|
|
Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | I am looking at the two and wonder if one is better than the other. I can get the Minnkota for about $60 less than the Dualpro Sportsman, which is nice but I want a unit that will last as well as do the job! Both are 10 amp per bank.
OR... do you think another choice is better?
Thanks for your help
Also 2 or 3 bank?? should I charge my starter batter as well?
Edited by Clammer 3/4/2013 5:28 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 142
Location: Appleton, WI | I can tell you from a commercial use standpoint the Minn Kota models don't hold up. In our fleet of boats (12 chargers each charging overnight for 150 straight nights) the MK units lost banks and had water damage issues. Since then we've switched to pro mariner chargers and have had zero problems. |
|
| |
|
Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-) | I've only used the cabela's advanced angler's pro series plus. I put it on in '08 and have had no issues with it yet. It stays plugged in all winter and in the summer I plug it back in as soon as I get home from fishing. Been a graet unit so far and keeps all 3 batteries working perfectly. I hope it lasts several more seasons and I would buy the same again. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | Run a fleet of mn,s and not one issue |
|
| |
|
Posts: 181
Location: St.John, Indiana | Just my experience , but Minnkota has not let me down in over 10 yrs.
Have not used Dualpro so cannot comment good or bad .
L I V I N |
|
| |
|
Posts: 111
Location: Weyauwega Wi. | I have used both and had problems with both. I can tell you from experience that I had excellent customer service from both companies. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 753
| I had a 3bank Minn-kota in my Lund for 5 years and i fish 100+ days a year (asmuch as a guy with a full time job & a special lady fried can) and mine was a champ and I had the thing plugged in often... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 190
| I have had minnkota and dual pro and guest. My guest broke after 2 seasons, but they did have the best customer service. I bought a boat in 2004 with a dual pro. It had an issue where just one side doesn't charge correctly, or does charge all the way. I switch the battery cables and the same thing on the the same side. I replaced it with a minnkota 345 and have had it since 2006 no issues. Last year I let my buddy take the boat to canada and then I was meeting him there a couple weeks later. He had told me the charger was broke so I bought a replacement MK345. Turned out to be 1 year old Die hard Platinium went bad. Odd. I haven't had a Dual pro for a while to test because the minnkota one has just worked properly for years. However, I just bought my buddies tuffy a couple weeks ago and it has a dual pro professional that I haven't played with yet. I still have the replacement MK345, PM me if you have any interest.
Thanks
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| Dual Pro, or Minn Kota are both solid units. My personal preference is Guest, but I don't think you'd go wrong with any of the 3.
I had problems with 2 ProMariners. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | No problems with MK here. Haven't personally heard of any issues from anyone either. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | I will ck out Guest as well. Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Always great to get info from guys that have had the units and see how they perform over time! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 163
Location: lake st clair michigan | thumbs up for the minnkota |
|
| |
|
Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | I have never had an onboard charger, I am looking to get one as I am changing to a 24 volt TM, and will now have the two batts for the TM, so want to charge both at once. Is it worth it to get the 3 bank and do the starter one as well?? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | Absolutely get the 3 bank charger! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| Ditto. |
|
| |
|
Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-) | You deffinetly want the 3 bank it's nice to plug in once and done. Then you have no worries and no extra charger incase your starting battery gets low. I have my lights, electronics, and bilge on it also. |
|
| |
|
Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-) | oh yeah I forgot it's also nice to have the 3 bank for winter storage I leave the onboard plugged in as a maintaner wich most should do. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | If you have your trolling batteries in the front of your boat and your starter in back you will need to rig up an extension cable with a three bank charger. I went with a 2 bank for my troller bat's and a maintainer for my starter bat. I do a lot of trolling though so my starter battery is rarely low. Just something to think about... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Thanks all! Really appreciate the guys here taking time to give help and share knowledge. Wish I had found this sooner!!
MD75...Love the "mascot" in your photo. I have a Choc and a Black Lab. They love the boat.
I am hoping to put the TM batteries up front, but have to doing some figuring and reworking. The orig set up was a single 12volt in the back for the TM and one for the starter.
I was planning a 10 amp, but should I get a 15?? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| 10A per bank is just fine. Guest makes a 10/10/5 that is perfect. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 139
| I would go Dual pro and 10 amp is perfect. My dual pro's have lasted longer than any other brand. MK's are large and heavy too and take up alot of boat space.
I have a guest charger now in my boat and i would recommend that as well.
Edited by hunter991 3/5/2013 1:47 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2097
| I am with md75. I troll a little bit each time I am out and I never charge my starting batt. It sat in garage since the first of december and fired up myoptimax a couple weeks ago. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin |
The Cabelas are really inexpensive! On sale right now fro $159 for the proseries 20+ 3bank unit. One thing, mine sits out all summer and was wondering about how truly waterproof they are?
Edited by Clammer 3/5/2013 3:16 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | One good thing about buying a Cabellas or Bass Pro model is that when it breaks (and it will) they will replace it on the spot with a new unit. The bad thing is that if it breaks and you are not in the vicinity of one of their stores you are SOL. This happened to me in So. Illinois and is how I ended up with a MinnKota from Dick's. Bass Pro still gave me store credit though so not a complete wash:) |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I had an MK which worked fine for a couple of years. Then one morning I unplugged it, and it melted down. Literlly melted down. Started smoking like crazy, and some black, stinky liquid flowed out and into my compartment. Have had a Dual Pro 2 bank since with no problems. |
|
| |
