Thread: Motorguide Xi5 SW 55 w/gps

Raclow I agree with yah. Most of us aren’t sponsored so costs are direct. I also don’t mind paying for something I want. A just dislike the baiting. I have decided on getting the motorguide Xi5 with GPS as that’s mostly important to me. Was looking at Lowrance HDS because of claims by both manufacturers of compatibility. I think that’s wonderful also but it’s highly overstated cause the compatibility isn’t out of the box other than a connection to the built in transducer that is only a basic D2 83/200.
Brettw don’t understand why you wouldn’t use built in transducer unless you purchased the upgrade on with si. Glad the rye wraps are working forward you. I might go that route as my exits one up front is an si.
Thanks to all

Originally Posted by brettw

I bought Lowrance 7 and put transducer on xi5 with nylon ties. Works well , I don’t use the ducer on the xi


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Do you have Pictures of your set up? Thank you

I bought an Xi5 Motorguide in Nov 2017 and it's been nothing but trouble since I've had it. Haven't fished a whole day since I've had it. The headlock on the first one wouldn't work and they could not fix it. So after months motorguide replaced it with a new one. After Bass Pro put the new one on I went fishing, motor quit about 3 hours later. Took it back to Bass Pro and they said the panel board needed replacing. So as of right now its at Bass Pro. This motor has cost me more money traveling back and forth for repairs and talking to Motorguide on the phone 20 times. Don't go with Xi5 Motorguide!!!

WOW ugly story hammerhead. I read another review where the board went out on someone and needed replacement twice. Most of the folks that have them seem to love them. That don’t help you much and I appreciate the warning ⚠️

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Originally Posted by huntinslabs

I have the XI5 Saltwater 80lb on my boat. It is not linked to my Lowrance unit. The Motorguide units have 2 GPS recievers, 1 in base and 1 in head so the spotlock and everything else GPS driven is more accurate than the Minn Kota. You get 2 GPS locks at a time helping stay on point. Linking the motor to your Lowrance adds folowing a determined depth line on chart etc. or tracking to a waypoint. I love mine, can hold spot on over a reef in swells with wind or holding spot on in current during strong tide flow. Only downside to the Motorguide I have seen is not having a little screen on remote telling you what is going on.

I have same XI5 as you with a linked HDS9 Gen 3 on the bow. I know Hummingbird/Motorguide can be set to follow a specific contour (depth). I wasn't aware the XI5/Lowrance had this feature. Do you have a link with instructions on setup/setting for the XI5/HDS to follow set depth/contour?

I've had my xi5 for awhile now, and just realized that it has the transducer built into it.

What do I need to do to hook up my small lowrance elite 4 or whatever other unit to it to use it in the front? I don't need all of the functions and such, just would like a fish finder up front and would save the headache of making a transducer stick.

BBG Marine talk to Brian ,he will fix you up.