Question on Motorguide PTS Bow Mount Trollig Motor

[steel24]

I was just wondering if anyone owns or has seen these motors. From what I understand you could be fishing a point in 17ft of water and if you set the motor for that depth it will follow the point with-out you steering it.

That is what I take from the description in my catalog, I just wanted to know if that is correct...

Also if anyone owns one how they like the unit..

[Wayne Ek]

This unit will do shore track, depth track and creek track. I've used the units to do shore and depth track, not creek track. All the PTS units are pin point tech. and Motor Guide

DS Digital tech combined. If you do alot of walleye fishing I think the unit is great. It comes pinpoint ready for the electronics. I use the tour series for most of my fishing as I find myself up in and around docks alot.

[CorynTracySellHomes]

Like agape said it if you are a walleye fisherman these units are great! If you like to bass fish, or you are in the weeds.I STRONGLY recomend getting a MinnKota.

Cory Frantzick

[steel24]

thx guys, I do have a Minnkota know, but say a commercial on this and was very interested. Cory, are you saying don't take this anywhere near weeds?? Or just not the thick stuff...thx

[CorynTracySellHomes]

Not to rip on a product, but, they stink in weeds....I have seen the props get fouled in even light weeds. One other thing I have noticed is that they seem to over estimate the thrust on there motors. So, if you do decide to get one, go step higher in thrust than you think you will need.

Cory Frantzick

[Wayne Ek]

Cory... I will have to argue that. I run my 109 Tour thru everything with no, and I mean NO problems. The new glass-filled machete prop has cut thru everything I have come up against. The new prop is nylon and not the metal prop you hear called the machete at times.

[CorynTracySellHomes]

Maybe they have gotten better.....

But my experience has been less than stellar. I have a 74 lb MinnKota Maxxum, and I run a heavy boat (619 Ranger). I have NEVER lacked for power or struggled at all getting through the heaviest of slop, and anyone who has fished with me knows I like to get into the slop. From what I have seen, unless they have vastly improved, They over state the thrust, all the ones I have used really struggle in the weeds, now yours is also 109 lb thrust isnt it? Maybe with the new prop and all that power they have improved.

A few years ago there was an ad showing bass pros throwing there MinnKotas into the lake, at the time Motorguide had a superior product. Everyone I know to a "T" that has a Motorguide, complains about how they go through weeds.

I have also, been out on Mille Lacs 3 different times with three different Motorguides when the bearings went out in the motor, now that is an awful sound that makes fingernails on a blackboard sound nice.

I personaly would have a hard time giving up my MinnKota.

Cory Frantzick

[andy j]

I agree with Cory, unless they have improved their props. The Minnkota are better in weeds in my opinion.

[RK]

Hiya,

I got a chance to mess with one some last summer. I was pretty impressed. I think in terms of precise boat control they beat the snot out of the Autopilot. One really neat thing you can do with them as well is use then in conjunction with a kicker. Drop the PTSV in, set the depth, and set the thrust at around 30% power. Lock your kicker straight ahead, and the PTSV follows the break. Used it trolling bottom bouncers and contour trolling with leadcore, and it was incredible. Nice thing about it was you didn't lose fishing time while landing fish or baiting up again. It keeps you right on the break.

As far as MotorGuides in general... I've run nothing but for several years. You couldn't get me to switch. I have had MG Tour Edition cable drives in the past, and they're bulletproof. I straightened a bent shaft (my fault - smoked a rock) in the fork of a tree in Canada once, and used the motor for the rest of the week. MHO, but the Gator Mounts beat anything out there in terms of being solid and durable. I don't need straps or bounce busters or anything. I can run in 3 footers and it barely wiggles.

This year I'm getting two motors - a Tour Edition like I always do, and a PTSV, so I can pop either one on depending on what I'm doing...

Cheers,

RK

[steel24]

RK, why would you need two different motors????

[RK]

Hiya,

Well, NEED is probably an overstatement...

I do think I'm going to get a PTSV this year though, and for a lot of the MN fishing I do, whether it's walleye or muskie fishing, I think it'll be a great tool. But, I do spend quite a bit of time in Canada most years, and for rattling around in shallow rocks muskie fishing, I really like the instant response of a cable drive. Plus I don't have to look ever to see where the motor's pointing - I can tell by where my foot is which way it's pointed.

Really though, I already have the spare cable drive and the mounts/plugs/sonar connections are the same, so I can use whichever makes the most sense for what I'm doing.

Cheers,

RK

[Oldtyme]

Geesh. Underwater cameras, trolling motors that autosteer...what's next?

I admit my boat control sucks with my trolling motor but the more practice I get, the better I will get. I wouldn't want to rely on something doing this for me. While it's a cool idea, you will lose the skill.

I also agree that MY motorguide is horrible in the weeds. If I had a nickle for everytime I had to lift that motor last year.

On the plus side, this motorguide was "the way I got across the lake"....I had no outboard. It pushed a heavy 14 foot fiberglass boat at least once or twice a week all year. I stuck with small lakes, but I put it through a grueling durability test. It was still running strong when I put the boat up for the winter.

Good news is I now have a motor. ('86 Mercury 60)