Guys,
I'm looking at upgrading my 12V minnkota to a GPS spot Lock unit. I've always been a minnkota guy but the new motorguide seems good I like that it is cable driven. Anybody have any input on one? Looking for any advice! I run Garmin units and have a Stratos 275XL, Fish the TN River for Bass. Thanks!!
Sam Taylor
Psalm 37:39
I've run a terrova, an xi5, fortrex, ultrex and the Garmin. Now I'm onto the new tour pro. I can honestly say that this new motorguide is by far the nicest trolling motor to use. Bracket, lift assist, foot pedal feel, spot lock all top notch. By far the quietest steering of the spotlock motors, which is important to me.
Can't say how it will be long term yet of course but it cant be worse than an ultrex in that regard so I say go for it.
New Motorguide tour pro user here. I love it. I have a 24 volt unit on a Javelin 379. I had an old OMC trolling motor prior to this one. This one has a lot more power. The cable steering (with electric assist) is awesome and has no “learning curve”. The anchor lock or whatever they call it works great. The only negative I can bring up is that the latch spring seems weak and when I stow and deploy I have to make sure the latch closes vs simply just letting it “click” closed like it should. Also the motor is very heavy and large compared to what I had so I’ve lost 1-2 mph top end.
tHATS GREAT TO HEAR!! tHANKS A LOT FOR THE ADVICE!
Sam Taylor
Psalm 37:39
I have a 36 volt version on BCB Eyra and it's been very good for me. Followed the calibration procedure and the spot lock has been very good with the only issue being it seems to have less troubling finding and holding the spot if you bring the boat to a near stop before hitting the spot lock. Hitting it while still moving at a good clip results in a lot of "searching" to get on the spot you hit the button at. This is really not bothersome and is sort of logical if you think about it. The cable steer with assist is very good and has been flawless. I waited until the MG Tour Pro came out due to it having the cable steer. I like some of the options on the MK, Garmin and Lowrance; however, not having the cable steer that will work if the electronics fail is a deal breaker for me. Not bashing any brand but I don't want to put all the effort into going to fish and get on the water and the TM decide to crap out and I can't fish; particularly if it a tournament or I've driven a long ways.
I use my Garmin 93SV+ with the built in transducer and it works just fine.
Basscat Eyra
Mercury 250 ProXS
Originally Posted by ChuckTR21
thanks a lot for that review. That helps me. I also love those same facts about the tour pro that’s why I’m considering it. I also run 93sv. Thanks!
Sam Taylor
Psalm 37:39
I've had my 24V MGTP out a few times since installing it a couple weeks ago. Everything works great. I do have a few minor complaints.
1 being the pull cord is too short. I feel like it could be 6" longer and it'd be perfect. Find myself leaning over the bow a just a bit too far when deploying, which gets sketchy in rough water. And being so short I have to set the handle down on top of the mount. I can't just drop it on the carpet like I used to with my old MG and G-Force cable. It doesn't reach that far. If I drop it there's a good chance it's bouncing straight in to the water. Then I'm crawling to the front of the boat to retrieve it.
2 being the gas shock is just a tad too strong. Sometime it prevents the motor from locking in to place when deploying. It'll stop about 1-2" before locking in to the mount. I can either step on the mount and push it that last 1-2" or pull it back up and let it drop back down. Maybe that just needs some more breaking in. And when stowing if I let go of the cord and let it do it's thing it'll go all the way down to stowed position, bounce back up about 1-2" then go back down and lock in to place. Not sure what that is about.
3 the spot lock / anchor mode does not like bridges. I've done all the calibrations, and spot lock works perfectly in open water. Very smooth. When I get near or under a bridge to fish pilings it loses it's mind and goes full speed in every direction. I guess it's looking for more satellites to lock on to. The GPS light stays lit, so I don't know what it's doing. But it'll take me 5-15" away from where I locked, then quickly take my 5-15" in a different direction. Darn near took me straight in to a piling yesterday. Not that big of a deal, I just won't use spot lock near bridges.
I just bought a new Bass Cat ( 23’ Cougar) and what I thought was an unfortunate situation is that it had the New Motorguide already installed instead of allowing me to put the normal Minnkota Ultrex, that I am used to. But, to my surprise, I actually like this motor a lot! It is fast, there’s no waiting for it to get in the direction you want to go, and if you were about to run into a dock, boy, is that helpful! The pinpoint GPS works just as you would expect it to but searches a bit more than the Ultrex if not coming to a complete stop before hitting anchor button. I am not as big a fan of the remote. The battery compartment seems a little loose and could use a better design, but so far it works as it should. Warning, do not use the remote lanyard without super gluing the quick release snap together. It will come apart on you and the remote will drop wherever you are and sometimes that could be in the water. The motor and bracket actually looks better and more sleek on the boat than the Minnkota Ultrex or any of the others. The bracket for the motor is actually pretty racy looking. I personally think the Lowrance motor is by far the ugliest. (I do, however love Lowrance Live units and Active Target II!)The ease of deployment and retraction into the stowed position is much better than anything I’ve used. I have tried the new ghost. I have tried the new Garmin and I have owned many Ultrex. You do get some peace of mind, knowing that if the electronic board goes out, you still have a trolling motor with cable steering. I can tell you more as time goes on, but from the beginning, this thing is The Bomb! Oh…. Don’t let me forget about that katana prop! You would be hard-pressed to find weeds that it cannot cut right through!
Last edited by poe400; 09-22-2023 at 12:10 AM.
Best way to deal with it searching when you hit anchor lock while it's moving is to give the forward arrow on the remote a couple bumps. It is an awesome motor, my only issue is the shaft collar for height adjustment is cheap and the motor will eventually work it's way all the way down if you raise it in super shallow water.
Not cheap at all. The tightness of the clamp is adjustable. Open the clamp lever and spin it clockwise for tighter or counter-clockwise for looser and then re-clamp.
"There was a time I didn't fish, but I cannot remember it".
Love my MG Tour Pro w/HD + Sonar. Compared to other new TMs it’s every bit as quiet, the lift assist is the best on the market, and I can run 10+ hours or more on a 24v system running 2 - Ionic 50ah LifePO4 batteries.
BassCat Sabre FTD
Mercury 150 Optimax
"It's just fishing"
I loved my tour pro for the 40 days it worked correctly . Ended up the lower unit came loose and it let water in the unit which ruined a lot of stuff. Per the repair shop I took it too, the Ultrex is their favorite with less problems. But I went with the tour pro so I could link it to my lowrance units. Amd I’m sure I’ll enjoy it when I get it back in good working order.
im about due for a new trolling motor. I have a gen 1 very early serial number Ultrex. When I went with the Ultrex, I also bought in to Helix units. That didn’t last long. I hated the graphs and bought Lowrance Carbons. I miss the connectivity of the Ultrex and Helix’s though.
what functions does the MG and Lowrance combo allow through the graphs?
I wouldn't even consider a Tour Pro, mine never worked right from the start and the customer service was terrible. I was glad to finally get rid of that pile of junk.
I too always ran lowrance. I’m thinking about getting a Skeeter but if I do I’m not sure I could learn the Hummingbird graphs. IDK
As far as functionality I don’t know exactly because I just got my link right before my new troller crapped out.
Its cranked down all the way and the ends are touching and it still slips. Maybe not cheap but poorly designed. It should have a rubber insert to grip the shaft better. Pic of the ends touching inhibiting any more tightness.
0923230908.jpg
Last edited by Urbanhick; 09-23-2023 at 08:43 AM.
If that's the only problem you are having with it you should be glad.
This one has been perfect but the first one I got was a dud out of the box. The vendor stepped up and sent me a new one when MG wanted me to take a brand new motor to a serviced center instead of replacing it.
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