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.

ManufacturerPrice PointWater TypeModelPriceThrust
Minn KotaLowest CostFreshEndura$199.95 (Amazon)45 lbs.
Minn KotaHighest CostFreshUltrex$2,628.51 – $3,180.12 (Amazon)112 lbs.
MotorGuideLowest CostFreshR3 Freshwater$139.99 (Amazon)40 lbs.
MotorGuideHighest CostFreshXi5 Freshwater$2,642.29 (Amazon)105 lbs.
Minn KotaLowest CostSaltRiptide$947.46 (Amazon)55 lbs.
Minn KotaHighest CostSaltRiptide Ulterra$3,249.89 – $4,202.07 (Amazon)80 lbs.
MotorGuideLowest CostSaltR3 Digital Salt$349.99 (Amazon)45 lbs.
MotorGuideHighest CostSaltXI3 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.

FeaturesMinn KotaMotorGuide
GPS35% of models30% of models
Sonar System29% of models18% of models
Wireless control47% of models65% of models
Mega Underwater (Below) imagingYesNo
Mega Underwater (Side) imagingYesNo
AnchorYesYes
Digital Power ManagementYesYes
Lift AssistYesNo
One Boat NetworkYesNo

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 ItemMinn KotaMotorGuide
Overall warranty periodsTwo- three Year Warranty depending on the trolling motorMotorGuide has a 2-Year warranty from the date of purchase
Warranty on shaftLifetime Warranty on Composite ShaftMotorGuide Composite Shaft Limited Lifetime Warranty
Warranty On accessoriesTwo-Year WarrantyMotorGuide has a 1-Year warranty from the date of purchase
2nd Owner transferWarranty 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

ModelNumber Of Freshwater ModelsNumber Of Saltwater ModelsTotal Fresh And Saltwater
Ultarra112
Ultrax101
PowerDrive112
Tarrova112
Pontoon Trolling Motor101
Fortrex112
Endura Max202
Edge101
Traxxis101
Maxxum112
Vantage101
Riptide Transom011

The Models Designed For Each Length Of Boat

Boat LengthsNumber Of Freshwater ModelsNumber Of Saltwater ModelsTotal Fresh And Saltwater
14 Feet12618
17 Feet12618
18 Feet12618
20 Feet12618
21 Feet12618
22 Feet10616
23 Feet10616
25 Feet6511

Total Number Of Minn Kota Models Overall

Number Of Freshwater ModelsNumber Of Saltwater ModelsTotal Fresh And Saltwater
17125

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

ModelNumber Of Freshwater ModelsNumber Of Saltwater ModelsTotal Fresh And Saltwater
 R3 8210
 X3 18220
 R5 325
 Xi3 19827
 Xi5 10818
 Tour 404
 Tour Pro 404

The Models Designed For Each Category Of Boat

Boats For Which The Motor Is DesignedNumber Of Fresh Water ModelsNumber Of Saltwater ModelsTotal Fresh And Saltwater
 Bass Boat 28028
 Bay Boat 077
 Center Console 077
 Deep-V Boat 28129
 Flats Boat 01111
 Jon Boat 29433
 Kayak 213
 Pontoon 404
 Skiff 01111

The totals exceed the number of models because many can be used on different boat types.

Total Number Of Models Overall

Number Of Freshwater ModelsNumber Of Saltwater  ModelsTotal Fresh And Saltwater
662288

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 MotorMinn KotaMotorGuide
 30 Lb 01
 40 Lb 02
 45 Lb 18
 54 Lb 01
 55 Lb 729
 68 Lb 01
 70 Lb 519
 80 Lb 49
 82 Lb 04
 105 Lb 38
 109 Lb 04

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 KotaMotorGuide
 Included 631
 Compatible 015

MotorGuide And Minn Kota With Sonar 

The number of trolling motors with a standard sonar capability is listed below.

Sonar System Includes In-Motor PackageMin KotaMotorGuide
 Included 512

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 PositionMin Kota MotorGuide 
Bow Mount1371
Transom Mount515

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 MethodMin KotaMotorGuide
 Foot 961
 Hand 1067
Electric70

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 TypeMinn KotaMotorGuide
Cable Steering419
Electric Steering843
Hand Steering1526

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 LengthsMin KotaMotorGuide
30″ – 36″616
42″ – 54″1756
60″ – 87″916

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 SizeMinn KotaMotorGuide
 12 volt743
 24 volt1033
 36 volt512

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.

I’m the founder and chief editor here at Kite Ship. The electrification of boating is the most exciting thing to happen to the marine industry in a generation! Welcome, and I hope that we can provide the portal you need to dive into the world of electric propulsion and power.