I am about to be in the market for a new trolling motor, I'll be looking for a 24 volt hand controlled with 70-80 lb of thrust. Anyone have any opinions or recommendations?

Don't know about recommendations, but I have been on here long enough to know you will get some opinions...lol!

I'm open to any and all

Minn Kota fortrex hand control.

I hate my hand control. I recommend getting a foot. If you're set on it they're are some good deals in the classifieds. If I were in the market for a hand control I would be getting this 80# riptide

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...For_Sale#UNREAD

I'm set on hand control, have never liked foot control. Guess I e just gotten used to it.

Fortrex is 36 volt, but I would love to have 112 lbs of thrust!

I thought they called the black version fortrex and white version rip tide. Not for sure, I do not have my catalog handy.

Fortrex comes in 24 and 36 volt

For the fortrex I'm only seeing 36 volt for the hand control all the other versions are foot control.

Minn Kota SF 80 is 24 volt Riptide 80# with Fortrex Mount

Nope, not quite. There are Fortrex mount models in the Riptide lineup. I have one of them. Riptide SF 80.

Ok so the riptide is just a saltwater fortrex? I'll look into those. Ever see one black? Not real crazy about a white trolling motor.

Riptide is the saltwater line. Within that product line, there are multiple mounts. One of them is the Fortrex mount, so those models are labeled SF 80 and SF 112 where S is for Saltwater, and F is for Fortrex.

In the Minn Kota lineup there are two main options. The Fortrex and the Maxumm.

The Fortrex is the top of the line with a load of standard features. There is only one freshwater (Black) model available that is hand controlled.

FORTREX 36 Volt, 112 LB Thrust, 52" Shaft. New it is $1230 with a $112 available till June 1.

The Maxxum is a more economical but tournament proven setup. It is available in two models for 24 volt.

MAXXUM 24 Volt, 70 LB Thrust, 52" Shaft, 5 FWD 3 REV Speeds. Retails for $750.00
MAXXUM 24 Volt, 80 LB Thrust, 52" Shaft, Variable Speed Control. Retails for $950.00

I wish I could recommend one based on personal experience, but I use the digital/remote control Minn Kota Ulterra with auto deploy/stow and trim. Can't use a foot control and have never used a hand control. Have several friends that use them and they all swear by either of these Minn Kota models, depending on how much you want to spend.

If you don't fish saltwater, then there is no real advantage to the Riptide products. If you are shopping the used market, don't be afraid to buy either one if the price is right.

Good luck!