I'm at a dilemma. I've had a 16' TideCraft small bass boat for the last 4 years and I've downgraded to a 1542 aluminum boat. The Tidecraft has/had a 40 lb Motorguide foot controlled motor (cable steer 5 speed) and it worked well. But I sold that boat. I need a trolling motor for my Tinny. I'm torn between a cable steer Edge 45 Minn Kota and an electric steer motor. Price aside, what would you guys do? I am running ONE Optima battery and it will need to be 12v only. I like the idea of wireless remote but is it really worth the extra $$$? The one I'm looking at is a Motorguide W45 with 48" shaft. Or I can get a Minn Kota Edge 45 with a 42" shaft.
From what I can tell, the pros of the Minn Kota are:
tried & true cable steer
a little cheaper
composite shaft (I've bent a metal shaft before)
Cons of the Minn Kota are:
lack of quick release
5 speeds-no variable speed (I LOVE variable speed)
the pedal is kind of tall which is hard to use if you're on the pedal much
cable steer-pedal is in the way sometimes
Now the pros of the W45 are:
variable speed
electric steer
wireless...and I can run the motor with my thumb OR foot (the MK V2 can't do that)
easy stow
quick release when I go to the lake where I don't use a troller
I will be using the boat mostly for fishing a shallow lake locally, and occasionally on a small river where there is continual current (drift fishing), and occasionally I fish at a larger reservoir where the wind can blow. I usually won't fish all day long, normally a few hours and I'm either limited out or tired & ready to go back into the A/C.
What would you guys do? Has anyone got any input on such a comparison?
From what I can tell, the pros of the Minn Kota are:
tried & true cable steer
a little cheaper
composite shaft (I've bent a metal shaft before)
Cons of the Minn Kota are:
lack of quick release
5 speeds-no variable speed (I LOVE variable speed)
the pedal is kind of tall which is hard to use if you're on the pedal much
cable steer-pedal is in the way sometimes
Now the pros of the W45 are:
variable speed
electric steer
wireless...and I can run the motor with my thumb OR foot (the MK V2 can't do that)
easy stow
quick release when I go to the lake where I don't use a troller
I will be using the boat mostly for fishing a shallow lake locally, and occasionally on a small river where there is continual current (drift fishing), and occasionally I fish at a larger reservoir where the wind can blow. I usually won't fish all day long, normally a few hours and I'm either limited out or tired & ready to go back into the A/C.
What would you guys do? Has anyone got any input on such a comparison?