Refurbished Minn Kota Power Drive

anybody have any experience with the refurbished minn kota power drives? or just a power drive for that matter at all?

I have found a pretty good price on one online and just want to make sure i spend my money wisely. I have two models to choose from....one of them has a transducer built in and one doesnt...price difference is only $40.

I plan to add co pilot an exta $150 I believe, no need in the ipilot and all that other stuff because I dont have the electronics to use it with. I mostly want a trolling motor that I can control with a remote or key fob and ill be set.

I have it narrowed down to the refurbished minn kota power drive or a motor guide wireless the W55 model.....now just trying to decide what to spend my money wisely on. If any of yall have advice or experience feel free to chime in and help a brotha out.

I have the powerdrive 55 on my small boat. Works pretty well. Make sure you do not charge it with the TM power cord plugged in, will fry the board. It does well for me. If you plan to run your graph(not DI) off the from, spring for the extra $40, mine does not have it and the ducer cord is a pain, no good way to rig it to me.

the transducer that comes with model that includes it doesnt support DI? its only good for regular sonar?

Thats right dual beam sonar.

i use a powerdrive 70lb. Started as the standard powerdrive, then I added the copilot, then I added the copilot. Been working well for me for a few years now.
I have the ducer in it as well and no they do not do DI (don't hook a di unit to it or you could mess up your unit) I'd works great on 2D.

thanks for the tips....i think i will go with the power drive 55 lb thrust and not go with the ducer in it because I am wanting DI on the front as well...cant wait to get this thing and start learning. I will eventually add the co pilot as well kdavid...

My experiance with refurbished stuff has not been good

next question...I can get the 50 pound thrust for $169 cheaper than the 55 pound....I have a 1652 rivted bass tracker with a new 30 hp evinrude....is that 5 extra pounds a lot of difference?

Are you planning on pulling cranks ? Or just spider rigging ?

spider rigging once I get all set up...

well i went ahead and pulled the trigger....went with the 50 pound thrust...my boat is pretty light. It comes with a 1 year warranty...hopefully i wont have any problems out of it....since it was $160 cheaper than the 55 pound i can use that extra to add the copilot and then ill be set.

I have the 55# on my tiller steer 14' with no deck. it pulls it ok. Its always cheaper to spend the extra now then have to upsize again... Take it from me, have done it three times. I think you will be ok for slow trolling though. I have an 80# on my 20 ft aluminum bay boat. Think you should be ok. As long as you have a little warranty.

Don't know if they still do, but Grizzly Jig used to sell a few refurbs.

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Originally Posted by KDAVID1

i use a powerdrive 70lb. Started as the standard powerdrive, then I added the copilot, then I added the copilot. Been working well for me for a few years now.
I have the ducer in it as well and no they do not do DI (don't hook a di unit to it or you could mess up your unit) I'd works great on 2D.

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Why did you have to add the C0-Pilot twice? You loose the first one.?

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Originally Posted by wilbur

Why did you have to add the C0-Pilot twice? You loose the first one.?

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Because he didnt have a shirt pocket

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Originally Posted by MO' MONEY

I have the 55# on my tiller steer 14' with no deck. it pulls it ok. Its always cheaper to spend the extra now then have to upsize again... Take it from me, have done it three times. I think you will be ok for slow trolling though. I have an 80# on my 20 ft aluminum bay boat. Think you should be ok. As long as you have a little warranty.

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I think it will pull me fine. I remember my friend that I used to bass fish with had a 45 on his bass tracker 190 and it was sufficient, and my boat is way lighter. It did come with warranty.

Maybe i can pull cranks with my outboard? My new etech has an rpm adjustment that let's me idle down and troll between .6-.2.0

that is If I get a wild hair...prolly never pull cranks haha

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Originally Posted by wilbur

Why did you have to add the C0-Pilot twice? You loose the first one.?

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Dang auto correct---meant I pilot

can pull cranks with the PD... get a BIG battery... and don't plan on fishing all day! But I think the outboard would work as well to get your feet wet!

anybody got the dimensions of the base or the mounting plate that mounts to the boat? I am asking because i am going to have to get a mounting plate fabbed up to be able to mount this to the front of my boat because my deck isnt flush with the front of the boat...I wanted to get dimensions of the base that mounts the motor to the boat so that I can go ahead and get a mounting bracket fabbed up so that it will be ready to mount whenever the motor arrives....

Attachment 189940

the deck isnt flush...looks to be a couple inches, therefore I have to have something raised up to meet the front rail flush to be able to mount my new TM

Not positive on the dimensions but I would go 24"Lx8"W all the way to the front, and completely box it in. MIne was just aluminum flat stock bent and welded in place, and it flexed a good bit. Find you a good welder and they should be able to get you fixed up.

Just put a 2x12 board all the way a cross the front....bolt it in.....then bolt your power drive to it. Use washers and lock nuts

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Originally Posted by "G"

Just put a 2x12 board all the way a cross the front....bolt it in.....then bolt your power drive to it. Use washers and lock nuts

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I dont think ill be able to use washers and lock nuts because I wont be able to get up under the deck...going to have to use some kind of screws that will hold wood or metal whatever i make my mount out of down to the aluminum deck

MinnKota recomends...stainless bolts nuts and washers for the Power Drives and the Terrova...lots more force on the boat with these motors than the other type. Bolt it to a 2x12 long enough to go all the way across the front of the boat......then bolt the wood to the boat through the rim on each side at the front and I think you will be fine...you have to let a good bit of that motor base hang over the front so your motor will deploy.

Board will rot eventually and look out of place. Get it welded on and be done. Cut slots in the side, I used hardened steel hardware, less brittle than the stainless. Use large washers on the underside to spread the pressure over a larger area.

from looking at the pics i posted....would yall mount the TM on the left or right side? or try to put it dead center of the deck?....my thinking is maybe center it up and then be able to have rod holders on each side of the TM....opinions?

Thats kinda like I did mine....almost centered .....I couldnt put mine dead center because of pointed bow.....but I did get it away from the rod holders Attachment 190198

I agree, mine is to the side and is pulls sideways at high speeds. could always angle it like this to give you more deck space around the seat. Just make sure it clears everything.
Attachment 190203