MotorGuide bow mount hand control?

[zr7cat]

I just got my new MotorGuide catalog in the mail and was checking out this VariMax bow mount hand control unit. Any members have one of these. Thinking of getting a 55 lbs 12 volt 50" shaft for the grizzly 1448. Looks like it would be nice and keep the deck a bit cleaner. With the limited room on the front deck, the hand control seems like it would work well. Any thoughts. thanks I looked in the bass pro shops book, $419

 

[zr7cat]

I went to the Bass Pro shops the other day to look around and check out my Grizzly 1448 Im gonna get, man cant wait. I was looking at the Motorguide trolling motors and Im just going to go with the foot control.

 

[Waterwings]

Post some pics of the Grizzly when you get it! Just my personal preference, even though I have a hand-control tm on the rear of my boat, but I seem to be able to drive better using the front foot-control tm.

 

[dyeguy1212]

Don't get a varimax.. I had one and had some problems with it, and after I fixed it and sold it with my boat, I got a letter from MG saying theres a design flaw. Chances are they fixed it, but who knows if you'd get an older one or not.

 

[Nussy]

I have a Varimax 55 and it works great. I used on the bow of my 18 foot pontoon all summer and just put in on my 15' Tin Boat. The battery life is awesome. There is a recall on it for an electrical issue that I plan to have taken care of over the winter. It take a little while getting used to the push/pull reverse, but so far so good. I really like the battery monitor as well. Paid like $250 for it at Cabelas. I was actually able to get it to mount on the bow of my pontoon without any additional brackets which was a bonus.

 

[BassNBob]

Ihave a 50# Minn Kota on my 2000 14' Ultra Jon and I think it does great. I also added a momentary switch, extended handle and had a friend make me a bracket I drew up.