I have a 2003 19� Crestliner fish and ski type boat that I fish Tawakoni with for sandies/hybrids. I�m sick of trying to stay on fish using my foot controlled trolling motor. I need spot lock (or whatever Motorguide calls it). I don�t think I�m smart enough to learn the Pinpoint GPS link to the Lowrance graph I have so I don�t need that. I just want to be able to stay in one spot and fish rather than fight the wind and trolling motor. If you have any advice or opinions, I�d love to hear what you think. Thanks in advance.

Best advise is just to get one. Minn Kota and Motorguide both make good motors. I've had two different XI5 and I had nothing but great luck with them. With a 19' you might be able to get by with an XI3 in the motorguide if a 54" shaft will be long enough.

I have the 60 inch shaft on mine and I now wish I had the 72 inch shaft for really windy days. I don�t know how heavy your boat is but I would get the 36 volt trolling motor for the power but, that also means you will need 3 batteries.

If you use Humminbird get the terrova or ulterra. If you use Lowrance get the X15 or XI3 like Honeyhole said.

I would advice getting the "iPilot link" and not just "iPilot" if you go with minnkota. Its extra money but if you are spending all that money you should spend the extra money and get the one that actually "talks" to your fishfinder and can go to gps coordinates once you mark the fish.

What do you have on the boat because we were able to take one of our Minnkota�s and upgrade it for just a few hundred dollars and get it to use the hand remote

I have the XI5 linked to Lowrance and being able to scroll back on the sonar and mark the fish and go to them is
a game changer . No need to drive around in circles looking for the school after you pass it.
Like others said If you have a Humminbird go Minn Kota.

You stated you already have a Lowrance graph so I would get a Xi5 24v. Also, this week Lowrance and Garmin releases their own trollers, you may or may not be interested in looking at them.

Wait till this fall and get the new Motorguide.
https://www.motorguide.com/us/en/new-tour-series.html

I do have a Lowrance so I guess I�ll get a Motorguide. Chris, thanks for the heads up. I had heard about changing the �head� on the older Minn Kotas but according to MK, they didn�t start that till 2005 or so. Mine is an 03 Terrova. They told me it was not compatible. Does anyone know the difference between the Xi3 and Xi5?

I just bought an Xi3 and I love it! I would recommend calling motorguide and asking the rep. I did that and they told me the only difference was that type of mount, the shaft material, and the Xi5 comes with a foot controller which is an extra $200 if you get an Xi3. Functionally I think they do the exact same thing. Make sure you get one with pinpoint gps already on it.

Anybody have an opinion on going from foot control to remote? It seems like it would be a tough transition. Then again, I thought that it would be tough to go from hand to foot control and I can�t imagine using a hand control anymore. I love the idea of being able to fish from anywhere in the boat, especially since I don�t have a bow mounted graph. But the thought of taking a hand off the rod to monkey with the remote around my neck sounds crazy.

Years ago I went from foot control to remote with a copilot on my old powerdrive, easy to get used to and never want another foot control tying me to the front deck and cables in the way. Have an xi5 now but have never used the wireless foot control that came with it even though it could be used anywhere in the boat, rather use the remote.....

Thanks for all the info and opinions. I just wanted to give an update so that if anybody is in a similar position, they know that this is an option. I simply added a new �head� as Chris as well as my mechanic buddy had told me to do. I didn�t do it earlier because a MK rep that I had emailed told me that it could not be done on a motor produced before 05. I bought the boat used (03) and assumed the motor was the same year model. I told the MK guy that it was a Terrova but he apparently skipped that part and saw that my boat was an 03 and told me that it would not be compatible. I�m in Minnesota and found a a guy who told me that it would absolutely work and he was right. Upon further inspection, it appears that Terrovas were not produced before 05. So, I saved over $1500 and got exactly what I wanted. The installation is simple and the part was $400.

Outstanding! Thanks for the update!

What do you mean you just got a new head and it turned the trolling motor to a I pilot could you put a picture of that however knew that was possible