Motorguide Xi3 Kayak Trolling Motor Review: First Hand Experience

[@atlantafishing4316]

Flukemaster way of rigging it works well for me...simple and easy...love it especially I can use it both in my kayak and jon boat

[@KayakKid]

It’s on my list of upgrades for the future!

[@agonzalez8924]

ive done a little bit of kayak fishing, but its been awhile and im just now starting to come back to fishing and ive noticed that motorized kayak as taken over... on the issue of using trolling motor being too strong in calm water and scaring off fish when using autolock; i feel like the whole point of having a trolling motor is to fight the wind or current in busy water. if you're already in calm water and there is hardly no wind, this is already the ideal condition for kayak fishing. could always just drop an anchor or use a pole to lock in place. getting pushed around by wind or current has always been the drawback to kayak fishing, motor would fix that problem. but when neither wind or current is present, maybe just dont engage the motor.. just my 2 cents

[@KayakKid]

It’s still nice to have on a calm day to lock you in place on deeper brush piles. I still up a pole or anchor every now and then, but it's just something else to bring along!

[@timdoll6718]

I put this motor on the bow of my 106MK. Works great and I can now plow through heavy weeds.

[@KayakKid]

Nice! 👍🏼 I’m glad it worked out for you!

[@426thAirborne]

Good vid! I Just bought a 133x Ascend tournament package from Cabelas. Came with the XI3-55, paddle, gps/fishfinder combo with transducer, premium rod holder, duel YakAttack rails, all pre-wired for motor pigtail and multipe 12v accessory plugs + a USB. No rudder but i already ordered a kit. I havent even unboxed it yet but that'll happen this week. Idk how good the hull is on these Acends but for $2400 + tax i couldn't pass it up.

[@KayakKid]

That seems like a good deal! I haven’t been in the Acends much but the little bit I’ve around they seem pretty good!

[@426thAirborne]

@KayakKid did you find any good ideas to rig a system for deploying and retrieving the motor? I saw one that's basically a cord attached to the shaft for retrieving, then another cord ran to the peddle for releasing.. Iv never had a yak but all iv heard about the Acend is its very stable for marsh and inshore fishing, which is where we do most all fishing. Plus it's supposed a good entry level yak. 🤷‍♂️

[@MrScby11195]

I don’t know if they updated it or if it’s because I am a bigger guy but for me the spot lock in standing water with no wind works great very calm movements I have only had it go crazy fast once or twice

[@KayakKid]

Hmmm interesting! That could be it too! I’m definitely going to recalibrate it again to see if that helps.

[@nateitscake88]

Great video Wes, appreciate it. Have 3 questions for you if you don't mind answering. What size battery do you have? What's the longest amount of hours you been on the water for running the trolling motor? And would you find a power pole or rudder more handy for your current application and style of fishing? I would think the power pole would get more use than a rudder with the way you described the xi3 can troll down a bank side... Plus with what you stated about the random fast speeds while on spot lock or anchor mode. Thoughts?

[@KayakKid]

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words! 1. I just started running a 100ah Lithium and I’m really liking it but I ran a 35Ah AGM for several years. It just didn’t have enough juice. 2. I’ve ran it on high for well over 3 miles (on the 100Ah) then used it to fish for 3-4 hours and still had plenty of juice left over to fish another day. Most of my trips run 3-4 hours and I would have to charge the 35Ah after every trip but the 100Ah I’m getting 3-4 trips out of it. 3. I really only use the power pole in rivers now… spot lock has become my best friend in pretty much every depth. A rudder might be handy for making long runs and controlling your yak in the wind… I would lean towards a rudder with how I fish.

[@nateitscake88]

@@KayakKid Thank you!

[@KayakKid]

You’re welcome!

[@ninjarider84]

Ok ok so I was on a lake Saturday and my phone goes into roaming...country ass lake...how would that effect it if at all? Most of these lakes I fish don't have the best service phone wise due to them being away from civilization. And why did you not put it on the back? I have a catch mode 110, I can also stand up in it, it has a plastic bracket back there for a motor as well luckily.

[@KayakKid]

I’ve been in some pretty remote areas with it and I didn’t have any out of the ordinary issues with it. It uses satellites/Gps so cell towers nearby don't matter. It's designed for the front, I have another that mounts to the rear and I didn't like how it maneuvered as much as a bow mounted trolling motor. I don't think the xi3 would work very well mounted to the back of a yak.

[@bassfishingtactical3450]

Thanks for video. I’m thinking of getting this for my Jon boat. How long have you owned it and have you had any issues with it since posting the video?

[@KayakKid]

I’ve had it a few months now and have not had any problems! The only thing I would add is the lanyard doesn’t hold up because of the weird buckle they use.

[@LowellFrancisco]

Then don't use the spotlock when there's no wind or current.

[@KayakKid]

I might try that next time

[@mtnguyen1696]

did you get the 100ah yet? if yes, which one did you go with and happy with it?

[@KayakKid]

Yes, I've been running a LiTime 100aH battery for about 2 months, now. It's one of the cheapest on the market but so far I've been impressed with it. I can stay on the water all day and still have plenty of battery left over for a trip the next day.

[@ryanharrod1155]

When you hit spot lock do you sit completely still for the most part? I’m a catfish guy and wanted to know if I hit that spot lock can I cast baits on the bottom? Just think if it’s moving a lot I would snag up a lot more idk. Guess I could always just suspend the bait off the bottom.

[@KayakKid]

I use it for catfishing IF there is a little wind. If it’s dead calm it moves to much and I’m afraid I’d have a bunch of line wrapped around the prop.

[@AuburnMan]

I thought it had a self deploy feature?

[@KayakKid]

I wish! That’d be awesome! The only trolling motor I know that does that is the Minn Kota Ulterra and there’s no way one of those is fitting on the front of my kayak!

[@Bandit_X]

Have you figured out the over compensating issues?

[@KayakKid]

I have not… I try to set it on a lower speed and it works great with a little wind. The problem is still just on dead calm days

[@jeffreyau1286]

How do u deal with the weedy area. Using the paddle??????????? Or the motor can cut thought the weeds

[@KayakKid]

Yes I’ll pull it up and use a paddle if it’s really thick but so far it’s gotten me through the weeds pretty well!

[@freeagentangler5159]

Have had any issues with the 50 amp breaker yet. I'm debating on a 50 amp or 60 amp. I already have a 50 amp, do I need to go to the 60 ?

[@KayakKid]

The 50 has treated me well! I have yet to trip it but I haven’t got a bunch of weeds wound up in it either

[@freeagentangler5159]

@@KayakKid awesome! Thank you for the quick reply. I should have no problem on my lakes since we have very little vegetation.

[@Bierce88]

have you thought about switching to a two blade prop?

[@KayakKid]

Maybe just for curiosities sake but I’ve been pretty happy with the three blade!

[@mesa620]

Are you using your spot lock with a UHD 93 SV?

[@KayakKid]

No, I don’t have them connected but I run them at the same time!

[@anthonynoe532]

What size lithium battery would you recommend?

[@KayakKid]

At least a 50 amp hour battery but I plan to buy a 100 because I want to do long runs and use it all day without worrying about it dying.

[@anthonynoe532]

@@KayakKid Perfect! Thanks for the reply. I’ll go with the 100ah. Thanks.

[@KayakKid]

@@anthonynoe532 absolutely! They’re very pricey but you won’t have to worry about getting stranded

[@anthonynoe532]

Great video! Keep ‘em coming.

[@Captain_Kdawg]

@@KayakKid have you ever ran out of battery with that 50 on the xi3?

[@ELECTRICEYE1776]

What amp fuse do you need for this?

[@KayakKid]

I use a 50 amp circuit breaker that way I can easily reset it on the water

[@minwootc]

Could you mount this on the back of a kayak?

[@KayakKid]

I don’t think so… I’m sure someone has done it but I think it would require a DIY bracket/ modifications to the kayak.

[@islandhoppersales5309]

@@KayakKid You can't, Spot lock will pull you backwards and spin you around like a bad dream.

[@PeterRanieriII]

@@islandhoppersales5309 are you sure of this? if you keep rudder straight, shouldt it be similar to the way it pulls the bow?

[@islandhoppersales5309]

@@PeterRanieriII Hi Peter, I am 100% sure. I owned one, and got rid of it for 1/2 of what I paid at Bass Pro. I had no luck with it, and wasted so much time with M.G techs and my own time trying to replace GPS module, Control board and still issues. It would not stay anchored long and it would freeze, at times for no reason it would takes off on its own at full throttle.

[@PeterRanieriII]

@@islandhoppersales5309 I appreciate you sharing. I really wanted to try and mount the xi3 motorguide on the stern of a kayak and use it for propulsion assistance while pedaling and then when I get to the fishing spot be able to use spot lock. But I’m thankful you shared your experience. You think I would have the same issue with that motor?

[@haciendadad]

How do you handle approaching the launching ramp? I'm sure you have to pull it up, do you have to walk to the bow and disengage it? That would be hairy to me.

[@KayakKid]

Yes, the unlimited is stable enough for me to do that but I’ve seen @flukemaster rig a pull cord that allows him to lift it from his seat.

[@KayakKid]

This is the video I’m referencing- kzbin.info/www/bejne/fajPfqh7mLWmirM

[@timmayo]

Bro, owner of a Nucanoe Unlimited & an Xi3 with spot lock. It is absolutely money. Spot lock is a GAME CHANGER. Still working on my fish finder though.

[@KayakKid]

Glad you love it! It’s sure changed the way I fish out of a yak!

[@Chase-fd4ok]

Can you use spot lock and other features without having it connected to your fish finder?

[@KayakKid]

Yep! I’ve never connected it to my fish finder

[@Chase-fd4ok]

Nice! I’m sold going to buy one and put it on my old town sportsman bigwater PDL 132.

[@ikerapt6702]

how many miles do you think this could go on a 100ah battery? i have always used a paddle and have gone as far as 2 or 3 miles one way. just want to make sure it would have range so it doesnt die when im 4 miles out?

[@KayakKid]

I've never run a 100Ah battery down, even after multiple days in a row on the water. One day, I trolled with a 50Ah battery in my kayak for 6-8 miles, so you'll have plenty of juice to run 4 miles.

[@Mrmaintenance210]

Thanks for the video, very helpful. I just ordered one and now looking for a battery. May i ask what kind you're running yours on

[@KayakKid]

Absolutely! I’ve ran several batteries with it and so far my favorite is a 100Ah lithium ion battery. They’re expensive but worth the investment if you plan to fish multiple days in a row. But you could get by with a 50Ah-75Ah on day trips. Dakota Lithium is one of the first brands I would recommend (also one of the most expensive.) I have also tested LiTime and GoldenMate and had favorable results with them so far.

[@brittanyjones4182]

How did you mount your trolling motor? Looks like you had just enough room for the mount, did you all the hardware that came with the mount?

[@KayakKid]

I bought the Unlimited bow mounting bracket for the Xi3! It replaces the front handle but makes for super easy removal of the trolling motor when I’m transporting it. I’m pretty sure I used all the hardware that came with it, I might have had a bolt or some washers left over though