Minn-Kota sucks

[Fuzzy Grub]

A few year ago I bought a Power Drive trolling motor at Cabelas for just under 500 $, and the foot petal doesnt work anymore. Called customer service--have to buy a new foot petal for $69.00
B.S. I read customer reviews and one guy had bought 4 foot petals in 6 years of fishing. sSeveral guys had been on their second or third. Man I wish I woulda bought a cable steer or a hand controlled. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! They made a SH!TTY product and wont stand behind it. I am boycotting and going to Motor Guide-- Anyone else had these same problems???? Sorry for the negativity!!!!!

BTW-- Then the customer service person had the oddacity to tell me you are supposed to blow them out with an air compressor after every trip!! Maybe they shoulda sold it with an air compressor (LOL)!!!

[Crappie Chatt]

Make sure ya git cable steerThumbs UpThumbs Up dis time. Same story wid a MG I owned. Grew a 'mind of its own', like it had a demon in it. Started turning both directions wid out touching de pedals. Dang near same story frum MG, CS,,, "it prolly got wet" ????? I have been running MK's wid cable steer ever since wid no problems,,,except bending a few shafts hittin trees while idlin wid itDohDohDoh down. Tink I prolly got dat problem fixedRoflRoflRofl <*)}}}><

[jimmydee1]

Dang Fuzzy..... sorta sucks bein you. Sorry for your issues with MK. I was just thinkin bout changin out my '02 Motor Guide foot peddal 43 lbs thrust for a Minn Kota slide bow mount tiller steer, 12v 55 lb thrust. Don't know if the extended tiller steer will accomodate spider riggin. Any body got any thoughts?

[crappiedoc]

Before purchasing a TM, go to the repair shops. See what they're not telling you. The one in J.C. was full of power drive, co-pilot, and auto-pilots. The repair tech told me to plan on a new pedal every 15 months and the motors lifespan was about 6 years. So, with this in mind, and having operated many different Maxxums, the decision became clear. I am a helicopter pilot!!!

[LBM]

Sorry to hear about your experience with your Minkota power drive trolling motor.

In the winter of 2003 when I got my boat I had a Minkota 12 volt power drive on it and did not like it from the git go. I didn't like having to first look a which direction the arrow was pointing to see which way to move it. I had previously learned on a cable steer and one didn't have to look to see which direction to turn it you could tell just by the position of the pedal. Also I realized that I wouldn't be able to easily and efficiently use that foot control in the winter time with my heavy pac boots on. I didn't like the sound of the electric motor as it changed directions and discovered the 12 volt wasn't going to be enough to handle the aluminum sails on my deep v boat in the wind. I changed it out for a 24 volt Minkota Maxxum with cable steer and have continually considered it the cat's meow.
One time I smacked the dickens out of it on something and bent/cracked the shaft on it. Jerry's Trolling Motor Repair said they could cut a couple inches off the shaft and reuse it if I thought the remaining length would be long enough and save ordering a new 62 inch shaft to repair it which is what was done. I also did have to take it in one time when something electrical fried in the foot control.
After my seven years of use of my Minkota I will definitely be going back with Minkota should I need another.

[Filletofish]

I have owned both minn Kota and Motor guide cable drives and wireless. In my opinion I will buy Minn Kota over motor guide from now on. I have way less trouble with Minn Kota. Just one mans opinion.....

[jiggshooter]

ive had both i just took and old motor guide brute off my boat and went back with a newer motorguide 67 lb thrust and new lowrance x 96 fishfinder those two are 24 volt before that i had a minn kottapower drive it was hard to deploy and stow it was 12 volt i perfer motorguide

[Filletofish]

Oh ya I have a Motor Guide cable drive 60" 67# thrust I will sell cheap! "Tour edition" I run a Terrova I pilot....

[Fuzzy Grub]

Chatt- I know it got wet b/c I spiked the damn thing on the deck of my boat and it bounced in the water when it quit working!!

[Fuzzy Grub]

Thanks for the info guys!!!