Power Pole Blades or Raptors?

[KandKKustomz]

So the more rigid Raptors break?

Didn't know Raptors had a history of breaking???

they break spikes more often then PP due to the rigidity. people love how solid they feel however comes with a price, but spikes are free replacement, note no pressure relief valve in the raptor pumps so no " drive off protection" like with Powerpole

[BMCD]

That was just me saying I dunno the history of the company. I have Zero knowledge of the company history. And my hope is they never sell

[born 2 fish]

Let’s get this thread back on track.

I’ve never had either so I went with Raptors I have all Humminbird electronics except my FFS is Garmin and a minn kota trolling motor so I figured I’d get Raptors for the whole one boat network plus I really wanted the silver color. If they cause me any frustrations I will take them off sell them cheap and go power poles.

[Amistad Tackle]

I have Raptors. The stomp switches and remotes are a pain. Fresh batteries seem to help. They do an excellent job of holding even in heavy wind. If I had to do it again I would get Blades just because of the stomp switch and remote issues (cannot believe they cannot fix this), but I think they were quite a bit more expensive when I bought the Raptors.

[Black Fox]

So I wonder why Minn Kota doesn’t address remote & stomp switch issues with a more reliable system? I really want Raptors for reasons Amistad Tackle mentioned but stay on the fence due to issues.

[KandKKustomz]

So I wonder why Minn Kota doesn’t address remote & stomp switch issues with a more reliable system? I really want Raptors for reasons Amistad Tackle mentioned but stay on the fence due to issues.

the issue with minn kota is they use bluetooth for the connectivity on remote Powerpoles is reliable and little to know problems because they use RF not bluetooth

[Black Fox]

I would think Minn Kota would switch to RF to solve reliability issues. It would help sales.

[KandKKustomz]

I would think Minn Kota would switch to RF to solve reliability issues. It would help sales.

you would have thought they would have done it from the start when they copied powerpole w the raptor they knew the bluetooth was flawed back when they used it on the talons pre raptor. the delay even when they do work is the killer for me the little i have used them .. my builds will stick w blades, till something changes there.

[Amistad Tackle]

It seems like once you use the raptors one time the switches work pretty well. The first time you may have to hit the stomp switch 3 or 4 times. Very annoying considering what they cost.

One other thing to consider is that if you need service under the Raptors five year warranty Minn Kota wants you to go to an Authorized Service Center. I live in an area with millions of people and yet they have one service center at a boat dealership. They have one guy that does Minn Kota work one day a week. I have a pump that has a minor internal oil leak and it was going to take months for the ASC to fix it during the peak of the fishing season. They wanted my entire boat to sit up there and bake in the sun while they fixed it. Ridiculous. It is still leaking and will continue to leak. I just keep a rag under it and fill it as needed. Minn Kota did offer to send me another pump, after I protested, which I can install myself, but if you aren't willing to do your own work the ASC is your only option. They even had the balls to tell me at first that my warranty would be voided if I did the work myself. They walked that back later. I've heard PP will bend over backwards to get you back up and running. I've been less than impressed with the Johnson Outdoors products I have, and their overall technical help. I have two Helix units that have one issue after another. As with the Raptor switches they just cannot seem to get the bugs worked out. Had Mega Live and it was a total POS. Went to Garmin LS and it has been awesome. I will say the four Minn Kota trolling motors I have owned have been almost bulletproof. Other than that I am looking at other brands if I live long enough to set up another boat.

[TAKFishing]

It seems like once you use the raptors one time the switches work pretty well. The first time you may have to hit the stomp switch 3 or 4 times. Very annoying considering what they cost.

One other thing to consider is that if you need service under the Raptors five year warranty Minn Kota wants you to go to an Authorized Service Center. I live in an area with millions of people and yet they have one service center at a boat dealership. They have one guy that does Minn Kota work one day a week. I have a pump that has a minor internal oil leak and it was going to take months for the ASC to fix it during the peak of the fishing season. They wanted my entire boat to sit up there and bake in the sun while they fixed it. Ridiculous. It is still leaking and will continue to leak. I just keep a rag under it and fill it as needed. Minn Kota did offer to send me another pump, after I protested, which I can install myself, but if you aren't willing to do your own work the ASC is your only option. They even had the balls to tell me at first that my warranty would be voided if I did the work myself. They walked that back later. I've heard PP will bend over backwards to get you back up and running. I've been less than impressed with the Johnson Outdoors products I have, and their overall technical help. I have two Helix units that have one issue after another. As with the Raptor switches they just cannot seem to get the bugs worked out. Had Mega Live and it was a total POS. Went to Garmin LS and it has been awesome. I will say the four Minn Kota trolling motors I have owned have been almost bulletproof. Other than that I am looking at other brands if I live long enough to set up another boat.

FWIW, in terms of customer service from Johnson Outdoors...last fall one of my raptors started acting flaky...incomplete cycling up and down, pump sounding differently when running, up cycle raptor coming up about 75% and then jerking 1 inch at a time repetitively until fully retracted, etc. Called them up a week ago and they said pump was going bad, sent me a replacement, had it in 2 days so I was pleased with that. They never mentioned anything about going to an authorized service center. I was planning on doing the replacement myself regardless.

[Amistad Tackle]

FWIW, in terms of customer service from Johnson Outdoors...last fall one of my raptors started acting flaky...incomplete cycling up and down, pump sounding differently when running, up cycle raptor coming up about 75% and then jerking 1 inch at a time repetitively until fully retracted, etc. Called them up a week ago and they said pump was going bad, sent me a replacement, had it in 2 days so I was pleased with that. They never mentioned anything about going to an authorized service center. I was planning on doing the replacement myself regardless.

Maybe they changed their policy or I got a mis-informed CS person. They only offered to send me a pump after I gave them a poor review of my CS experience. I was on the phone with them on and off for months regarding a glitch in my two networked helix units. I finally figured it out on my own after having my units and 360 in to them three times. I’ll buy Garmin next time.

[txnupe2010]

Since they are using Bluetooth for connection; couldn't any Bluetooth remote work for both vendors, pole and Raptors?

[KandKKustomz]

Since they are using Bluetooth for connection; couldn't any Bluetooth remote work for both vendors, pole and Raptors?

no as powerpole doesn't use bluetooth for remotes as mentioned any you just cant use any old remote, your direct tv remote wont make your raptors go up and down

[JACQUART21]

Never had any issues with the bluetooth connection on mine, been using them for years. I just hate that you gotta mash the buttons to get them to respond. It can't be just a couple quick taps, you gotta stand on it!

[KandKKustomz]

Never had any issues with the bluetooth connection on mine, been using them for years. I just hate that you gotta mash the buttons to get them to respond. It can't be just a couple quick taps, you gotta stand on it!

thats the connection via bluetooth lol