Reply With Quotexi5 or xi3 or the only ones that will link to your gen2s, with the features you want. Use Carbons can be bought pretty cheep if your looking for a sonar to link to the new Lowrance Ghost.
Thanks: 0
HaHa: 0
Keeper
Suggestions For A New Trolling Motor
I have made up my mind that I want a new trolling motor. I am currently running an older 2014 Motorguide tour pro TM - 36 volts. No remote but the petal and the speed dial. What I have been mainly doing is crappie fishing using it for spider rigging, long lining and some casting. I currently run two Lowrance HDS Tough units which are Gen 2's - also 2014's. I have GPS on those units with Navionic Map cards.
With basically everyone (Lowrance, Garmin, MG and MK) coming out with new models in 2019/2020 I am trying to determine my best path forward with the best features. This has been somewhat challenging to get accurate intel on each of the models but I am digging through it, calling companies and asking questions. If I am going to drop $3K on a new TM then I want to know what I am getting. To this point I have mainly looked at the Ghost due to connectiviy with some Lowrance Units (but not mine of course). It seems to have a lot of cool features that I want if you have the right unit to connect it to. I am still not sure about the cruise control feature or even if they offer it much less how well it works at lower speeds. I can't find anything that is clear cut in the manual.
I think the other best option for me to consider given I run Lowrance units is the Motorguide TM. I am looking a the new Tour Pro 109 with GPS and Sonar but I am just starting to dig into this unit.
Features that would be important to me are as follows: Spot Lock/Anchor, Cruise control (at low speeds like .3 mph), directional heading, remote control, running a defined route or trail, and connection to my Lowrance Units and sonar with built in transducer then lift assist.
If anyone has any knowledge on these two models or similar which would fit my needs then please comment. If you also have heard issues with some of the features then please comment. Just looking to make and informed decision and would appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
xi5 or xi3 or the only ones that will link to your gen2s, with the features you want. Use Carbons can be bought pretty cheep if your looking for a sonar to link to the new Lowrance Ghost.
Keeper
the new MG Tour Pro won't provide features above the XI5? I would upgrade the Gen2 if I could get the features I want but I am not seeing Cruise on the Ghost so far.Originally Posted by Central Minn
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Sorry haven't looked at the MG web page in awhile,looks like the tour pro has the same features as the xi5. Looks like it easier to deploy and lift too.
Keeper
Hey no worries. All these motors are new for 2019/2020 and some are having a hard time getting them to market. So it's hard to get good information or feedback given the newness and limited availability. However, I do appreciate you commenting. I have a guy I know who has an XI5 and it is relatively a new one but he can't cruise below 1mph which defeats the purpose for some crappie applications. A lot of the motors seem targeted towards bass guys from a marketing perspective. They really need to have some good videos and reviews from some good crappie guys so we can understand what we are buying especially at $3K per motor.
BTW - I called Lowrance to check on the cruise and even though it is not referenced at all or very well in the manual - the Lowrance Gost Tech support guys say that it has a cruise control. So they say, lol.
Crappie.com Legend
My advice is the same each time I see this type of question. Call Brian @ BBG Marine. Or PM him from this site. He has a way of determining what will best serve you, and then backs it up with the best price. I have trusted him with these big decisions three times, and he has steered me right on each.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Keeper
Crappie.com 2K Star General
Have you watched the comparison videos on YouTube with the ghost, it’s loud underwater and the steering is loud, the ghost would be the last trolling motor I bought, I run a terrova and got no complaints but the garmin intrigued me
Super Duper Moderator - 2012 Crappie.Com Man of the year & 2018 Crappie.com Decade of Exceptional Service Awards
* Crappie.com Supporter * Member Sponsor
Keeper
Just talked to BBG Marine. Brian was very helpful and took time to answer all my questions. Thank you for the suggestion.
And yes, I have watched, read, researched everything I can find on 3 of the 4 trolling motors out there. That list included the Ghost, MG and Gamin. I have done some research on the MK as well but not as much on the others. I have called several people in the know like BBG to get honest feedback. I have called Lowrance Ghost Tech Support and MG tech support as well. For the couple negative videos on the Ghost there are 10 that say it is quiet, lol. I'm sure all 4 would suffice. Here is where I am at the moment after all the research I have done.
The ghost is probably the best fit as a whole when you consider capabilities, integration into my current use of Lowrance units even if I have to upgrade one. This is their first attempt so it could be a disaster which is the downside. It may end up being dud. I already have the NMEA which is a plus. It has a lot of what I am looking for but misses the mark potentially on a few items based upon my research.
The one that seems to fit the bill as far as total capabilities seems to be the MK Ultrex. It sure seems to do it all but without integration into the unit - sounds like a solid choice though. The downside is integration or replaced my Lowrance units with birds. Nothing against Humminbird as I had them before but I would just as soon not replace everything. Also, I would have to add an external transducer which I don't really don't want to do.
The MG Tour Pro which is the one I would consider still has yet to be released even after a year of the launch at ICAST? That can't be good. Therefore the actual users feedback is limited to test pilot feedback so that one is probably out.
jackie53 LIKED above post
