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Posts: 1100
| So I’m at the point where I soon have enough on the bank account to get myself a motorguide XI5, Looking at the 24v 80lb 60” shaft salt water version.
The last topic regarding this motor was from the middle of 2014, where people mentioned that they didn’t really like the foot pedal, so beside that how has the motor held up for you guys that fish them a lot?
Tight Line from Europe.  |
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Posts: 298
| I switched to an Xi5 80lb "60 from a Terrova 80lb 60" Ipilot last year. I'm happy with the decision so far. I won't know for a few more years if I am completely happy as the Terrova was a pretty rugged unit and I was fairly happy with it.
The Xi5 turns WAY faster. Which is a big reason why I switched. I really think it's handy being able to do a 180 nearly as fast as a cable drive motor. It also turns much quieter. The stow and deploy is wash compared to the Terrova. The spot lock is without a doubt superior on the xi5. I don't really use any of the other fancy features. If you require feedback on your remote don't get an xi5. It's a blind remote.
The foot pedal on the xi5 does kinda suck. I wasn't a fan of the terrova pedal either. I really don't understand why these TM companies have carried the tow/heel style from the cable driven models to the electric steers. I turn mine sideways with the go button and momentary button closer to me. Works relatively well. I bump the momentary button and steering on accident just like I did on the terrova.
Mine left me still happy after a full season. |
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| Couple tips for you that work for me. I removed the tabs on the pedal for anchor lock and constant on. Too many times I accidentally touched one and the results were not good. Just keep the remote handy and you're good for other functions.
I also have the Lowrance gateway and all I need to know like power percentage and heading shows up on the graph. No need to keep looking at a remote.
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Posts: 581
Location: deephaven mn | like the motor just as NickD gave all the strong points
battery life on the foot pedal seems to be a problem
and the to resync when battery dies is not immediate either |
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Posts: 755
| I have driven my friends 620 with the XI5 on it and for all its benefits I could not get past the lack of an Auto Pilot type function controllable from the pedal. It is faster & quieter, the blue tooth/wireless pedal is great and the spot lock is awesome...that being said I am not a fan of the stowing/deploying VS a Terrova, the foot pedal in general and I found the lights on the motor difficult to see from a distance to know whether it was on or not when running it from the remote. just my 2 cents... |
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Posts: 88
Location: Wisconsin | I've had zero problems with mine so far. I don't mind the foot pedal. Have used a cable drive for the past 25 years. It does take a little getting used to. The more you use it, the more natural it becomes. If following a shoreline or weed line, I tend to use the foot pedal. If drifting over a flat, I find myself using the hand remote more and more. Like the remote in rough water too. Anchor feature works great. Have mine linked up with my Lowrance units too. I need to spend more time using everything in conjunction. Tom |
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Posts: 1100
| Sounds great, i don't see the need feedback from the remote.
Does any of you use the heading lock function ? |
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Posts: 229
Location: Tinley Park, IL | Zinox - 2/10/2016 2:00 AM
Sounds great, i don't see the need feedback from the remote.
Does any of you use the heading lock function ?
I don't have firsthand knowledge of this motor but all the research I have done has led me to choosing it for my boat. I read a lot bass boat forums and guys there rave about how much faster and quieter it is compared to the Terrova and how the anchor mode is better. I have read in numerous places that it is extremely easy to use and that they don't even use the foot pedal. The pedal is a common complaint. Also, it does not have a groove in the shaft for a transducer cable like the Terrova. This is the worst feature about the motor IMO and I don't like the alternatives.
I have always been a Minn Kota guy but I have chosen the Motorguide. They are also running a $100 rebate right now. Good luck. |
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Posts: 1276
Location: Walker, MN | I love mine and it has 300+ days on the water now. The most used feature on mine is jogging in anchor mode. In wind and weather I can pick apart a structure exactly as I want to every time. I use my remote a lot, it only takes a second to push the jog button 4 times and my boat magically moves 20' in the direction I want and the boat stays there.
The heading lock function is not as good as auto pilot imo.
Edited by Masqui-ninja 2/10/2016 9:30 AM
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Posts: 1100
| Thanks a ton for the info guys sounds like it will do the job just fine :D |
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| As far as heading lock, once its hooked via gateway to your lowrance the heading lock is awesome IMHO. Makes a difference. |
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Posts: 79
| switched from a maxxum to a xi5 last year. never going back to cable drive. have heard complaints about the foot pedal. have never used mine, just the remote. cant say enough good things about it. spotlock is awesome in the wind and on rivers. |
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | Awesome trolling motor. Love mine |
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Posts: 1100
| So how many of you have it hooked up to your lowrance unit and do you ever use the unit to control the motor ?
Considering setting up a NMEA network and buying the gateway cable, but wondering if ill ever use it, so what situations do you like to use the unit to control the motor vs the remote/pedal.
Beside the motor i ordered a circuit breaker, and going to run 6awg wire from the batterys, to the motor. |
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Posts: 88
Location: Wisconsin | I have mine set up with the NMEA network. I got it free last year when they had a promo with Lowrance and Motorguide. I have not used it for boat control yet. I plan on trying it out this year. I'm determined this year to utilize more of the options that the units offer. As far as remote/pedal is concerned, it depends. If following a shoreline or weed edge, I tend to use the foot pedal more. If drifting across a large flat, maybe the remote a little more. Remote is also nice in big winds when standing becomes becomes difficult. Remote is also nice because it's always on you, regardless of where you are in the boat. Tom |
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | I have used my HDS unit to steer...works pretty well if you are pulling core for walleyes and sitting at the console. Wouldn't really work for anything else. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | How is the anchor function when putting the nose into the wind? Hold pretty good? |
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Posts: 298
| Pointerpride102 - 2/24/2016 7:27 PM
How is the anchor function when putting the nose into the wind? Hold pretty good?
For these spot/anchor lock units some wind is needed for it to work well. In calm waters the boat will spin in circles a bit.
With a nice constant breeze they are really impressive. Even in very high winds they do well as long as the waves aren't too big. Really shine in current as well. I have heard some complaints when the current is one direction and the wind from another but what can you expect from a reactionary system? Same goes with really gusty winds. I can see the big gust coming and make adjustments but the TM doesn't know until the wind is moving the boat backwards. If you want to anchor in big winds be mindful of the juice it's using. If at the back of the boat you might not notice the motor is running at 80% and your battery life is limited when the troller is working that hard.
Having owned both a terrova Ipilot and an Xi5 the spot lock on the Xi5 is without a doubt superior. I think it's a function of the tighter/faster steering. |
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Posts: 1100
| Thanks for all the info, doesn't sound like i need the gateway cable anytime soon.
And again, thanks a ton for all the help and info |
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Posts: 1100
| The motor is now on the way, any tips and tricks to get the most out of it is welcome |
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | The biggest thing the gateway connect provided for me is being able to see/set your speed with the cruise control feature. Otherwise you have no idea. |
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Posts: 173
| So I'm looking at upgrading from a minnkota maxxum to a motorguide xi5. I'm in MSP area, any suggestions on where to get them swapped out the nmea network stuff taken care of? Trying to figure out all my costs before I commit to buying the trolling motor. |
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Posts: 79
| I did mine myself. It was pretty easy, there are videos on youtube on how to do it. Im not really familiar with lowrance dealers in the cities, do a search. I think thorne bros has lowrance stuff in their store. It isnt hard to do. |
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Posts: 437
| Dirt Esox - 2/27/2016 7:17 AM
The biggest thing the gateway connect provided for me is being able to see/set your speed with the cruise control feature. Otherwise you have no idea. This is easy to figure out. When you set the cruise control feature the speed is set to 1.0MPH by default. You increase or decrease the speed .1 MPH for each press of the + or - button on the remote. All you need to do is count.
I think most people also have their speed displayed on their GPS units which would also tell you if you have it set correctly.
I used my xi5 for a year before getting the gateway connect last year. It is an awesome motor. The only thing I could complain about is the foot pedal, but I don't use it much anyway. The battery in my remote died when I was in Canada last year so I had to use the pedal for a bit and it was a PITA, but thankfully I had the gateway connect hooked to my HDS touch so I just set speed and other functions from there then turned with the pedal. |
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Posts: 229
Location: Tinley Park, IL | What circuit breaker did you Xi5 users install with the motor? Thanks. |
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Posts: 79
| i just used an off the shelf one from fleet farm. don't remember the amp size off the top of my head. should be in your manual. |
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Posts: 1100
| So i was looking in the manual to figure out how the batter indicator works on the trolling motor (green light).
Can anyone tell me if this is just an indication that battery is plugged in or does in change color or something when the battery power gets low ? |
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Posts: 437
| I believe the led changes color as the batteries are discharged, but since I have a StealthDC charger installed, mine is never below green because I charge up the batteries when I run from spot to spot.
Regarding the circuit breaker, my boat already had auto reset breakers so I just reused those at the batteries. The peak amp draw for an 80# is 38 Amps. So 50 amp breaker or 1 25 amp at each battery should be sufficient. I have never had an issue in 2 years of use. |
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Posts: 1100
| Thanks for the replay, and yes i should shift from green to yellow to red, found it on their webpage under features. |
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