MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

[Wee Hooker]

Looking to upgrade my transom mount TM. The Traxxis advertises one hand stowage (which is a feature that is long overdue IMHO). Anyone try this particular series TM? If so, how would you rate the mount and stow system for function and ease of use?
Thanks in advance!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

I bought one last week, but haven't had a chance to use it on the water. The one handed stow is accomplished with angled slots (instead of the normal square cut slots) that the tilt pin rests in, pull the head forward and the pin rides up out of the slots and forward. From the limited times I have used it it works well. If you want to pull the motor up quietly, you will still need to use 2 hands as the tilt pin snaps back into the grooves making a loud ratcheting sound.

First impressions on the trolling motor are good and I really like the improvements made. But, on my aluminum jon boat the motor is very noisy, a lot noisier than my old Endura. If I can't get the loud growling noise solved (noise being transmitted through the hull) the motor is going back to the store.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

Thanks for the reply. Helpful for sure! Lots of mixed reviews on the mount/bracket on the net though. Guess I'm going to have to go see one myself.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

The mounting bracket and adjustments seem fine for my uses, though I only have the 55# Traxxis and not in a big boat fighting rough water. Honestly, the Tmotor seems like it's really nice,,, but...

I'm taking mine back since it's very noise compared to my old 40# Endura. I bought the Traxxis variable speed for the infinite speed adjustments (reduced power consumption being a bonus) but I can't handle how noisy the motor is. I played around for 4-5 hours today trying to isolate the Tmotor noise from the aluminum hull and found something that worked, but it was hideous and not very secure, so it's going back to the store.

If I had bought the 5-speed Traxxis I think I would have been a happy camper, but I didn't need another Tmotor, just wanted the variable speed.

 

[dakota22]

Re: MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

The mounting bracket and adjustments seem fine for my uses, though I only have the 55# Traxxis and not in a big boat fighting rough water. Honestly, the Tmotor seems like it's really nice,,, but...

I'm taking mine back since it's very noise compared to my old 40# Endura. I bought the Traxxis variable speed for the infinite speed adjustments (reduced power consumption being a bonus) but I can't handle how noisy the motor is. I played around for 4-5 hours today trying to isolate the Tmotor noise from the aluminum hull and found something that worked, but it was hideous and not very secure, so it's going back to the store.

If I had bought the 5-speed Traxxis I think I would have been a happy camper, but I didn't need another Tmotor, just wanted the variable speed.

Like you I like the idea of the variable speed and battery efficiency. I have the Lowe Boat and also a 12 ft Sea Nymph. My problem the Lowe has a 20 in transom and the Sea Nymph a 15 in transom. What was the transom on your aluminum hull and what size shaft did you go with. My 55 # thrust bow motorguide gives me good efficiency/works good on the Lowe.Like the idea of the transom mount for a safty backup and to switch off occasionly. Were you going to use the Traxxis with your Crestliner. Do you think the noise issue is due to the lighter boat and mount and vibration or is noise within the troll motor itself or like you say maybe you just couldnt determine ? I was thinking the 42 in shaft minimum for the Lowe thinking I could use it on the Sea Nymph on occassion which I dont often use. Any thoughts. Sure have been some mixed reviews thru Cabelas and Bass Pro shop. I may have to look at an Endura and keep it simple.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

The transom on my jon boat is 15". The Crestliner is an I/O and it's transom is something like 25", but I have a kicker motor bracket I was going to use for the trolling motor,,, or the jon boat's outboard, which ever I wanted to use on the Crestliner. I have a MotorGuide 70# bow mount on the Crestliner, but wanted the option of having the transom mount too.

I had a 42" 55# Traxxis and it looked like it would have worked nice on my jon boat, tilt up while standing, tilt down while sitting. I have a 36" on there right now and it works fine, but I wanted the longer shaft motor so I could use it on both boats.

The problem I ran into with the Traxxis (digital version) is the motor had a strong vibration that was being transmitted through the mount bracket and to the hull,,, at the speed where I would be trolling. At dead slow and wide open the Traxxis was just as quiet as the Endura, if not quieter. The Traxxis (digital version) vibrated harder than then Endura, but the main problem was the thin hull of my jon boat transmitting and amplifying the noise. I think the motor was hitting the resonant frequency of the hull and causing the hull to make the loud growling noise. I don't think I would have experienced this on my Crestliner, but don't know as I didn't mount it on there,,, kicker bracket is not installed yet.

I didn't need a new trolling motor, just wanted the digital technology for battery efficiency. If I needed a new Tmotor I would have bought the Traxxis SC (old style speed coil) as it "should" be as quiet at the Endura, but have all the cool new features of the Traxxis line. If noise isn't a concern, go with the Digital Maximizer version. I couldn't have the extra noise as the fish I'm after are very spookey.

BTW, I did return the Traxxis55 (digital version) to BPS. They said they have a new policy about returning electronics and in the future I wouldn't be able to return something like this... They let me return it anyway since I bought it before they started enforcing the policy.

 

[dakota22]

Re: MK Traxxis Trolling motor opinions

The transom on my jon boat is 15". The Crestliner is an I/O and it's transom is something like 25", but I have a kicker motor bracket I was going to use for the trolling motor,,, or the jon boat's outboard, which ever I wanted to use on the Crestliner. I have a MotorGuide 70# bow mount on the Crestliner, but wanted the option of having the transom mount too.

I had a 42" 55# Traxxis and it looked like it would have worked nice on my jon boat, tilt up while standing, tilt down while sitting. I have a 36" on there right now and it works fine, but I wanted the longer shaft motor so I could use it on both boats.

The problem I ran into with the Traxxis (digital version) is the motor had a strong vibration that was being transmitted through the mount bracket and to the hull,,, at the speed where I would be trolling. At dead slow and wide open the Traxxis was just as quiet as the Endura, if not quieter. The Traxxis (digital version) vibrated harder than then Endura, but the main problem was the thin hull of my jon boat transmitting and amplifying the noise. I think the motor was hitting the resonant frequency of the hull and causing the hull to make the loud growling noise. I don't think I would have experienced this on my Crestliner, but don't know as I didn't mount it on there,,, kicker bracket is not installed yet.

I didn't need a new trolling motor, just wanted the digital technology for battery efficiency. If I needed a new Tmotor I would have bought the Traxxis SC (old style speed coil) as it "should" be as quiet at the Endura, but have all the cool new features of the Traxxis line. If noise isn't a concern, go with the Digital Maximizer version. I couldn't have the extra noise as the fish I'm after are very spookey.

BTW, I did return the Traxxis55 (digital version) to BPS. They said they have a new policy about returning electronics and in the future I wouldn't be able to return something like this... They let me return it anyway since I bought it before they started enforcing the policy.

Txs I note Traxxis 55 SC doesnt come with 42 in shaft. My only option then would be digital 42. Keeping Wee Hookers thread on target maybe there will be some more replies from those with the new Traxxis and their opinions.