Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

[redfishsc]

Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

I am very close to buying a new trolling motor.

I am not overly concerned about battery life, but I am most concerned with reliability. I can always toss another battery in the boat if I really need.


I have read a LOT of terrible reviews of Motorguide VariMax motors having "fried boards" (assumming the PWM controller in it is going shot).


I am also looking mostly at saltwater models, although I know freshwater models will work fine if I put a zinc anode on it and wash it well after each trip. The 50lb 5-speed Minn Kota Riptide is $320 shipped from Amazon, but the 55lb variable speed is $500+ shipped.


I know I'd get better battery life from the variable speed, and better speed control, but again I'm most concerned with durability. I take my 4 year old son fishing and the trolling motor is our "whoops the outboard just quit" back up plan. I can't afford to get him out for a summer morning fishing only to get stuck in the heat on a dropping tide.

I also know you can get a PWM controller to convert any 5-speed trolling motor into variable speed, and I may well do this if the 5-speeds really are more durable. I can buy the 50lb thrust Riptide and a PWM dimmer and still come out $100 cheaper than the 55lb thrust variable speed.

Thoughts?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

If you plan to use it in the salt don't even think of buying a fresh water model, zinc won't help it survive, it will suffer a rather rapid death.

I have a MK Terrova and don't hear of any issues with the PWM.

 

[redfishsc]

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

That's not the story from the majority of local folks, and many threads on other forums. Most folks get very good use of their freshwater trolling motors as long as they clean them and use a sacrificial zink washer.


That's not the main question though, but thank you for answering the info on the PWM. I am always wary of the most "high tech" versions of anything, electronic failures seem to be quit high often (esp. Motorguide), but I actually have read very few problems with the Minn-Kota digita maximizer (pwm) motors. Thanks!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

MK just came out with a cheaper version of the PWM TM's, (something like Endura MAX) where the TM has the PWM controller, but not all the bells and whistles of the Traxxis, Riptide, Vantage TM's. They are in the $300 range.

As for durability, I don't know... I've had to replace a switch in a non digital TM, so I don't think you could call the old school speed coil TM's bullet-proof.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

My first hand experience in salt water with a fresh water model is this. I had the motor for many years and it was in very good condition, I unknowingly left it in a protected watertight compartment on my boat when I used it on the salt a few times. A short time later I was cleaning out the boat and found the motor, when I pulled it out some of the paint had started to bubble up peel off of the motor housing, over the next few weeks the rest of it did the same thing and the surface started to corrode.

Now if this happens when it's just around saltwater but never even wet, I can only imagine what would happen if it was dunked. I also trust what MK says about it, warning people not to use them in saltwater due to corrosion problems.

 

[redfishsc]

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

That's what I'm thinking now, fishrdan.

I have a huge paranoia of buying crap that breaks down, I've been hosed so many times lol, but if the TM breaks down I may be stranded with my son out there. But I think the variable speed models are just as durable as the speed coils, perhaps even more so because the system doesn't have to dissipate the heat when on slower speeds.

 

[redfishsc]

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

Re: Trolling motors-- what is more reliable, variable speed or 5-speed "speed coils"?

I ended up getting a freshwater Minn-Kota EnduraMAX variable speed. Great choice, I love this motor.

Used it today in a pretty frustrating wind, but the variable speed function did a fantastic job keeping us where we wanted to be. When I take it to saltwater, I'll just give it a freshwater dunk when I dunk my trailer/motor to clean it off. Thanks all!