Fixing yo buy a motorguide xi5 does any body have one what's your thoughts?

Ive tried a few of the wireless or cable less trolling motors thru the years and have always been disappointed. Until you see the pro's start using them stay away from them. It's a gimmick that you won't be happy with.

If, and I say if because I'm not familiar with the model at all, this is a 'wireless' unit, I would have either someone demonstrate or ask about the noise level of the unit in operation.
I had a wireless Motor-guide for a while, did not like it for that reason.
Logic: If I can hear it...hmmmmmmmm....the fish can hear it or pick up on the vibrations even more .....
Just my 2 cents..

It's slow wont turn fast trees, rocks docks.. Smack...

I am assuming that this is the MG equivalent to the MK Terrova w/ I-Pilot.
Do it, you won't be sorry. Best investment I have made in new fishing technology other than a bigger better graph. Whether you are tournament fishing or recreational fishing the GPS system on a trolling motor is the NUTS.
The track back features, operation from the back of the boat, anchor lock technology to hold you on a spot in the wind is great. ??? noise ??? you bang around in a boat and make more noise than this trolling motor.
Great investment....... IMHO

I own an iPilot terrova and I love mine. I am just as good with a regular trolling motor but with my spot lock and other features, its awesome. Motor-guide demo did not show interaction with lowrance depth finders which is why I assume you are choosing motor guide over minnkota, but it looks like a decent unit. As far as getting around docks and trees I do it with ease, Just have to get used to the foot pedal is all. My ipilot is quieter than a fortrex.

I have an xi5 and I love it. I've had hand control and foot control TM's in the past and this one is the nicest of what I've had. The anchor mode is great, I throw a marker on a brush pile, etc, and then anchor next to it and can fish anywhere on the boat (I fish solo a lot) and I don't have to worry about controlling the boat. If I didn't hit the mark exactly, I can jog the boat 5' at a time in any direction and hold at that new spot.

The heading lock is also fantastic, it keep the boat traveling in a set direction regardless of wind, wake, etc. Makes it easy to just fish.

I found that I don't use the foot control at all, I does not work as a traditional cable operated foot control does. I find it has no "feel". So I keep it stowed and use only the fob - again, fishing solo, it goes where I go - very liberating, plus it gets the foot control off the casting deck.

You can record a route and store it and replay it so that you'll troll down the bank automatically.

Lastly, fishing in Texas heat, you press anchor, and jump off the boat to cool off for a while and the boat stays where you left it.

Hmmmmmmm.....must have sure changed the design to eliminate the 'noise factor'. Sure hope so..
I hope it works well for you...

What I hear when off the boat and my head is in the water are my transducers clicking away. I don't hear the TM at all. Part of it may be due to the turning motor being out of the water and isolated by the composite shaft, whilst the transducers are in the water.

I'm convinced that fish know I'm coming with all the transducer noise. I've started shutting down the sonar on my usual spots when it's quiet on the lake.

Thanks guys .

That may well be true. But, I'm referring specifically to the 'whrrrrrr' sound the motor made each and every time I corrected the course. The motor turns direction, loud 'whrrrrrr' sound.
Lord, and after all those years working near jet engines I'm half deaf and have zero high frequency hearing what so ever.
But, this model may be much quieter and changed as it sounds MG is going after the MK models..

I hear ya. I haven't noticed that I spook any fish. I routinely fish at night at docks with submerged lights and I don't see the fish react when I have to spin the motor around - for whatever that's worth. But yes, the motor does make an audible whir when it's spun around.

I asked this same question about a month ago and got few responses. Dont think there are too many users yet with first hand experience.

Bought the Xi5 for my aluminum boat especially due to how bad the wind whips it around. Have had it out a couple of days now and impressed with the performance so far. The foot pedal will take some getting used to. It is so fast my main problem so far has been oversteering the change of direction, would slow it down if it were adjustable.


Sound wise it is pretty quiet, I have no problem with the noise level. Tested the anchor lock next to a dock in about a 10 mph wind. Would have to say it kept the boat in about a 5 foot circle. Pretty nice to get a fish on, hit the spot lock, land the fish, release it, retie, get a new worm and cast again again at the same brushpile having never touched the trolling motor for 3 or 4 minutes. Fishing on a heading is pretty neat too as you can dial the variable speed down to pretty slow and let it control the boat in a wind for a few minutes while you pick apart the shoreline cover with a topwater.

The footpedal can do a lot but the handheld remote is needed to use the jog, heading or route feature. The only thing I dont like is wearing the remote around my neck while fishing. Bought a nylon wader belt this week to try this weekend. Plan to keep the remote on a short cord at the waist for when I use those features requiring the remote.

In summary, for my use on a light weight aluminum boat I really like it for its ability to keep the boat in control without constant attention.

I'm going to put it on a skeeter zx how far does it stick over the front of the boat.I'm worried on some ramps the boat falls down off the front of the trailer and it might hit it. Any commits on that?

I hear there is a cable foot pedal version of the I pilot coming out, I believe in 2015.