Id would go with a Garmin, I here they have brushless motors and are much quieter. I just ordered a new boat and went with a 24v/80# Ultrex whereas I had a Motoguide XI5 on my last boat. I will say I liked the XI5 a lot better then the Ultrex. The remote is much smaller than the big heavy one that came with the Ultrex, its much noisier and much bigger taking up a lot of room on the bow.
Blueball, Lets hope not, I've seen pix of the Garmin and it looks smaller. I just wish I had my XI5 back
Just my Opinion..... Brushless motors have been around for years basically a brushless motor takes DC voltage ( in a DC system ) and using an ESC ( electronic speed controller ) turns it into 3 phase AC, there is no reason for the cost to be that much higher.
These brushless DC trolling motors in no possible way are 3 Phase A.C. However.... FCM's also called AC Inverter controllers will take A.C. voltage and convert to D.C. voltage then back to A.C. frequency controlled voltage to operate an A.C. inverter rated A.C. motor. It fools the motor controlling its frequency of the alternating current being supplied to control the speed of the motor.
Trolling motors are strictly D.C. voltage regardless of having a carbon brush commutator or totally brushless design. Been in the industry for over 40 years BTY.
I got fed up with Motorguide and Lowrance not connecting. So dumped my Xi5 , and hds carbons. I now have two Garmin 126 units and
a Kraken. So far I like the set up. The kraken has a 63 in shaft , so it is not for everyone. every motor I have had on my boat ( 22 ft bluewave CC)
has hung over the gunnel. I keep my boat in a lift , so this one I mounted so the shaft come straight back from the bow. The extra shaft length
gives me great leverage when picking this beast up. I much prefer the pivot mount to a scissor mount.
I have only had it on the water twice. First time was a waste of time , I did not know how to control this beast. After some time on youtube,
the second time out I was able to make it do what I wanted. The two garmin units are connected with an ethernet cable.
I can use either unit ( one on the bow , one on the console ) to control the TM , The built in transducer on the TM gives me
tradition sonar , downview and side scan which I can view on both units . I doubt I will ever put a transducer on the transom. I can go to a waypoint with either unit or the remote.
One neat thing about the Kracken , If you are in spotlock , and it needs to backup , the prop spins backward, the head does not
have to rotate 180 degrees to back up.
This set up will not work for every one, But if you have the room and don't mind spending the $$$ I think you will like it,
your mileage may vary
Mo
One great feature of the 126 units , the screen fits in a cradle, You leave all the cables connected to the cradle ,and just press a lever on the
back of the cradle to remove the screen. Takes only a second to remove or install the screen.
good luck
Mo
Unless you want to network the graphs to the TM i would go with the MK. WAY cheaper as you know. I have the Ultrex and run Garmin electronics and i have zero issues. They way I fish I don't need the TM to be able to follow a trail on the graph.
If you need or want that feature, or the "go to" feature then you should look at the Garmin.
Life is a matter of luck, and the odds in favor of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution. - KptLt Erich Topp, German U-boat Commander, 1943