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Posts: 49
Location: Timmins, Ontraio, Canada | this winter I am buying a new electric motor for my boat. Right now i have a cable motor and I like it. I was wondering what you guys prefer. The cable motors or a longer cord like the powerdrive. The two motors I am looking at right now are the minn kota maxxum 101lbs thrust 36v or the powerdrive with autopilot and copilot in a 74lbs thrust 24v. Just want your opinons guys. |
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Member
Posts: 714
| I like the Power Drive myself. You can run it from anywhere in the boat. Plus, with the Autopilot, you set your course, and your free to move around in the boat. The Maxxum is a great motor for sure, but you have to run it up on the bow, and you have to stay up there in order for it to run. |
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Member
Posts: 129
| Matt,
The AP and the Maxxum are two completely different animals. In a nutshell, if you are a "position" fisherman working current, structure, etc from the bow the Maxxum is for you. If you are a troller, need hands-free (foot-free) operation, or can do with a bit slower response time and want to run the motor from anywhere in the boat (with the Co-Pilot anwhere within 50' or so) go for the AP (with Co-Pilot).
Tim
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Member
Posts: 714
| One other thing. A friend of mine has a Maxxum, and loves it, but has had a small problem with it. The rope to lift it in and out keeps wearing thru, and breaking. He thinks he solved the problem, but I haven't heard if he had. He was going to replace the rope with a plastic coated steel cable. Just an FYI for you to consider. |
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Location: Rhinelander | I use the Auto Pilot on my big rig and really like the motor. I have a Powerdrive on my 16' rig, and like that too. |
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Member
Posts: 44
| before you buy, make sure you check with minnkota. I talked to a rep at a tourney, and he said there might be a 36 volt-101lb. powerdrive in the future.I think the powerdrive has plenty fast turning, which makes it my choice overall. |
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| I fish both walleyes and muskies and I choose the 60 inch shaft 74#powerdrive/AP with the co-pilot. I am able to control the boat anywhere within the boat. I have not had a problem with response time. I really like the AP feature when I'm going down a weedline or if I am dealing with releasing a fish on a windy day I can point the boat out to safety and concentrate on the fish not the boat. I also like it if I have less experienced anglers in the boat I can give them the casting platform and keep an eye on them. I think if you fish really tight and like to absolutely hover over a spot like Bruce Samson does you might be better off with the Maxum but prepare to be more fatigued at the end of the day and walk off the dock with a limp because you have to stay on the pedal all the time. |
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