Thread: Motor Guide Xi5

Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper

I fished with an elederly friend yesterday that has the 80lb XI5. I normally run the boat when with him. He does not like to use more than one jig at a time and slow trolling is not his thing either. He does however like to move a lot. We fished Saturday in a spot I showed Buck and Allen and caught a lot of nice Crappie. Pointing the boat into the wind and hitting the anchor lock allowed us to work our baits in the area around the boat in search of scattered Crappie. Once that area is worked, would just hit the foward button on the remote twice to move us up 10'. I've fished a boat with an XI5 and one with a Terrova with anchor. The XI5 reacts if the TM moves about 2'. The Terrova was slow to react and at times we were 15-20' from the marker bouy before it fired up. I really like the Motor Guide!

Reaper, that is really great to hear! MG beats MK hands down, no contest, not even close!!!

Ok, I'm late to this thread, but getting on the Motor Guide web site, I see they have units with built in gps, and some posts where the trolling motor is being tied into the Lowrance units requiring running cable to the front of the boat. I'm speculating that is so the gps in the Lowrance can be used vs the built in models?

Originally Posted by dennishoddy

Ok, I'm late to this thread, but getting on the Motor Guide web site, I see they have units with built in gps, and some posts where the trolling motor is being tied into the Lowrance units requiring running cable to the front of the boat. I'm speculating that is so the gps in the Lowrance can be used vs the built in models?

You are correct. if you buy the cable that connects an HDS to the XI5, you can program the XI5 to follow a pre recorded trail on your Lowrance. However, the XI5 does have a way to follow its own trail that I believe is up to 4 miles. I haven't delved into the XI5 much past basic operation. I'd buy one based on the basics though.

You can record a trail via the remote also. The HDS makes it easier and you can use any existing trails, already recorded. It is really nice to fish in the wind for 30 minutes moving along at your preset speed and not worry about the tm.

Originally Posted by dennishoddy

Ok, I'm late to this thread, but getting on the Motor Guide web site, I see they have units with built in gps, and some posts where the trolling motor is being tied into the Lowrance units requiring running cable to the front of the boat. I'm speculating that is so the gps in the Lowrance can be used vs the built in models?

To tie the Xi5 to the lowrance HDS Gen 2 units you have to have NMEA 2000 network. Not hard to install at all

Originally Posted by CHECrappie

To tie the Xi5 to the lowrance HDS Gen 2 units you have to have NMEA 2000 network. Not hard to install at all

That's just the cable that goes to the yellow plug on the HDS Gen 2 touch right? (what I have at the console). I never sit at the console once in the fishing area, always in the front seat, but I'm not as sophisticated at the different techniques some on here are....yet.

Currently have a HB transducer on the front trolling motor, unit on deck by the front seat, and thinking about getting another HDS Gen 2 unit to put in the front to replace it, OR possibly one of the Garmin since they are getting such great reviews on here.

Garmin work with the Xi5?

The XI5 takes it's own cable that connects to the Lowrance. I don't know which connector it utilizes but may connect to an ethernet or hub. I think it's around $250 for the cable alone. Currently the XI5 is set up to work with Lowrance only as far as I know.

Reaper, it is my understanding all you need is the NEMA 2000 bus to connect to the Xi5?????? I'd be surprised if you could use the Xi5 with anything other than a Lowrance HDS but, am guessing any HDS with NEMA 2000 capability would work and you could use either the front or console HDS to control the TM.
I still have my MK Fortrex and will keep it till I get a ride with someone with an Xi5 before I write that check!