Xi5 Trolling Motor?

[J-Doc]

I've been contipmplating selling my 80lb Fortrex and getting a 80lb Xi5 wireless trolling motor.  For several reason. I wanted it originally when I bought my boat last year but they did not offer an 80lb Minn Kota at the time. I've been a Minn Kota man but based on the Lowrance units I have and the reviews I have read, the Xi5 keeps the boat in a 5ft circle and the Ipilot is more like 15ft circle and strugggles to stay in a pinpoint location.    Plus I can connect Xi5 to my Lowrance and Ipilot is for Bird units, not Lowrance. 

Questions:

- Is the electronic steering noisy? I've seen a MG trolling motor (non Xi5) that is VERY noisy everytime the steering is engaged. Annoyingly noisy and can spook fish in shallow water

- Will the pedal fit in most recessed pedal trays?

- How easy is it to use the pedal vs. a traditional pedal?  How does it know to do subtle adjustments vs. large adjustments?

- Do you regret going from a cable steer to a digital steer model?

 

I mainly crappie fish and live bait fish for stripers more than I do bass fish anymore but I would like the best of both worlds. The advantages of spot lock and trolling in a set course and speed while sitting at the helm is a major plus.  And for spider rigging for crappie. 

 

Thoughts?

I'm thinking of asking half the cost of a new Fortrex.  Its a great trolling motor. (24v 80lb)  But I'm tired of going back and forth between the helm and the trolling motor for adjustments when drifting live bait. I am forced to stand and fish from the bow vs. relaxing at the helm drinking coffee waiting on my rods to bend. 

[fishinwrench]

I had a MG wireless on a boat I had last year and I liked it. Manuverablility was good after just a short learning curve.   If you go with one be sure to get a hand op remote, the whole toe tapping dance thing you have to do with the foot control was something I never could get used to. Reminded me of playing guitar hero with my feet while trying to fish.  No issues at all with the hand controller on a retractor clipped to my pants pocket though, that was nice.  Toss it to your partner in the back if you have to re-rig or if you just wanna sit down and eat a sandwich.  Very cool.  It was also really sweet to be able to unhook and just splash the boat, go park the truck, and then bring the boat to you at the dock.  

Noisy turning....YES that bugged me but it did not Spook fish at all.  Not sure why not because it was noisy to me, but I used it on the flats near visable fish of assorted species and they never spooked because of the rotor noise.  

There was a couple areas where mine would pick up signals from home security systems and become haunted, turning on its own or changing speeds on me and refusing to take MY commands.....That was kinda weird.  Once I actually had to pounce on it and pull its lifeline (power plug) to keep it from running itself aground.  I never toyed with spot lock or setting courses so I can't speak to that feature.  

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I have the 80lb XI5, best thing i have ever got. The steering is not noisy at all and it is pretty fast. The foot control is pretty tough to get used to, it isnt anything like a cable control. Took some time to get used to it. The spot lock it dead on. Makes fishing in the wind much more enjoyable. The foot pedal would fit in a recessed tray but it has a prop on off switch and an anchor switch on the pedal that is handy to hit. And it would be tough to use those buttons down in a tray. When i get a fish on i usually will just hit anchor with my foot and fight the fish in without getting blown off your spot. I use mine a lot for trolling. Last winter i could troll 7 hours on a charge pulling cranks between 1.5 and 2. I still havent linked mine up to my lowrance they dont tell you about the $50 NEAMA start up kit and the $250 cable that you need to make it work

I will never go back to the cable steer, If all i did was bass fish and run banks i would go cable. For off shore stuff you wont regret the Xi5

[jerry241]

Doc I gotta a minn Kota and I love the 

hand held remote deal use it just like you said sit at helm and drink coffee waiting for rods to bend.... Sometimes I run out of coffee and never bend a rod.... Ha

the foot control is a little more difficult to master but i leave it out just in case

[J-Doc]

Awesome input guys. Thanks!

 

So half price for my current 1yr old motor is fair right? 

[fishinwrench]

More than fair.