy, so I went back to a cable driven foot control.

 

Unless you have a really small boat, you want a 24 volt motor.  For bass fishing where there is heavy grass, you want the most powerful motor you can fit on your boat.  Hydrilla is tough, my current Minn Kota cuts through it like butter.   Personally, I would not put another electronically controlled remote trolling motor on my bass boat.   Give me a cable foot control and I'm happy.

Thanks for the reply, @Captain Phil.  Lake Eufaula doesn't have the grass it used to (or, so I hear) but Lake Seminole is still full of it!  I usually put in up a ways on the Spring Creek arm.  Sometimes, I'll run down to the main lake and grass is everywhere!  Even running in the boat lane, there are places where I don't want to slow down because I'll land on grass and it's a booger trying to get up and going again with only a 50HP on the back.  What MK model do you run?

[gimruis]

3 hours ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

Thank you for the reply.  I've been looking hard at the Maxxum and it might be the direction I go in.

Just something to keep in mind with the cable driven pedals.  They tend to stick up higher and have a taller profile than the electric steer ones.  So you might want a recessed tray area for it.  My boat was built with it.

 

@Captain Phil has the same boat I do, a Ranger RT178.  I am not sure which model bow mount his has though.

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

Thanks for the reply, @Captain Phil.  Lake Eufaula doesn't have the grass it used to (or, so I hear) but Lake Seminole is still full of it!  I usually put in up a ways on the Spring Creek arm.  Sometimes, I'll run down to the main lake and grass is everywhere!  Even running in the boat lane, there are places where I don't want to slow down because I'll land on grass and it's a booger trying to get up and going again with only a 50HP on the back.  What MK model do you run?

 

My Ranger RT178 came with a 24 volt Minn Kota Edge.  In my opinion, the Edge is an entry level trolling motor.  It works on this boat and I am generally pleased with it's performance.  If my boat was much larger, I would step up a level.  I don't much care for electronically controlled motors.  I find the control slow and somewhat clunky, not to mention the cost.  If you do, stay away from the power stow and deploy feature.  The belts break which will leave you stranded.  As a tournament angler, reliability was always my biggest issue.  I was a Motor Guide person for many years.  They were great motors when they were simple.  That was some time ago.  I finally got tired of the breakdowns and repair cost and went to Minn Kota.  A Minn Kota has never disappointed me. 

[TOXIC]

Seems like the TM market has exploded with new models.  I’m on my 3rd TM on my Ranger and I still don’t have spot lock.  I run a Fortrex cable drive, no remote.  I also have gen 1 power poles that are hard wired with stomp switches up front and a toggle switch at the console.  My advice is to give it some time and I have a feeling that the used TM market will be worth it.  That’s what I’m doing. ?

[DaubsNU1]

3 hours ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

If I end up going to a basic, foot-controlled TM, I know there will be times that I miss the remote control, too.  There have been plenty of times that I've been in the back of the boat (or sat down to retie) and it was nice being able to still control the TM with the remote.  Decisions,  decisions...

 

@Stratocat_Joe, I really like being able to control the TM from anywhere in the boat. Spot-lock is great when I'm tying on a new lure. Or just want to pick apart an area. 

 

Remote and spot-lock are GREAT when loading and unloading the boat. Wife sits in the boat...I launch...deploy, spot lock...then park the truck. Then I remote drive the boat to the dock and hop on.

 

[immortl]

@Stratocat_Joe - If you want a new trolling motor, disregard this post. 

 

That said, have you looked at fixing it yourself?  It looks to be very straightforward.  The Xi motors without Pinpoint GPS are easily user upgradeable to Pinpoint GPS.

 

Kit for $420 - https://trollingmotorparts.com/motor-guide-pinpoint-gps-upgrade-kit-xi3-xi5/

 

More importantly, check out the install video, it's literally remove a few screws, place the 2 modules in their spots and screw the covers back on.  $250 for that seems excessive.  Even with low mechanical inclination and lots of trepidation, self repair seems highly viable.  Probably end up with spare parts, sell off the remote for a few bucks to defray the cost. 

 

Install Video