Anyone here have a NEW Xi5 or Terrova?

[J-Doc]

Thinking about selling my 80lb Fortrex and getting a NEW Xi5 or Terrova. 

I've seen lots of videos, read reviews, heard opinions. What I need is to see one in action in person.  Not asking to go fishing with anyone. Just maybe meet you at the dock, watch how you use it for a few minutes and ask you a few questions such as likes/dislikes.  What I've heard/learned so far:

- Terrova is a bit noisier than Xi5 with the transmission motor (motor that turns shaft)

- Xi5 holds a tighter spot than Terrova on spot lock feature

- Xi5 can be a bit easier to deploy than Terrova 

-Terrova appears overall to be a bit more durable (thicker plastic)

 

Like I said. Looking for a NEW model.  The older models from a few years back are not quite the same.  Some are noisy, do not have Ipilot or Xi5 features. 

Can anyone help? 

If I do get one, I'll post an asking price for my 1yr old Fortrex. I was thinking $700. They are $1,200ish new. 

[Dan the fisherman]

I have the terrova.  Absolutely love it. I get that it's not a cable driven like a lot of bass boats have but, I do a lot of bass fishing and I have no problem with it.  It actually helps a lot for all fishing. But I do have it linked with my HB also.  I can follow contours and hit auto pilot and will keep me in the distance that I want for bass or spot lock if I'm fishing a tree or humps or points.    And for striper fishing, it's absolutely necessary.  I personally don't know about the others but, really love the terrova. I can honestly say it's helped my fishing. 

[Dan the fisherman]

Btw I've had mine for 3 years. The newer ones might be different. Not to say worse or better cuz I don't have experience.  But mine is awesome. 

[J-Doc]

Thanks Dan. 

I fish crappie, bass, and striper. I figure with a lake like Beaver, this is an essential tool. I love my Fortrex but the spot lock and autopilot feature is head and shoulders above the Fortrex.  Although I can hit 3.1 and 3.2mph (gps) with my Fortrex. Lol!

 

How's the noise level? Is it as bad as an older Power Drive?

[Dan the fisherman]

Mine is silent. Of course it's louder at 5+ setting. But for trolling like, .5-.8 its like a ninja.   I can hit about 2.7 with a 20 foot fiberglass bass boat with a full live well and 50 gallons of fuel.  So it's powerful.  But if I need to go that fast I just hit the big motor n e ways. But really, and I'm not a sales person for minnkota, but it's really helped me. Almost to the point to where I can say it was a game changer!   But again that's just my personal opinion. Maybe others have had different experiences 

[nomolites]

X2 on the Terrova; love mine - also paired with the 'bird and Lakemaster cartography.  If you run Lowrance I believe the Motorguide pairs with their software.

Mike

[LarryC]

I'm on my second Terrova. The first went with the boat when I sold it. I've had the second for nine years now. Not a bit noisy. I upgraded it once to wireless control. I may upgrade again to the I-Pilot link. I think its pretty neat to have the option to upgrade a nine year old motor. Its on a barge of a boat. 21' Star Craft deep V walleye boat. Handles the boat just fine.

Both of my motors have worked great with no problems at all. With that said I would rather have a cable model if all I ever did was bass fish. The second issue is transducer mounting. The standard internal transducer won't support SI or DI. Went I went to a bow mount sonar with SI and DI I ran the transducer cable in a track on the motor shaft. Glued the cable down with West System epoxy after flame treating the shaft. Fabricated my own aluminum bracket to mount the TD on the motor. No problems after three years but it was some work.

[Blll]

With your experience and comfort with Lowrance, aren't you pre-disposed to go Motorguide to max its features? Having the same debate with myself and the electronics seem to tilt the field. I can justify a new trolling motor but not a whole new motor/graph do-over. Terrova/ipilot have some history and time to have worked out the bugs but the x15 looks pretty sweet.  

[J-Doc]

Oh I've looked into it. It was one of the first things I considered. At the end of the day, I'd rather have a Minn Kota and not connect to Lowrance than anot MG connected to Lowrance.  And the large cost of connecting (roughly $300-400), would allow me to follow contours that are not very accurate (lake bottom changes every few years....and I have used Genesis Insight to confirm this) and I could tell the TM to "go to this waypoint".  That's about the gist of it without further details.  

 

Not really something I want or need. Following contours could be nice I guess but I prefer to be in control to a point.  I need to stay focused on what I'm doing and not let the boat do all of the work.  

[J-Doc]

17 minutes ago, Blll said:

Terrova/ipilot have some history and time to have worked out the bugs but the x15 looks pretty sweet.  

There in lies some of my concerns also.  I've read on other forums online where the Terrova is tried and true and pretty reliable and the Xi5 motors have died straight out of the box or soon after. One guy was on his 4th one before calling it quits altogether. 

All products and all manufacturers will have a few duds. No surprise and understandable. But it seems Xi5 still has a few bugs they are working out even 3yrs after they were introduced. Most people have had great luck with theirs and they love them.  And I hope they continue to live them. 

 

In the end, I'm a Minn Kota guy.  Can't break the chain of loyalty. Even though I tried very hard.  :-)  I was very close to buying an Xi5. But my gut tells me get the Terrova and live with the few flaws it may or maynot have.  Either way, still better than my Fortrex for what I want in a trolling motor. And the Fortrex is awesome. 

 

I beat a 105lb thrust Fortrex with my 80lb Fortrex in a race. Granted his boat was 21st glass and mine is a 19ft aluminum with less keel depth.  But I still won at 3.1mph.  Lol!!