Just my opinions:

Pontoon:
Why do all my fishing friends suddenly want to fish from my boat? Because it's so smooth riding even in rough water and very comfortable to fish from. Everyone that's been out on it have been amazed about how well it fishes. The trolling motor handles it just as easily as a regular boat.

The only thing that's a problem is dock shooting. Bridges are OK after a learning trip. Great for timber or brushpiles.

Motor Guide Xi5:
Forget tying up to timber. Trolling motor holds you in perfect position until you are ready to move and then smoothly takes you to the next tree and holds you there. The windier it is the better it holds. Brushpiles the same.

Lewisville has lots of rock piles that hold all kinds of fish. We set the anchor feature and cast all around the boat. I like to set the front of the boat up wind of the cover and fish downwind out the back of the boat. (First time I have ever seen guys fight to be first in the REAR of the boat)

The only disappointment about the trolling motor is you have to control it manually under bridges. I tried the foot control for the first time today, takes some getting use to. I prefer the remote control.

All things considered I wouldn't go back to a conventional boat and everyone will be getting a GPS remote control trolling motor soon. (even Guy & Rick) The boat is on total automatic control so all you have to do is fish. Sit stand, walk around, boat never moves while you retie or whatever. Kind of like fishing from the dock except better, you can move the dock around.

Fishing Report: Friday, Sat & Sun. produced good strings of crappie. Had to sort thru a ton of dinks and sandbass. Bridges, timber, brushpiles and rocks all produced. All fish caught on small soft plastic or Hand tied jigs. Color didn't matter.

Anyone wanting a demo of the trolling motor just call me.

Yep, totally agree!

Sounds like you've got her figured out and fine tuned

Nice report.

pics please

Ernest,
It's great to hear that you have that pontoon sorted out and that it is working out so well for you.

For dock shooting, is it just too high above the water that's the only problem or is there other issues also?
Lots of creative people on here - maybe someone can come up with a solution.

I hope it gives you years of great fishing!

Some have that swimming deck on the back. If you could catch the wind just right, that may work. Don't know if Ernest's has one.

I can do it but it's hard to keep your partner in position because of the rails all around. Not many docks to shoot at Lewisville anyway. No swim decks on mine.

Ernest I'm ready for a demo of that trolling motor!!!

I'm trying to talk myself in spending the bucks to place one of these on my pontoon.

Only problem is my current trolling motor has less than 30 hours use on it. Still kicking myself for letting the salesman talk me out of buying a wireless unit when I bought this one.

He said he had received nothing but complaints from those who had bought wireless trolling motors from him so I decided to stay with a foot controlled unit.

Bite the bullet. My trolling motor had only 6 hours on it. Sold it for $200. loss. Best $200. I ever spent. As with all equipment there are some things you would like changed but my pontoon fishes 10 times better with this motor.

As far as the pontoon is concerned, several of my friends have or will soon switch to pontoons after fishing on mine.

Totally agree with Ernest on the Xi5. I moved my Xi5 from my Ranger Reata over to my new (to me) pontoon, and it is working great. Holds me on the spot like it did on my Ranger. I was somewhat concerned that my 45 inch shaft length was a little short for the toon, but as long as I let it all the way down, it performs great! Next week, I will finish moving the NEMA2000 backbone and Motorguide Gateway over to the toon, and network my two Lorwance HDS units.

Again, the Xi5 - with Pinpoint GPS - is the best investment I've made in my fishing sport! Now the cost of the fish is only $700 per pound!

So you got a new boat and didn't tell nobody huh?

Uh, ........ yep. Been working hard on it to get it ready for the wife (and grandkids).