Minn Kota vs MotorGuide: Which Should You Buy?
The extensive number of trolling motors on offer is almost overwhelming. With more than eleven manufacturers actively participating in the market, anglers are spoilt for choice.
Two of the largest manufacturers of electric trolling motors are Minn Kota and MotorGuide, each of which has an established footprint and a well-earned reputation for the motors, foot pedals, and spot locks they produce.
At a Glance:
1️⃣ Minn Kota charges a small premium over MotorGuide which offers more value for money. The MotorGuide range of trolling motors is five times larger than Minn Kota.2️⃣ Minn Kota provides standard advanced features (or, on some models – optional), which include underwater imaging, sonar, mapping, and spit lock capabilities.
3️⃣ Both manufacturers offer models designed for fresh water and saltwater use.
4️⃣ Both manufacturers have a reputation for offering well-built durable products built to high standards. The warranties offered by each manufacturer are essentially the same.
As someone who covers electric propulsion extensively, I’m always curious about the mechanics behind electric trolling motors like Minn Kota and Motorguide. And I always associate quality with simplicity.
📋 A Brief Background Of Minn Kota And MotorGuide
Both electric motor manufacturers have a long and storied history.
Minn Kota
The name Minn Kota is an amalgamation of MINNesota North DaKOTA.
O.G. Schmidt, who formed Minn Kota, was the inventor of the first gear-driven electric trolling motor.
The first motor was designed and manufactured in 1934. The idea proved very popular with boaters who wanted more accurate control of their vessels while fishing.
Over the past 89 years, the company has set the standards in the trolling motor industry and holds 13 active patents on the technology they have developed.
Today Minn Kota is owned by Johnson outdoors (who also owns Hummingbird).
MotorGuide
The history of MotorGuide and its involvement in trolling motors can be traced back to the early 1960s.
The founder, G.H. Harris of Jackson, Mississippi, partnered with a grandfather clock manufacturer to design and manufacture a steering mechanism for trolling motors that could be actioned by the angler’s foot.
By the decade’s end, the trade name “MotorGuide” was established, and the company had patented a rack and pinion steering system for trolling motors.
In 1984 the company was sold to the Brunswick Corporation, after which the brand was incorporated into the Mercury Marine operating company.
💰 Value For Money
The MotorGuide range electric trolling motors tend to offer better value for money. The price range of both manufacturers’ products is listed below.
| Manufacturer | Price Point | Water Type | Model | Price | Thrust |
| Minn Kota | Lowest Cost | Fresh | Endura | $199.95 (Amazon) | 45 lbs. |
| Minn Kota | Highest Cost | Fresh | Ultrex | $2,628.51 – $3,180.12 (Amazon) | 112 lbs. |
| MotorGuide | Lowest Cost | Fresh | R3 Freshwater | $139.99 (Amazon) | 40 lbs. |
| MotorGuide | Highest Cost | Fresh | Xi5 Freshwater | $2,642.29 (Amazon) | 105 lbs. |
| Minn Kota | Lowest Cost | Salt | Riptide | $947.46 (Amazon) | 55 lbs. |
| Minn Kota | Highest Cost | Salt | Riptide Ulterra | $3,249.89 – $4,202.07 (Amazon) | 80 lbs. |
| MotorGuide | Lowest Cost | Salt | R3 Digital Salt | $349.99 (Amazon) | 45 lbs. |
| MotorGuide | Highest Cost | Salt | XI3 Saltwater | $1,499.99 (Amazon) | 80 lbs. |
Although the high-end MotorGuide motors do not have all the imaging and mapping features offered by the Minn Kota products, the price difference makes MotorGuide the winner in this category.
🎛️ Motor Features
The higher up the product range from each company, the more extensive the features which are offered.
But Minn Kota wins this comparison due to the substantial number of features offered as standard equipment on their high-end products.
The following list details the features which are available from each manufacturer.
| Features | Minn Kota | MotorGuide |
| GPS | 35% of models | 30% of models |
| Sonar System | 29% of models | 18% of models |
| Wireless control | 47% of models | 65% of models |
| Mega Underwater (Below) imaging | Yes | No |
| Mega Underwater (Side) imaging | Yes | No |
| Anchor | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Power Management | Yes | Yes |
| Lift Assist | Yes | No |
| One Boat Network | Yes | No |
Minn Kota’s products are feature rich and offer substantial additional capability than the equivalent MotorGuide trolling motors.
Although some are “nice to have” rather than essential, Minn Kota is the winner in this category.
🥊 Durability Of The Electric Motors
Minn Kota and MotorGuide use composite aluminum and metal in the construction.
The shafts on Minn Kota and MotorGuide are manufactured from composite material and are supported by a lifetime guarantee.
The propellors on each unit are made of plastic, making these the most vulnerable component.
There is no winner in this category.
📃 Warranty Conditions & Product Quality
After-sales product support and the ability to correct problems and provide advice after the sale are just as important as choosing a feature-rich product.
The good news is that both companies offer acceptable warranties, the broad terms of which are summarized in the following table.
| Warranty Item | Minn Kota | MotorGuide |
| Overall warranty periods | Two- three Year Warranty depending on the trolling motor | MotorGuide has a 2-Year warranty from the date of purchase |
| Warranty on shaft | Lifetime Warranty on Composite Shaft | MotorGuide Composite Shaft Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| Warranty On accessories | Two-Year Warranty | MotorGuide has a 1-Year warranty from the date of purchase |
| 2nd Owner transfer | Warranty coverage is not transferable. | Warranty coverage is to the original purchaser only. |
Warranty coverage is to the original purchaser only.
Product Quality
The product quality and finishes produced by each manufacturer are similar, which should not be considered when selecting the trolling motor.
Each company’s warranty conditions and build quality are similar; therefore, this section is a draw.
📊 Product Range Comparison
The electric outboard motor product range of each manufacturer is as follows.
Minn Kota Product Range
Minn Kota produces 17 trolling motor models (12 freshwater and 5 saltwater). The product range is analyzed in the lists below, which detail.
- The models in each range.
- The models are designed for each size of boat.
- The total number of trolling motors is split by saltwater and freshwater capability.
The Minn Kota Models In Each Range
| Model | Number Of Freshwater Models | Number Of Saltwater Models | Total Fresh And Saltwater |
| Ultarra | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ultrax | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| PowerDrive | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tarrova | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Pontoon Trolling Motor | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Fortrex | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Endura Max | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Edge | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Traxxis | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Maxxum | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Vantage | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Riptide Transom | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The Models Designed For Each Length Of Boat
| Boat Lengths | Number Of Freshwater Models | Number Of Saltwater Models | Total Fresh And Saltwater |
| 14 Feet | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 17 Feet | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 18 Feet | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 20 Feet | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 21 Feet | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 22 Feet | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 23 Feet | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 25 Feet | 6 | 5 | 11 |
Total Number Of Minn Kota Models Overall
| Number Of Freshwater Models | Number Of Saltwater Models | Total Fresh And Saltwater |
| 17 | 12 | 5 |
MotorGuide Product Range
MotorGuide produces 88 models of trolling motors (66 freshwater and 22 saltwater). The product range is analyzed in the lists below, which detail.
- The models in each range.
- The models are designed for each category of boat.
- The total number of trolling motors is split by saltwater and freshwater capability.
The Models In Each Range
| Model | Number Of Freshwater Models | Number Of Saltwater Models | Total Fresh And Saltwater |
| R3 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| X3 | 18 | 2 | 20 |
| R5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Xi3 | 19 | 8 | 27 |
| Xi5 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
| Tour | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Tour Pro | 4 | 0 | 4 |
The Models Designed For Each Category Of Boat
| Boats For Which The Motor Is Designed | Number Of Fresh Water Models | Number Of Saltwater Models | Total Fresh And Saltwater |
| Bass Boat | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| Bay Boat | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Center Console | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Deep-V Boat | 28 | 1 | 29 |
| Flats Boat | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Jon Boat | 29 | 4 | 33 |
| Kayak | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Pontoon | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Skiff | 0 | 11 | 11 |
The totals exceed the number of models because many can be used on different boat types.
Total Number Of Models Overall
| Number Of Freshwater Models | Number Of Saltwater Models | Total Fresh And Saltwater |
| 66 | 22 | 88 |
The sheer number of models produced by MotorGuide means that they cater to almost every need or requirement of a fisherman.
MotorGuide is the clear winner in this category.
⚖️ MotorGuide And Minn Kota
The following section compares the number of models in each manufacturer range by the following features.
- A comparison of the number of models by power output
- The number of models which have GPS fitted as standard or available as an option
- The number of models which have a sonar system installed as standard
- Models by mounting position
- The models by control type (Foot or hand)
- The models by steering type
- The models by shaft length
- The number of models designed for 12, 24, and 36-volt battery systems
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models Trolling Motors By Power Output
The number of trolling motor models sorted by the power they produce is listed below.
| Max Thrust Produced By Motor | Minn Kota | MotorGuide |
| 30 Lb | 0 | 1 |
| 40 Lb | 0 | 2 |
| 45 Lb | 1 | 8 |
| 54 Lb | 0 | 1 |
| 55 Lb | 7 | 29 |
| 68 Lb | 0 | 1 |
| 70 Lb | 5 | 19 |
| 80 Lb | 4 | 9 |
| 82 Lb | 0 | 4 |
| 105 Lb | 3 | 8 |
| 109 Lb | 0 | 4 |
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models With GPS Fitted
The number of trolling motors which have a standard GPS capability or are compatible with GPS is listed below.
| GPS Included In Motor Or It Is Compatible | Min Kota | MotorGuide |
| Included | 6 | 31 |
| Compatible | 0 | 15 |
MotorGuide And Minn Kota With Sonar
The number of trolling motors with a standard sonar capability is listed below.
| Sonar System Includes In-Motor Package | Min Kota | MotorGuide |
| Included | 5 | 12 |
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models By Mounting Position
Both manufacturers supply trolling motors models which can be used mounted to the bow or the transom.
| Mounting Position | Min Kota | MotorGuide |
| Bow Mount | 13 | 71 |
| Transom Mount | 5 | 15 |
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models By Control Type (Foot, Hand or Electric)
MotorGuide and Minn Kota offer trolling motors with foot, hand, or electric controls (or a combination thereof.)
| Control Method | Min Kota | MotorGuide |
| Foot | 9 | 61 |
| Hand | 10 | 67 |
| Electric | 7 | 0 |
The totals exceed the number of models because many can be operated by hand and foot.
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models By Steering Type
MotorGuide and Minn Kota both make trolling motors with steering mechanisms using a cable, electric, and hand control.
| Steering Type | Minn Kota | MotorGuide |
| Cable Steering | 4 | 19 |
| Electric Steering | 8 | 43 |
| Hand Steering | 15 | 26 |
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models By Shaft Length
MotorGuide and Minn Kota offer trolling motors with shaft lengths ranging from 37 to 87 inches.
| Available Shaft Lengths | Min Kota | MotorGuide |
| 30″ – 36″ | 6 | 16 |
| 42″ – 54″ | 17 | 56 |
| 60″ – 87″ | 9 | 16 |
MotorGuide And Minn Kota Models By Battery Size
MotorGuide and Minn Kota offer trolling motors compatible with 12v, 24v, and 36v battery packs.
| Motor Battery Size | Minn Kota | MotorGuide |
| 12 volt | 7 | 43 |
| 24 volt | 10 | 33 |
| 36 volt | 5 | 12 |
The fact that MotorGuide has so many products with similar features to Minn Kota makes them the winner in this category.
🥇 MotorGuide Vs Minn Kota: The Winner
With a score of 4/8 (MotorGuide ) against 1/8 (Minn Kota) plus 3/8 draws, MotorGuide is the winner in this comparison.
Which Is Best For A Buyer On A Budget?
MotorGuide offers savings across the range of trolling motors produced by each manufacturer. Budget-conscious buyers can save by opting for the MotorGuide range of trolling motors.
❓ FAQs
What Is The Difference Between MotorGuide And Minn Kota?
There are three primary differences between the MotorGuide and Minn Kota trolling motors.
The Number Of Trolling Motors On Offer
MotorGuide produces 88 models of its trolling motors (66 freshwater, 22 saltwater), and Minn Kota offers 17 (12 freshwater and 5 saltwater.)
With the extensive range of MotorGuide trolling motors available, there is a solution for almost every size and type of boat used for many different applications.
The Price Difference
As a general rule, MotorGuide trolling motors cost less than this manufactured by Minn Kota.
The Number Of Features Offered By Each Manufacturer
Min Kota motors provide more features than MotorGuide. One of the reasons this is made possible is that their parent company, Johnson Outdoors, also owns Hummingbird. This has enabled a full integration between Minn Kota and Hummingbird products.
What Company Owns MotorGuide?
Mercury Marine owns a company called Attwood Marine, which houses investments such as MotorGuide.
Mercury Marine is primarily known for the Mercury range of outboard and sterndrive boat motors.
Mercury was formed in 1939 after E. Carl Kiekhaefer purchased a failed engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Since then, it has established itself as one of the primary marine motor manufacturers in the world.
Who Owns Minn Kota Motors?
Minn Kota is owned by Johnson Outdoors, which makes Hummingbird a sister company manufacturing fish finders and mapping devices.
This close association has enabled the two companies to integrate each other’s products, resulting in the Minn Kota trolling motors being so feature-rich. Companies in the Johnson outdoors stable include:
- Cannon
- Eureka
- Hummingbird
- Jetboil
- Johnson Outdoors
- Minn Kota
- Ocean Kayak
- Old Town
- Scubapro
🔑 Key Takeaways
Whether you go with Minn Kota or MotorGuide, they both manufacture excellent electric trolling motors for the fishing market.
1️⃣ The Minn Kota range is more focused and has fewer models available; however, it counters this by being feature-rich and offering very high-end capabilities for the price range.
2️⃣ MotorGuide produces five times more trolling motors to meet the needs of every niche. They also produce more affordable motors.
Not sure what size trolling motor you need? The short answer is that it depends on your use case. Another comparison that may be interesting to you is Torqeedo and Minn Kota.
