Thread: What's your vote? Minn Kota Terrova w iPilot and Spot Lock, or Motor Guide Xi5?

Cabelas did mine. No real complaints except one. Might be hard to explain verbally but get some lock tight. The xi5 has these face plates on the front. One of mine blew off during travel to the lake. The screws just all loosened up over time. Now you’d think it would be something I’d see but it wasn’t. I went out fishing all day. Then one stop, when I pulled the trolling motor up the wires went inside the side of the motor, where that face plate should have been and cut partially through them. Now cabela or MOtorguide is going to warranty the fix so that’s great but boy could that have ruined the trip if I had tried to force it locked down.

Far as the foot pedal, I hate the xi5. Being wireless it is slow to react and it is always going to far left or right. I could use the old standard wired pedal and never look down and keep myself on track. With this I constantly keep looking down and adjusting. The remote control is much better but again my fishing is stopped to use one hand to drive the motor. I’m just not a fan.

For the overhang of the motor cabelas installed a quick release plate. I physically have to take my trolling motor off and lay it in the bow of the deck to launch, trailer and also to put the cover on. Not a huge pain but something I have to do each time. No other option that they could offer me.

I had an Xi5 and the head overspun terribly. Since the head could spin around and around you can not attach any other devise requiring cables to it (down scan transducer, hydrowave, etc.) or it would rip wires off. Replaced it with a Minn Kota Ultrex, Humminbird Helix & 360. But also kept my Lowrance Gen3 on the bow. Look at what all the elite bass guys are going to...the Ultrex. That was just my experience with the Xi5. If you choose it, you may love it.
Good video on YouTube: KVD 2018 Boat & Gear Tour

I have a xi5 and have a di transducer mounted on motor with cables and have no issues with cables as head doesn't turn complete circles when locked in place have had no issues or complaints on the xi5 other than operator error...lol ultrex might be faster responding since it is a cable steer...buddy has a ultr ex and his spot lock isn't any better than xi5....just my opinion and observation

I have the Ultrex with link and the spot lock will keep you within about a 3 ft circle and the follow the contour is great,if you spider rig or pull jigs it will keep you on the contour,with your lakemaster in the birds, you can use it with your link remote smart phone or your birds only drawback is you have to use the integrated transducer for the follow the contour so my front 998 di is useless.

Don't have any experience with the others. Really like my Xi5.

I have the Ultera and it's previous the updated spot lock upgrade but I still love mine it has been the best money I've ever spent on anything for my boat. That said I know nothing about Xi5 but like stated earlier if you use or plan on using humminbird go with minnkota if you use lowrance then stick with motorguide they both have good stuff.

I am going to upgrade tm before this spring and I am torn between the xi5 and the ultrex. I run lowrance units so one might say the x15 might be a the best option. I have 2 units both non touch and have heard the touch units are a lot easier to use when trying to control the tm from the fish finder. I am new to trolling cranks for crappie but I enjoy it and want to get a new tm to accomadate that. Also keep in mind the boat is still going to be used the majority of the time fishing for bass. That means I am used to being on the foot pedal a lot weaving in and out of boat docks, running shallow to retrieve lures fishing shallow buck brush etc. As far as I know the benefits of the gateway kit is for the tm to talk to my lowrance units. Right now I say I don't care about controlling the tm from the units but im sure if i had the option i would eventually use it. I know it's other capabilities as far as navigating to way points from the depth finders etc. and I know this could be helpful. If I decide to go w the ultrex I know i cannot hook it up to my lowrance units, but it still does heading lock stuff, cruise control and spot lock, recording entrails and anchor points etc all the stuff I would need to troll the cranks. My main thing is if I went w the x15 would I be sacrificing the way I fish for bass w the pedal not being what I'm used to as far as traditional cable motors go? Is the foot pedal easy to get used to? Would I be better off going w the ultrex ? cause from what I understand is still what I'm used to as far as the pedal is concerned. Any advice or info would be appreciated I just want to get what best suites me and do not want to have any regrets.

squirrel slayer, you own a boat!!! you have lots of regrets!! one more at the front is no thing, chalk it up to having a good time!!

IMO, you will hate the XI5. not because there is anything wrong with it, you are used to cable driven responses. you intuitively, move left, right, back, forward with your foot. with the XI5 you have to use your thinker for a split second with each move. you will not be maneuvering in out of docks, and into skinny buck brush water to retrieve many lures. now, if you want to park in the middle of the cove. you will love it!

If you buy the wrong one, just tell your wife you need a "different" one. she will understand.