Trolling motor choice?

[keithdog]

Originally Posted by MallenManson

Not sure you'll get both the rebate and gift card.
Fine print states the offer can't be combined with any other minn kota offer.

Submit the higher dollar first, then the lesser amount later

Mike, I took the page from the Cabelas catalog showing that offer into BPS with me, and they matched it. It's worth a try.

[keithdog]

OK, I purchased the MinnKota Endura Max, transom mount 55# thrust. I have only used it once, so this is a bit premature as far as being a user recommendation, but here are a couple comments.
First off, assembly is easy. The steering arm needs to be attached which is quick and easy. That's all that's needed. The mounting bracket seems very solid. I just wish it had a deeper bite to clamp deeper onto the boats trasom. But, it is the same depth as my old Motor Guide. The newer Motor Guides are the same as far as I can see. But the Moter Guides bracket does not look nearly as well built as the Minn Kota.
The one complaint I have about the Minn Kota is the plastic steering arm. It seems stable enough to do what it's meant to do, but my old Moter Guide had an aluminum steering arm, which I did like better. I didn't look at the steering arms of the Motor Guide motors, so I can't tell you if they are now also plastic or not. The steering arm does extend out another 6 inches for easier boat control away from the motor.
I LOVED, repeat, LOVED the Variable Speed control!!! No more preset speed settings. It simply increases as you turn the speed control. You can now fine tune your speed, forward and backwards, from a slow crawl to full out. And it's very quiet!
The motor says with it's new improved digital technology that you can get up to 5X the running time on a battery charge. This I cannot make an accurate assessment on as I was fighting a strong wind most of the day, with the motor running on high most of the time. That's going to drain a battery fast. But I had plenty of battery left to get back and load the boat on the trailer after 6 hours of fishing. When I hooked up the charger at home, the charger showed I had 62% battery charge. But having used my old Motor Guide in similar conditions, I can tell you I had more battery charge with the Minn Kota at the end of the day, but not by a lot. But again, running on high all day into a strong headwind is not an accurate assessment.
The battery charge meter built into the motor is a nice feature for sure. I don't know if it will be all that helpful for me as I fish fairly small lakes, and carry a spare battery. But if your running on just one battery and plan on running some distance from the launch, and it's a rough windy day on the water, it could be very helpful info as far as how much charge you have left for the return ride back to the launch.
Over all, I am happy with my purchase. Would I recommend this motor? At this point, yes. I would make a couple changes if I were designing it, but it did everything I wanted it to do.

[MallenManson]

Why certainly!

I'll probably still order mine from Gander though, so i can bypass the shipping costs

[MallenManson]

Keith, you talked me into it!
Picked up the Max 55 at Cabelas last week.

Now if I could just get the boat done and use it!

[keithdog]

Originally Posted by MallenManson

Keith, you talked me into it!
Picked up the Max 55 at Cabelas last week.

Now if I could just get the boat done and use it!

That's great! I know your going to like it Mike. I hope you get to try it out soon. I've noticed my batteries are lasting longer than with my old motor. Did you put in a good word for me to the bait monkey?

[MallenManson]

haha
The Monkey have a pretty sophisticated network. He already knows

Really need to get to work on that boat. Between the troller and the new FF, I'm gettin tired of the Yak