Electric Motor...

[Big Mac]

 Hello everyone please help... I'm looking for an electric motor for the front of my 385explorer tinny...  I've asked around some say haswing and of course many people say Minnkota...  I've heard the rack on water snake and I've decided to turn fully away from it…  i'm looking for something like that haswing Cayman B....  And nothing over $650 ... And also is haswing tough and reliable?

Cheers Macca

[samsteele115]

Not sure about haswing, but the tough and reliable bow mount electrics go for a bit more than $650 I would reckon. Nearly 3k for my bow mount minnkota riptide ST which includes spot lock and autopilot. Without those features I still reckon you are looking at the very least over a grand for a bow mount setup although I haven't looked into it. The transom mount motors are much cheaper as they are manually controlled, but this is not suitable for bow mount use

[Big Mac]

38 minutes ago, samsteele115 said:

Not sure about haswing, but the tough and reliable bow mount electrics go for a bit more than $650 I would reckon. Nearly 3k for my bow mount minnkota riptide ST which includes spot lock and autopilot. Without those features I still reckon you are looking at the very least over a grand for a bow mount setup although I haven't looked into it. The transom mount motors are much cheaper as they are manually controlled, but this is not suitable for bow mount use

Ok thanks very much!

[Glenn S]

Hey Mate, ive got a haswing tiller at the stern so i cant say much about their bow mount models (had it for almost 5 months so far so good) but i run a motorguide x3 cable steer up the front which set me back about $730. No autopilot or spot lock but i believe this just means there is less parts to worry about breaking down the line. Im pretty sure its fresh water only but if you service it regularly im sure you will get a few years of use out of it quite easily. Also remember a decent deep cycle battery is going to set you back a couple hundred if you haven't got one already.

Hope that info helps.

Glenn.

[Skegz]

Also been looking at electrics, i have managed to find that many people break the shaft on there minn kota bow mounts. and usually (in a couple scenarios) minn kota will provide a new one under warrenty. I am currently trying to purchase a minn kota with broken shaft and another minn kota (broken everywhere else excpept the shaft). To do the swap of the shaft myself. This is the same one as @samsteele115 though is smaller (lb wise) as i am only putting it on my cartopper. All up i recon I will pay around $400 though it will obviously have general ware and tare and be second hand. Will also have to buy a footpeddle, but on ebay they are only $100-$150. 
 

thought i would post as it is a really cheap option to get a decent electric. And i won't be buying a brand new one until I get my new boat. and then I will happily pay a few thousand to get a reliable, under warranty - set up.

happy fishing.

[Alexx]

Hi mate,

It depends what you are doing. However with your boat im guessing it is in the bay or in estuaries or even canals. 

If you want to just do drifts along edges or banks, and navigate canals quietly, I would recommend a cable steer as you won't be using any electric features like autopilot or spot lock. Whilst these features are handy in some scenarios, in the aforementioned prescribed situations you will rarely use them and not get your money's worth as these models are quite expensive. Cable also feels a bit more direct and you feel more in control. It is just like steering assist in a car, the cable steer will give you more feedback to your foot while the electric pedal won't. 

Regarding brands, my only experience is on the bream comp scene. It's a pretty even distribution between minn kotas and motorguides, but I usually see less breakdowns and issues with the cable steers VS the electric steers, and of the two less issues with the motorguides. The boat I am usually in has a motorguide tour series that is cable steer. The only time spot lock would be nice is during the winter when we come across a school of bream spawning deep in a patch, so instead we just keep going up and drifting back through them, and still manage to pick them up, so It usually isnt an issue. It just means more work for your back and leg with more time on the pedal.

Here is one that is bow mounted on ebay. Close enough to your price range and a mid range poundage with 45lb of thrust. Should be more than enough for the 385 Quinny and it would even suit slightly bigger boats in an estuary scenario. Import from america thought so might take some time.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/141785732535?limghlpsr=true&hlpht=true&ul_noapp=true&hlpv=2&chn=ps&lpid=107&ops=true&viphx=1

[rayke1938]

Just be aware if you import a motor from the states you have no warranty and unless the same model is sold in Au you will have to source your own parts from usa.

. BLA is now owned by Brunswick corp so look after both mororguide and minnkota.

If a motorguide is over 6 years old there is no spare parts available via BLA but you can import them yourself.

 The guy selling the 2 bow mount kotas on gumtree is telling porkies no waay they would leave him keep his old motor if they replaced a motor on warranty and they would have only replaced the shaft not the whole motor..

 Going by the photos they both are pre 06 models ^.

 ^{A shaft will set you back around $100 and while you have the motor dismantled you would be wise to skim the commy,replace brushes ,seals and bearings.If you cannot do this yourself BLA would want around $400}

The lifetime warranty on shafts is only applicable to the first owner so if you are buying a second hand motor ensure that you get the original reciept.

I have split a terova shaft but you really do have to hit them hard.

Much better than the ones with the metal shafts which bend and jam.

If you look around and are prepared to act quickly you will find a decent late model bow mount in your price range,People with larger boats quite often purchase a 55lb motor only to find it is not powerful enough and upgrade to a 80lb motor.

When buying a used motor it does pay to remove the prop and pull out the 2 long bolts that hold the lower assembly together and look for any signs of moisture or rusty water and if evident give it a miss as the whole lower unit will need refurbishment the main reason for lower unit failure is due to owners not regularly removing props and looking for fishing line around the prop shaft braid is very bad for this and will quickly destroy the rear seal.

Another thing to check is to remove the top cover of the head unit and look for any corrosion.on the circuit boards

Cheers

Ray

[Fisher384]

9 hours ago, Skegz said:

 and usually (in a couple scenarios) minn kota will provide a new one under warrenty.

 

I have a 55lb freshwater stern mount minnkota i think it has a 2 or 3 yr warranty and the shaft is definitely a lifetime warranty not sure if thats from a being built well or if its built badly and may have defects not sure if same with bow mounts and salt water edition though

[rayke1938]

Read the fine print'

Minn Kota Freshwater Trolling Motors - Limited Lifetime warranty on Composite Shaft and Limited Two-Year warranty on entire product

Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. (“JOME”) extends the following limited warranty to the original retail purchaser only.  Warranty coverage is not transferable.

Minn Kota Limited Two-Year Warranty on the Entire Product
JOME warrants to the original retail purchaser only that the purchaser’s new Minn Kota freshwater trolling motor will be materially free from defects in materials and workmanship appearing within two (2) years after the date of purchase. JOME will (at its option) either repair or replace, free of charge, any parts found by JOME to be defective during the term of this warranty. Such repair, or replacement shall be the sole and exclusive liability of JOME and the sole and exclusive remedy of the purchaser for breach of this warranty. 

Minn Kota Limited Lifetime Warranty on Composite Shaft
JOME warrants to the original retail purchaser only that the composite shaft of the purchaser’s Minn Kota trolling motor will be materially free from defects in materials and workmanship appearing within the original purchaser’s lifetime. JOME will provide a new composite shaft, free of charge, to replace any composite shaft found by JOME to be defective during the term of this warranty. Providing a new composite shaft shall be the sole and exclusive liability of JOME and the sole and exclusive remedy of the purchaser for breach of this warranty; and purchaser shall be responsible for installing, or for the cost of labor to install, any new composite shaft provided by JOME.

EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS 
This limited warranty does not apply to products that have been used in saltwater or brackish water, commercially or for rental purposes.  This limited warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, blemishes that do not affect the operation of the product, or damage caused by accidents, abuse, alteration, modification, shipping damages, acts of God, negligence of the user or misuse, improper or insufficient care or maintenance.  DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE USE OF OTHER REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT MEETING THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. The cost of normal maintenance or replacement parts which are not in breach of the limited warranty  are the responsibility of the purchaser.  Prior to using products, the purchaser shall determine the suitability of the products for the intended use and assumes all related risk and liability.  Any assistance JOME provides to or procures for the purchaser outside the terms, limitations or exclusions of this limited warranty will not constitute a waiver of the terms, limitations or exclusions, nor will such assistance extend or revive the warranty.  JOME will not reimburse the purchaser for any expenses incurred by the purchaser in repairing, correcting or replacing any defective products or parts, except those incurred with JOME’s prior written permission.  JOME'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO COVERED PRODUCTS IS LIMITED TO AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE PURCHASER'S ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE PAID FOR SUCH PRODUCT.  

They did replace my shaft even though it split due to misuse. My motor was purchased second hand but i had the original reciept so i just gave the original purchases name when i put it in for repair. BLA do check serial numbers and keep records for repairs I have found tthe repair section friendly and informanative.

Watersnake warranty repairs are excellent they bwill try to diagnose problem over phone and if only small component they will post to you or if they say motor has to be returned to base they will arrange courier to pick up bfrom your home and it is usually returned by courier within a week all free.

With a minnkota warranty issue if in Brisbane you are better off taking it directly to BLA rather than returning it to place of purchase where it can sit for a week or so just waiting to be couriered back to BLA as the retailer has to wear the courier costs and they wait till they have a few items to send back.

I have no experience with motorguide repairs except that I was unable to obtain a new shaft (Bent stainless one) as the motor was about 8 years old so that turned me off motorguide.even though the motor seem well designed.

Motorguide and watersnake use tinned cable for the power lead and down to the power unit whilst minnkota does not which is a bad feature.

 Cheers

Ray

Cheers

Ray

[Skegz]

Great info here guys!

Thanks