Trolling motors: I fish south Louisiana and I'm getting ready to buy a new trolling motor. They all have a lot of features now but the only thing I'm interesting in is the anchor/spot...

Oil scout Loc: Slidell, LA

I fish south Louisiana and I'm getting ready to buy a new trolling motor.
They all have a lot of features now but the only thing I'm interesting in is the anchor/spot lock.
The choice is between saltwater version of Minn Kota Terrova and Motor Guide Xi5.
Will get a 24 volt model.
All of my fishing is in brackish and salt water.
What have you used and what is your recommendation?
Thanks, Scout

bottomcoon Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma

Oil scout wrote:

I fish south Louisiana and I'm getting ready to buy a new trolling motor.
They all have a lot of features now but the only thing I'm interesting in is the anchor/spot lock.
The choice is between saltwater version of Minn Kota Terrova and Motor Guide Xi5.
Will get a 24 volt model.
All of my fishing is in brackish and salt water.
What have you used and what is your recommendation?
Thanks, Scout

Howdy Oil Scout. Good name. I'm retired oil field trash myself. My late fishing buddy had the Motor Guide & it was a great unit with spot lock but after paying close to $500 to replace a bent shaft he wasn't so happy. I have the Minn Kota Ultrex & it's the best I've used & my friend loved to run it when we fished in my boat. Another good friend just purchased the Lowrance Ghost. He hasn't had it but a couple weeks but he's happy. I think the competition is so great no company can afford to put a piece of junk out there. Pick the one that has the features you like & go for it. My Ultrex is 36 volt & I purchased the Hummingbird Helix 10 locators to go with it. That was my decision & I'm sticking with it. I had 2 fishing & hunting buddy's for 40 years, they were brother's in law. 2 weeks ago I lost 1 to a stroke. That's like losing a brother.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

I have the Xi5 and love it.
If you have Lowrance electronics an integrated package is outstanding

I currently use Garmin so integration isn’t an option and replacing with Lowrance isn’t in the budget.

But the trolling motor is outstanding . Spot lock is very functional. Jog is great . 24 v 80 pound literally is overkill power wise on my Lund 1875. I’ve fished in some pretty demanding conditions and have never felt underpowered but

Best investment yet

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Hoss: I think the prior posts are adequate recommendations. Just Sayin...RJS

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

I agree with bottomCoon. Only difference between the companies would probably be customer service if you did have trouble with one.

Oil scout Loc: Slidell, LA

Sorry for your loss. Now at 76 it happens too often now.
Started in the oil industry as a draftsman in 1966.
Worked for a few smaller companies and ended up working 20 years for Amoco until BP bought us out.
Still hate the Amoco board who let that happen.
After Amoco I worked for some more small companies until 2006 then decided hunting and fishing was what I needed to do.
Happy in retirement but I had such a great job as an oil scout when we still had an oil industry.

bottomcoon Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma

I started out busting sucker rod on a pulling unit. That has to be the nastiest job in the oil patch.. i would watch those Halliburton hands in their red coveralls & they always looked clean. I decided I wanted some of that so I hired on & was issued my own red & grey coveralls. I can honestly say that until the day I retired I never had a day that was as good as my worse day fishing or hunting. I loved my job! I guess we all did. This retirement is really nice. I could enjoy it even more if I wasn't so stoved up. My brother in law retired from Neighbors Drilling. He's eat up with arthritis & a bad back. Another brother in law retired from Valvoline.& he's eat up with Arthur too & has had both a knee & hip replacement. Fine careers we chose. If it would quit raining I'd go fishing. Tight lines.

Oil scout Loc: Slidell, LA

There are no easy jobs on or near a rig.
In my job, I very seldom had to go near a drilling rig.
New hires were always begging for a chance to go work for a while on the rigs.
None of them wanted to go back after their shift.
It's like hunting in south Texas. Every thing wants to hurt you.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, ive had a taste of running back with rods on a well service rig and will always prefer being on a drilling rig floor! Just sayin…RJS

Scooby Loc: SE Louisiana

OilScout, I chose the ghost because all wiring is routed through the shaft ( friend’s minnkota wire broke from twisting). Second reason is that I use lowrance electronics. The bad thing about fishing in SE Louisiana with the ghost is the brackish water which lowrance will void your warranty.
Scooby

JimPGM

I have been using Motorguide (FRESH WATER) troll motors in salt water for over eighteen years without any salt related problems.

Scooby Loc: SE Louisiana

I use my ghost in brackish water. Just saying that it will void your warranty.