Vantage Trolling Motors

[Hawg]

I sure am getting a lot of people telling me to stay away from a used Vantage trolling motor I'm considering. Do they all go bad? A couple friends that are guides(and get good deals) say they have two so they have a spare while the other is in the shop. Are they a good enough motor to take the risk?

[DocJpa]

I've run Vantages for years. A few years ago they were a pain in the butt but they are very well built now. I haven't had any problems. They sure make back trolling easy!

[Hawg]

Doc, how new is yours? The one I'm looking at is 4-5 years old, not older that 5.

[Hawg]

I just called Minn Kota and they said the Vantage have been the same since they came out. They also said the failure rate is very low on them so everyone I know that has them must be the only ones that went bad. Hard to get an honest answer from anyone now days.

[CaptainMusky]

My buddy has had one since they came out. The motor itself has been fine to my knowledge, but he had issues with the deploying aspect of it. His dad was an engineer at 3M for decades and he is quite handy himself. They were able to rectify the shoddy workmanship and I don't think he has had an issue since then. He has had this unit more than 5 years I am quite sure.

[DocJpa]

I just sold my boat and the Vantage. It was 3 years old. My buddy has one that is going on 8 years and has had one issue with the electrical panel, other than that no issues. Again, for me personally, I think they are the only way to go, 4x steering, power up/down, reversible head, so easy to stay on top of a spot.

[Hawg]

I agree, that's why I want one.

[Chris Haley]

The E-Tech on my 08 Ranger has 1000 hours on it. I know this because it started acting up and after the tech did the recommended 1000 hr service that Ranger told him to do it runs like a top again. So my 08 Vantage probably has 4 - 5000 hrs on it as I use it WAY more than my E-Tech. I've had work done on it occasionally over the years but probably don't have more than $300 spent on that altogether.

[Chris Haley]

In fact the 2 times I had work were new seals and a up and down button from using it so much.

[38bill]

Been running mine since 2007. Worked great until last summer when I had the switch start giving me problems while fishing in Canada. Seemed that it got water under the switches clear plastic boot???? I removed the boot, dried it out and was able to fish the rest of the week. Once I returned home I picked up a replacement part and installed it myself and was good to go.