trolling motor decisions

[mkeller]

Boat a brand new boat and debating which style trolling motor to go with. I have always ran minkota cable steer but have really been looking at the i pilot and motor guide xi5. I usually fish 2 off the front deck and would like the remote and spot lock feature. I would appreciate some pros and cons of this style of trolling motor since i have never used one or fished with anyone that uses them.

[CharlieM]

I have used the MinnKota Powerdrive V2 with Humminbird Link the two past years. I love the spot lock and go to waypoints. But there are times, especially when fishing two rods, that I really miss the foot control and instant response that I had with cable steer. Also, I liked pulling the trolling motor up with a roap. All things considered I would not go back. It is really nice to be able to use spot lock while you put a fish in the livewell, take a leak or pour a cup coffee.

[Cray]

Have the Terrova and love it. Seldom use the SpotLock but it is nice. Really like that you can use remote and foot pedal. Some say the new MG has a better spot lock. Just never had much luck with MG motors.

[Redge]

Very happy with my terrova, I have the foot pedal and have used it 1 time!!

[mkeller]

Most of my fishiing is in open water over brush or fishing shad schools but now and then in creeks and rivers or areas of standing timber. Do you have much trouble navigating it in tight areas compared to a cable steer? Everything i have seen on the motorguide is impressive,says they use 3 satelites for gps for spotlock. They are compatible with lowrance, i run humminbird but can still use the us2 transducer with adapter. Thanks for the info cray.

[zeepo]

XI5 is fantastic and I love it, I use anchor lock every time out. I have lowrance electronics so it was a great decision. I use the remote 90% of the time.

gary

[mkeller]

Does the anchor lock keep you within the 5ft area they claim? Is the motorguide quiet? I have a humminbird 859 i plan on putting up front and a 899 si for the console. I have been told side image doesnt work with the mg or ipilot due to them moving back and forth, and because of the built in transducer. I have a 1197 at the dash of the boat i have now but am gonna sell it wiyh the boat. I am waiting for the helix 10 and 12 to come out. Cray, is yours a ipilot link? Thanks for the info zeepo.

[Spine guy]

Last May I bought an XI5 in that I have Lowrance electronics. Has worked as advertised, is quiet, and I have no complaints. The "anchor" feature stays right over structure. The pre-setting of a trolling pattern is very nice. As Gary noted, I too have switched to using the remote. Check to make sure the Motorguide will work with Hummingbird products.
Milton

[crappie_hunter15]

I have a Terrova with Link. I use spot lock all the time. I fish with my wife a lot or others who do not like to run the motor so when putting fish back I just hit spot lock. Sometimes I run the motor from the back of the boat when my bother and his kids are on the boat. I do use the foot pedal the majority of the time to control the boat though. I fish standing timber and tight areas too and haven't had problems navigating, if anything it makes you better as you think more ahead of time about what the boat is doing. They have made some upgrades with the spot lock feature over the past couple years. I was able to have it hold me on schools of crappie last year my wife and I had a blast using it. Really makes the day a lot easier for me when she is along. I can only imagine how nice it would be if you had kids on the boat. As far as the link goes I use that a lot. Especially in the winter time I will just pick out a break line and follow it. I have 1199's at bow and console and the side imaging works great with the link at the bow. I can scan/follow the creek channel without looking at the GPS mapping. If you have humminbirds and plan to stay with humminbird you need to get the minnkota ipilot link.

[CharlieM]

crappie_hunter15, do you have your bow transducer on the trolling motor? If so, have you had problems with the cord wrapping around the trolling motor?