TarponRod Posted November 9, 2020 Report Share Posted November 9, 2020 I am looking to buy a new trolling motor for my 16' Bayfisher. Probably going to stick with a 12V bow mount tiller. The reviews for both Minn Kota and Motorguide are pretty bad anybody had luck with either one? I wish Rhodan had a basic tiller model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamaskeet Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 Nobody makes a bullet proof trolling motor. Buy the one you can get good local service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplec Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 As Bama says. Personally I would never go back to tiller and run the Rhodan. Their remote is so small its so darn handy. I have friends with both MK and MG tillers and both cant wait for them to die. I bet you someone has a deal on one new or used as they cant be too popular these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 I ran a 12v minnkota riptide with the tiller handle for 3 years and no issues on my last boat. Im going to stick with Minn Kota for that reason. That said, you might be a little underpowered in some situations with the 12v on your boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 Most reliable option is a push pole. on the rare occasion I use it i have a minnkota Fortrex tiller, it’s been reliable And anytime I needed a part it was easily available. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 My tiller was ( I still have it just do not use it ) a Motor Guide Riptide. Tillers are so simple and reliable that I would shop price, fit and availability over manufacture. Either company makes a good tiller steer and I do not anticipate you having to deal with either ones support. None of my Tillers ever gave me any problems. Now these GPS remotes steers are another story. I have now owned all three manufactures. I currently have a Rhodan and it has been the best overall so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaco2 Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 had a minn kota, it was loud, switched to mg, both tiller,never looked back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaco2 Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 you should definately go 24v,more is better 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DavidG Posted November 11, 2020 Report Share Posted November 11, 2020 Customer service is 100% with Minn Kota! Just my opinion.....David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCTribute Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 Interesting answers here. Motor Guide Riptide? Must be a hybrid. A deal on new or used non-Rhodan? They are back ordered and hard to find now. And the guys who have them waiting for it to die to get a Rhodan? Why are they waiting so long if they are so bad? We live in the age of misinformation. Get what suits your budget and is available, having a good local service center is good advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 I’ve had 20 years of 100% satisfaction with Minn Kota ...currently have a 36V 112 lb I Pilot on my Pathfinder and so far in 5 years had no issues and it gets used at least 4 times a month. Before that I had the 24 V 80 lb and had no issues. I have two small tiller 30 lb and 45 lb on Jon boats and the granddaughters run the heck out of them and I’ve had no problems. Minn Kota has excellent customer service if you have questions when you first install. ( like I did when I switched from tiller to I pilot ) I had the learning curve for spot lock...but once I called them...I’m darn near a pro with that spot lock now. 😎🎣⚓️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennF Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 For me it's Rhodan. Made right here in Sarasota and when I saw all other brands stacked up waiting to be sent out for repairs it was a no-brainer for me. just my 2 cents 24V, remote control and 3 bladed prop vs 2 on competitors plus a ram mount for trailering 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 On 11/10/2020 at 6:10 AM, Bamaskeet said: Nobody makes a bullet proof trolling motor. Buy the one you can get good local service. I agree. My most recent trolling motor was a Rhodan. It seemed well made, but the GPS anchor feature let me down a few times, and it was more noisy than I thought it should be. On the next boat, I am seriously considering keeping it simple, with a Minn Kota Fortrex tiller. A simple and quick directional adjustment with tiller is easier than fumbling around pushing buttons on a small remote, that many times over-steers, requiring you to push the opposite directional button to correct. If you really need the GPS anchor feature (Spot-Lock), then go ahead and spend $1,000 more and get it. Just my 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 I wish I loved my Rhodan. Buy the Minn Kota 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 On 11/9/2020 at 6:47 PM, TarponRod said: I am looking to buy a new trolling motor for my 16' Bayfisher. Probably going to stick with a 12V bow mount tiller. The reviews for both Minn Kota and Motorguide are pretty bad anybody had luck with either one? I wish Rhodan had a basic tiller model. He is asking about Tiller steers for a 16 ft Bayfisher. I prefer the Minn Kota Riptide bow mount Tiller. It Served me well and I still have it. I have even spent a few hours contemplating how I could set it up to run on my Xi5/Rhodan mount. I just have not been able to visualize it yet. If I could work that out I would have all my situations covered. Minn Kota RipTide Tiller steer bow mount review......Good. strong, quiet, well built, ( handle was a little weak but I have an extender mounted to the shaft) MotorGuide bow mount Tiller steer Good, Minn Kota is better, My Experience. 1 hour ago, HoneyB said: I wish I loved my Rhodan. Buy the Minn Kota Sorry you do not like your Rhodan. My MG XI5 is hands down better than my Minn Kota I Pilot, better built, much quieter, more precise. If I go away from my Rhodan I will go back to MG XI5. My Rhodan is leaps and bounds better "built" that my MG or the MK. The board, connectors just everything is much better. The weak spot is the transmission. It is course and weaker. The motor is much larger and it is louder than my Xi5. The positive is The Anchor Lock, Track and Route Modes are MUCH BETTER, it is faster and the Support is awesome. I worked with MG ( mercury ) support for weeks and never got a resolution for the problems with my Xi5. Only the GPS functions are a problem. That being said I LOVE my XI5 when it is working. It "WAS" good enough on anchor lock and super stealthy while running manually, The remote is precise and the Transmission is fine and very quite. I literally ran Snook over buzzing shorelines. I still use it when I run banks with no plan to anchor lock. It Bank Fishes extremely well. If I am outside and or am planning to anchor Lock I run the Rhodan. I sold the Minn Kota Ulterra I Pilot. I am told they are now better but I am not Convinced. I think right now the point is pointless.... Looks like all of them are Out Of Stock....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 20 hours ago, NCTribute said: Interesting answers here. Motor Guide Riptide? Must be a hybrid. A deal on new or used non-Rhodan? They are back ordered and hard to find now. And the guys who have them waiting for it to die to get a Rhodan? Why are they waiting so long if they are so bad? We live in the age of misinformation. Get what suits your budget and is available, having a good local service center is good advice. You are Right, I miss typed MotorGuide Riptide, I stand corrected. See my post above. I have owned a bunch of them and still own three of different manufactures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted November 12, 2020 Report Share Posted November 12, 2020 You are going to be fine with whichever you choose....the technology changes every year anyway....they all have good and bad that everyone is willing to share ....the main thing is get what you can afford and go fishing. 🎣⚓️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted November 13, 2020 Report Share Posted November 13, 2020 3 hours ago, jh141 said: He is asking about Tiller steers for a 16 ft Bayfisher. I prefer the Minn Kota Riptide bow mount Tiller. It Served me well and I still have it. I have even spent a few hours contemplating how I could set it up to run on my Xi5/Rhodan mount. I just have not been able to visualize it yet. If I could work that out I would have all my situations covered. Minn Kota RipTide Tiller steer bow mount review......Good. strong, quiet, well built, ( handle was a little weak but I have an extender mounted to the shaft) MotorGuide bow mount Tiller steer Good, Minn Kota is better, My Experience. Sorry you do not like your Rhodan. My MG XI5 is hands down better than my Minn Kota I Pilot, better built, much quieter, more precise. If I go away from my Rhodan I will go back to MG XI5. My Rhodan is leaps and bounds better "built" that my MG or the MK. The board, connectors just everything is much better. The weak spot is the transmission. It is course and weaker. The motor is much larger and it is louder than my Xi5. The positive is The Anchor Lock, Track and Route Modes are MUCH BETTER, it is faster and the Support is awesome. I worked with MG ( mercury ) support for weeks and never got a resolution for the problems with my Xi5. Only the GPS functions are a problem. That being said I LOVE my XI5 when it is working. It "WAS" good enough on anchor lock and super stealthy while running manually, The remote is precise and the Transmission is fine and very quite. I literally ran Snook over buzzing shorelines. I still use it when I run banks with no plan to anchor lock. It Bank Fishes extremely well. If I am outside and or am planning to anchor Lock I run the Rhodan. I sold the Minn Kota Ulterra I Pilot. I am told they are now better but I am not Convinced. I think right now the point is pointless.... Looks like all of them are Out Of Stock....... Are these the same thrust motors? Big difference in props between brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted November 13, 2020 Report Share Posted November 13, 2020 They are both 36 volt. The MotorGuide Xi5 says its 105 # thrust. The Rhodan is said to be 120 # thrust. There are two and three blade props made from different materials available for the Xi5. I have tried most of them. The Rhodan has only one prop, the three blade thats on it. The Rhodan is a bigger motor and prop. I also have a 24 foot Stiffy Hybrid and a removeable 36 inch tall platform. Poling my 22' TRS is hard.......LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted November 13, 2020 Report Share Posted November 13, 2020 Either one. The one with the closet service shop. Both = imo. Tiller but would go 24v. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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