Thinking about upgrading my trolling motor. What's your preference and why?

I thought that I was MG guy BUT after trying the MK for the 1st time I was wrong, lol. I had several MG's in the past & then bought a MK to upgrade my boat about 10 years ago & I will NEVER EVER go back. Didn't have bad luck with my MG's but after running the MK I purchased from a friend it was like night & day different. I now own a Fortrex (my 3rd MK) & it is an AWESOME trolling motor. Quiet, easy to use, VERY dependable. By the way my dad is STILL using the very 1st MK I ever owned & it is still going strong.

After I went to MK I have had several other guys in my club including my dad use my MK & they have since went to MK's & will NEVER use anything else.

It's like the old Ford vs Chevy argument...MK's just seem to be the best trolling motor FOR ME (& several of my friends) hands down.

Fish with friends who have both & see for yourself which one you like best.

MK. Shaft doesn't bend or break. Quieter. Maximizer saves your battery. Get a Variable speed model. The wind never blows on 1-2-3-4,or 5.

MK. This is NOT a Ford and Chevy question. Ask any trolling motor shop who sells and services BOTH brands and you will get a vast majority saying MK.

I am also very interested. The fortrex on my last boat was not quiet nor smooth after the first few trips. And i didnt even use it that much. Had to tighten most of the bolts before each trip. I was hoping you guys had better luck with MG.

Minn Kota ---




the end

I'm with Alpha211, I had a 109 Tour Edition MG on my last boat and loved it. I have a 101 Fortrex on my new boat, and I personally think it is junk. Pops and squeaks everytime you turn and definitely do not think it is as powerful as my MG was. Big bridge truss looking bracket sits way too high on front of boat. MK doesn't fold under and bounce back like my MG did either. I would just like to hear from people who have had a 109 Tour Edition MG and now have a 101 Fortrex and see what they think?

101 lbs. thrust not as powerful as 109 lbs. thrust? Imagine that!

I replaced a Motorguide with MinnKota Fortrex on my last boat. No question, the MK was far superior. Full disclosure: My MG came with the boat (used) and the motor fried after a year of hard fishing. Not sure it's a fair comparison since the MG was nearly 4 years old, but holy cow, what a difference. I bought a new Ranger in September. I made the dealer take the MG off and replace it with with an MK. The dealer told me that was happening a lot and he was only going to order boats with MK's in the future. From my experience, the MK is smoother, more dependable, more responsive and more quiet. Good luck.

A 109 Tour Edition is actually a 105lb thrust trolling motor for your info yo yo. And 4lb of thrust doesn't make that much difference and those are the two comparable trolling motors. A 109 Tour Edition compared to a 101 Fortrex. I didn't compare a 101 lb thrust to a 82 lb thrust.

MK. Hands down. Had the 109 now with the fortrex and the MK is leaps and bounds ahead. Not as loud, easier lift and deploy, longer battery life(it seems), have No digital board to burn up like the mg did twice and No bent shafts like stated. Plus it just looks cooler haha.

I had had my MG for eight years now and Love it. My brother has a MK and the button is on the wrong side.

They are both well made motors!

I have a MG 109 because it came on my boat, but wish I had a MK. I can live with the MG and I'm not going to change because of cost, but it's louder than MK in my opinion and much more difficult to stow and deploy.

Sure wish i had one of these perfect MK 101's like everyone else. You have to use your min kota tool (hammer) to deploy mine because the pin slides out while you run down the lake. Mine is on its 4th or 5th microswitch. Oh and the shafts might not bend but the upper tube does.

I'm torn. I'm getting used to my new MK, but I sure do miss my old MG. The button and foot pedal are weird on the MinnKotas.

Besides that, I've never had a problem with either.

MinnKota > MotorGuide.

I've used both "middle-class" MotorGuides and MinnKotas. Honestly, the MotorGuides are "good" units. They couldn't go through vegetation or brush for anything, but I could depend on them. I even had one over 10 years old that was still kicking just fine when I upgraded to a more powerful MinnKota. Fact of the matter is the MinnKota is just better at getting through vegetation, more durable, and they don't need repairs nearly as often as MotorGuide, even though I never had to work on my MotorGuide personally.

The MG Tour Edition might be a different animal altogether, but I'm sticking with MinnKota.

Minn Kota because:

1. Shaft will not bend/break like Motor Guide will EASILY.
2. More ergonomic foot pedal
3. Quieter
4. Smoother
5. More reliable
6. Lifetime Warranty on shaft just in case it did ever break, which is a rarity.

I bent out 2 shafts after having my Motorguide for only 3 months. Never again.

I just replaced a 12-24volt 5-speed MG with a 24volt 80lb Minn-Kota Fortrex on my 21'ProCraft.The Minn-Kota is a great trolling motor but the Fortrex bracket is HUGH...looks really silly on my boat.Its almost as big as my 250 Merc.Hard to see around it when stowed.Look at Maxim line...they are the same motor and controls as the Fortrex but with a normal bracket.I bought the Fortrex for the lift assist but would have bought the Maxim Pro if they still made it.

I've had both, the MK is just a better TM but I did like the foot pedal on my MG. A little easier to operate IMO. But as said, the MK is quieter, smoother, and you don't have to worry about braking the shaft-which is what spelled the end for my MG.

Agree with outdoor dude, the Minn Kota is much better in vegetation.

MK ALL THE WAY

Present Tally....

MK 13 votes
MG 3 votes
UD 2 votes

ud=undecided

Minn Kota is the only trolling motor...

I had a MK 101 (Fortrex) on my Z520 and traded for a MG. The MK was the first one I'd ever had and like some of the other posts said, it creaked and popped. I also felt I was gonna break the cables on the thing if it got in a bind in shallow water. Could not get used to the cheap feeling pedal. I could start to see sun damage to the plastic pieces (this was an 09) and just couldn't see this thing lasting. We don't have much grass in our lakes, so maybe that where the MK shines. Maybe you guys get new stuff every other year or so, but I just don't see the plastic holding up over time.

Like Chris B said, the shaft may not bend but the upper tube definitely will. Bent it on the maxxum pro and it was never the same so I purchased the fortrex. It squeaks and groans and everything seems to come loose. I'm not arguing with you guys. Maybe I just got a bad one. I really didn't even use my boat that much since purchasing the new TM. It was like a dream the first 5 times out and then went to [censored] from there. I was hoping there were some MG guys on here to help pursuade me!

i've used mgs for over 20 years and never had any issues

armorall, formula 21, zymol. No plastic will stand up to exposure to elements without discoloration, including white!

Please fix the search engine!!!!!!!!

Painted metal is a whole lot easier lol.

We're working on it, TT. Please learn to use the Google search feature!!!!!!!

I love my MK..
just traded out from the MG went from 70lb MG to 80lb MK
the kota is quieter and when you click the button seems slower to respond
but i will say the guide was instant torque..
click the button and she was full board instantly..
now i am not sure if the prop size has a lot to do with this?
seeing as how the MK prop is almost twice the size of the MG
havent had any issues with either nor do i know of anybody with issues with either

Have had 3 motorguides catch fire on me. I like my Minnkota's now!!!

MK

Mk.

You got rid of them just because they caught on fire. Dayum your picky.

I have a new 101 Fortrex... It makes an awful popping noise, when you turn!!! Was told it takes 6 months or so to break in...Well let me tell you I'm on the water alot, and it's not any better..Going to take it back shortly and see if it can be fixed...I have my doubts...There not cheap! It's a loud popping sound,gotta effect shallow fish!

That's the same problem I have. When you turn that whole nuckle pops and squeaks. And in the my opinion that coating that is on the foot is useless. It's paper thin and just from sitting on the mount when stowed it has pretty much rubbed off. I've seen 1 year old ones that it has come off and now it is rusting. Sorry, but when you got a $50k boat, I don't want rust showing on my trolling motor after a year. Only problem I ever had with MG, was the built in transducer would leak and cause problems,but from what I hear they have fixed this issue. This MK just seems like it's built cheap compared to MG.

Guess I'm one of the odd balls out. I like my MG. The only problems I have ever had were operator error and only two of those since 1995 when I bought my 1st Ranger with MG. I have run MK's on partners boats. My 109 MG is quieter. Just personal preference.

I have had both types of trolling motors. Dollar for Dollar, the Minn Kota is so much better than the Motor Guide. Flexible shaft, foot control feels better for me, and just seems to be built more durable and work a little better.

I would imagine that the lack of instant torque on the MK is related to the digital maximizer. I have the digital maximizer on my TM and I assume it is limiting the current at startup in order to reduce the inrush current in an attempt to extend battery life.

trailer hook! it's not gunna get any better someone is feeding you a line!!! it's a clearance issue in the knuckle, the whole knunkle needs to be changed out, mine did it straight out the box, most aggravating plastic contraption i ever owned

Purchased new mk and like it better than the beast, it does better in reeds and grass. The pedal is different, but just getting used to it . MK , right choice. 24 volt