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Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
#14090704
08/11/21 01:41 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 418
nellie
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 418 |
I am upgraded an older Champion 206 Elite I just got and wanted to know what anyone thinks about the new GRmin Force trolling motors.
Just bought Garmin Ultras for bow and console and network cables to install and thinking about upgrading the trolling motor as well so it’s all linked.
Should I buy the Garmin or something else?
Thanks
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14090732
08/11/21 02:15 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 416
rscustomrods
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 416 |
If you fish a very stumpy lake like fork I would stay away from the force until they make a couple of mods to it. Pm me if you need details. Or call me 602-690-0803.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14090782
08/11/21 03:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 571
andy52887
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 571 |
I have owned an ultrex and currently a force. I would pick the force hands down. I fish super stumpy lakes and rivers no problems. I had my foot pedal go out and you won’t find better customer service then Garmin. Called on a monday and had a new pedal before the weekend. You won’t get that service with Minnkota. Yes garmin has issues but Minnkota does too. The force is alot quieter and the power is incredible. I run all garmin graphs so my boats will continue to have force trolling motors.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14090842
08/11/21 08:57 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,182
hopalong
Pescador Loco
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Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 121,182 |
I fish fork with mine and not a problem yet, excellent upgrade imo. this is a 57" on my 202, I have remounted it more inboard since this picture.
" Hop, set the hook"! hopalong 99,999 TexDawg 99,999 FJB! not my president by a long shot!
lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091040
08/11/21 01:43 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 416
rscustomrods
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 416 |
Garmins customer service is exceptional. But after having the spot lock go out repeatedly and having to do all major repairs myself since there’s is no garmin repair center nearby, I had to go back to ultrex. When the force works properly, there is not a better trolling motor out there. I run all garmin graphs and loved the force when it worked. For you force owners, when yours breaks at lake fork, give me a call as I have extra parts in my garage and will be happy to try and help you out.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: rscustomrods]
#14091050
08/11/21 01:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,006
Chris G
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,006 |
Garmins customer service is exceptional. But after having the spot lock go out repeatedly and having to do all major repairs myself since there’s is no garmin repair center nearby, I had to go back to ultrex. When the force works properly, there is not a better trolling motor out there. I run all garmin graphs and loved the force when it worked. For you force owners, when yours breaks at lake fork, give me a call as I have extra parts in my garage and will be happy to try and help you out. I am very curious to know the things you had go wrong just so I can be on the lookout. The only problem I've ever had was a broken prop on the stump on Fork in a tournament. The software updates have fixed any other complaints I had with the unit.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091108
08/11/21 02:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 358
tjbubba1
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 358 |
No problems love it, foot pedal takes a little getting used to, nice not having a cable laying on ur graphs.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091161
08/11/21 02:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 334
rickys
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 334 |
This was a topic I asked Ken Smith to do a review on during his bass boat search. I currently have an Ultrex, and I like. I don't love it. I think it would be really nice to get someone to do an unbiased test of all that's out there. I'll be in the market pretty soon, and this is as important to me as the brand of boat I buy.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091465
08/11/21 06:39 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,213
coachallentca
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,213 |
I have the force and had it for about 2 months. Spot ilock is really good now with all the updates. I was fishing a tournament with 60 other boats.. All had minn kota's and I had the garmin fore. We all spot locked in the same area and the force held it's on. None of us had to get back on the trolling motor because none of us close enough to have too. Now as for tree's and hitting things. I just beat the [censored] out of mine on tree's at fork and I did not break the prop. Now with the force it can take a minn kota prop (make sure you get the right one) so I bought a back in case. I love the force and it has a lot of power... I had the ultrex before but I like the garmin force better. I also run garmin graphs and they are linked.
Last edited by coachallentca; 08/11/21 06:41 PM.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091761
08/11/21 10:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,496
Rube G.
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,496 |
I've had my Force about 3 months now, no trouble at all with mine, it seems to hold a tighter spot lock that my Ulterra did. The foot pedal is fantastic, no wires and a close instant response.
I am really liking mine. The biggest drawback that I have found is that stupid Active Caption App that you use to update software.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091833
08/11/21 11:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 416
rscustomrods
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 416 |
So here’s I said what I have seen. I got my force in November pf 2020. Within 30 days, I had broken a prop (never broken a prop in 35 years of boating). I had the tranducer lose one side of side scan and had to replace the built in transducer (not super easy but not hard). I have also had one side of the side scan go out on the one mounted on the rear of my boat so the side scan issue is not specific to the trolling motor. I then had the plastic collar Calle day the depth adjustment collar crack. That is the key piece that affects the spot lock. It is a design flaw in my opinion. It needs to be made of aluminum. When I was a judge for the elite series on fork this year, I paid close attention to who was running force trolling motors. I talked to several of the guys running them and they had experienced similar issues to mine. Luckily they have factory support onsite. I was a judge in the boat with a garmin sponsored angler and he agreed that the depth adjustment collar was a design flaw.
To garmins credit, they always made things right. I love garmin and their customer service. I wanted so badly for the trolling motor to work for me. It just didn’t. I went back to ultrex since I have a spare ultrex and it is an easygoing swap when one goes down. Then I have local support for warranty issues.
I am not bashing garmin in any way. It just didn’t work for me. Those that have posted they have no problems with fork and stumps must just be more lucky than I am or don’t fish shallow five days a week. I am retired and I fish a ton and spend about 8 hours a day with my foot on the trolling motor. I hope this helps. For what it’s worth I hear the ghost is an absolute beast with very few issues
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14091950
08/12/21 01:19 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,990
ezbassin
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,990 |
I know someone that is on his third one because they keep failing. His last one worked for one day before it broke. They warranty it but you have to wait on a back order and take the broken one off and reinstall the new one. Too much hassle for me, even though it is replaced under warranty. I would rather be fishing instead of installing yet another trolling motor. He installed an Ultrex while he is waiting on his next Garmin T/M to show up.
I used to have an Ultrex and it was great but I switched to the Ghost because I have Lowrance electronics and I love it. It is awesome.
Last edited by ezbassin; 08/12/21 01:26 AM.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14092265
08/12/21 12:15 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 162
cg203
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 162 |
I absolutely love mine. No issues whatsoever. I didn’t have any trouble getting used to the foot pedal, mine must have come adjusted perfect from the factory because it feels just like my Motorguide tour did. I bought a Motorguide tour pro that I had tons of issues with before I got the Garmin, so stay away from those. Buy the Garmin you’ll love it
Last edited by cg203; 08/12/21 12:16 PM.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14092307
08/12/21 12:45 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,469
kscatman76
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,469 |
I love mine, I have nothing bad to say about it. I think it's one of the best pieces of hunting and fishing equipment i've ever purchased and I've bought ALOT. It will move my boat 4.7 MPH on 24 volts if need be, spot lock is excellent with the new update and the customer service is second to none if needed.
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Re: Garmin Force trolling motor reviews?
[Re: nellie]
#14093746
08/13/21 02:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 127
tsubrett
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 127 |
Very happy with my garmin force. No differences in spot lock that i have found at all. MUUUCH more quiet than the ultrex i had. Very smooth lift and deploy assist compared to ultrex. Ultrex i would have to step on and pull handle just to get it to deploy. Can see battery indicator and speed visible on top of force trolling motor. nothing with ultrex. Much faster than the ultrex. Batteries last forever with the Garmin force (also running lithiums so not a fair comparison). As of right now, the ultrex is trash compared to the force. Only time will tell about the longevity and durability of Garmin Force. As of right now, not even close and i had 2 prior boats with ultrex.
To clarify, since some people on here don’t understand opinions, this is strictly my opinion. I don’t think ultrex is trash. I think comparing the two, it’s trash when u compare 1vs1. Longevity is still up for debate on force trolling motor.
Last edited by tsubrett; 08/17/21 12:46 AM.
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