I don't know if this is the right place to post this but I am thinking about switching over to minn kota from motorguide. My question is it worth it and is it easy? I just bought a bird (graph)and I am thinking about linking them..

My opinion might be biased
I bought my boat with a 65 lb MG
That the guy had installed about a yr before purchase (i do realize there's no way of knowing when it could really have been installed but it was at the time the latest model)
About 6mos after already having the motor serviced the latched to lock it down cracked and broke away so running across the lake it would bounce all around and basically scared the he'll out of me if it would flip over the front end while on plane
a good deal popped up on here for a mk maxxum
It's been about 3yrs
Never had it serviced replaced the blade once
I beat the [censored] out of in rocks mud stumps you name it.. short of getting a defective one I don't know how you would destroy unless that was the goal

Minn Kota all the way. But they are a bl+ch to work on the steering cables.

It is worth the trouble to switch

I had MotorGuide motors for over 30 years switched to MinnKota about 5 years ago and sure wish I would have listened to some of my friends long ago. I wouldn't trade my Fortrex for 2 MotorGuides.

I second that. I've fished mine HARD for 3 years, had the side cover plate shatter and come apart coming off a hard wave, but that was due to me not keeping those 4 cover plate screws tight. Service trailer guys replaced that and put in some spacers in the lift mechanism (MK service is outstanding). Had Steve's run a ground wire through the shaft to the head for the graph, that's the only time the lower portion has been opened up. I've ran it through and over most everything in the water, it looks like it's been drug down the highway, but has not even hiccuped one time. I use it as my "poor man's power pole" when I beach the boat to park the trailer. I just drop it down on the rocks, gravel, mud, whatever is there and it holds. They really ought to rename the Fortrex "The Tank". It will go over or through anything, and like Boostin says, unless you're trying to destroy it it's going to keep on trucking.

No joke, I'd pay for a Minn Kota before I'd take a free Motor Guide, been left dead in the water in two tournaments over the years by Motor Guide, fried circuit board on Palestine and broken cable head on Rayburn. Throw in the fact a Minn Kota shaft will bend and come back, while a MG will bend and stay bent, it's a no brainer to me unless you fish deep water lakes with no grass and no stumps.

MG may have a great product now, but I'll never know because MK is all I'll ever have from here on out.

Okay, since someone else brought it up, I had always been a MG guy. But, I bought a new boat in August 2012 that came with the 36V MK (Fortex). In the Spring of 2013, it stopped working so I took it in for warranty work, come to find out, it had gotten water in it. They fixed it up and ran great for another 6 months. In the Fall of 2013, the exact same thing happened, it got water in it so back in the shop it goes. So now we're in Spring of 2014, and guess where my MK is again...in the shop with water in it for the third time. I assume I just have a lemon because I've heard nothing but good things about them but I'm getting a little...okay a lot, frustrated!!

I have had both brands and have not had problems with either one, but I would choose the Minn Kota over the Motor Guide any day. I have a Maxxum and it is still running strong after 10 years.

I have not had to deal with servicing it yet so I can't say good or bad...
But all I hear is good things about them
If it were me I would ask about replacing it worst thing is they say no..

Go minn kota and you will wish you had switched sooner! Plus it will look better on that red boat of yours!

MK
best customer service in the business

MK ALL THE WAY IT IS WORTH IT

Bought a 2004 Skeeter sx190 from my bro-in-law, he purchased it new.
Came with 72 lb mk. Plenty of power an never broke down. Had others before.
Have to keep an eye between prop an housing, an fishing line gets wrapped
up in there, need to get it out. Will eat up that seal in a hurry.
But wouldn't get anything else, just my two scents