Hi,
I'm thinking about buying an electric outboard. I've narrowed it down to two brands, (Bison 55 and Shakespeare 54).
I can't justify the extra cost for a Minn-Kota.
Would anyone happen to know if one is a better quality than the other? Price-wise there is very little difference.

TIA

how much can you get them for ? would a 2hp petrol be an alternative it,s something i am also going to by but i dont no wether to go for petrol or electric. any info apreciated thanks Alan

Hi Allan,
For around £150 you can buy a Bison 55/Shakespeare 54/Dawia54 Outboard. You then have to purchase a good " Deep Cycle" battery around another £90. Some fishings will only allow electric outboards to be used, the chances of water pollution are greatly reduced if using this type and that is my reason for buying the electric rather than a petrol driven one. As to which brand I'll eventually buy I'm unsure, I was hoping someone here might have some experience of them.

Hope this helps.

Just one thing to consider...I owned a Shakey electric outboard in the 1990s, when I did more reservoir boat fishing than I do now and the Farmoor boats didn't have outboards installed.

After only a few years and not excessive use, the damned thing caught fire in the middle of Blagdon. No lasting harm followed to me, my boat partner, the boat or the days' fishing, but the motor had to be thrown away.

You could buy a Shakey and have the same thing happen, or you could save up and buy a rather better Minn-Kota that gives you years of reliable service. Which one would be expensive and which one good value ?

__________________
"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

I have been known to wreck electric motors at a alarming rate !!! I have used the Shakespeare, Jarvis Walker, and a Bison, then I saw sense and got a Minn kota in order rated

1. Minn Kota
2. Shakespeare
3. JW
4. Bison

I took the Bison to be repaired at a Minn Kota dealer, He threw it in the Skip !!!

I couldn't agree less. I have a Motor guide 30lbs thrust (it's a shakey, a lot of them are the same motors with a different name on). It's faster than the minn kotas used where i fish, pulls a lot less from the battery and after 4 years has had nothing go wrong with it. The minn kotas are unjustifiably expensive, in my opinion, and the switches tend to go a lot quicker on them. Shakey is the best value for money by far.
Also, people abuse these things, and the batteries which shorten the life, i've found the shakeys to be able to put up with more sh*t than the minn kota.
Orange juice leisure batteries are 60ish 70 quid and very good if you can find them! again, mines been doing a lot of work for 4 years and still in great shape. But then i love my things.

Motorguide and Shakesphere are not even close to the same motor, at least not the ones they're selling here in the USA. Looking at them side by side, the Motorguides are quite obviously better built, the motors are larger for the same thrust rating, and you can see that the screws and fasteners are stainless steel on the Motorguide.

IMO the problems with switches on Minn Kotas are overblown. The switch is easily replaced, but I've fixed a "bad" switch with two sprays of electrical contact cleaner for a total cost of about $.04 as well. Personally, I think the problem is as much caused by the user as the switch, leaving the motor uncovered while trailering it and storing it outdoors might have more than something to do with the switch contacts becoming dirty.

Whether or not a Minn Kota is worth it depends entirely on the individual who's buying it. Personally, I fish for fun and when I go out to have fun I want my gear to work. I can easily justify a Minn Kota because I fish a lot and I use the electric for hours every time I'm in the boat and with largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing if the electric craps out on a big lake or river, it's game over and so much for a nice relaxing day of fishing.

Keep in mind, an electric outboard never dies in your driveway or garage. It dies when it's in use out on the water when you're trying to fish.

When you add up the price of a cheap electric + the cost of replacing it with a quality electric outboard when it inevitably craps out + the cost of lost fishing time, it brings me to the conclusion that this is one of those times where you should buy right and buy once.

Grouse

Looks like the Bisons just "bit the dust", It's begining to look like the Shakespeare is the favorite at my price.

Thanks to all who replied

Grouse,

i can't actually find my motor on the motorguide usa website, the ones on there look like they are built more as auxiliary motors for bass fishing petrol powered boats- although i don't know much about that, so not sure. But i can assure you mine is identical to other shakeys at my fishery, apart from the logo. not to say, of course, that newer motors by both companies are not similar. i do believe that knowing how to treat and maintiain the motor and battery you have is much more important than the manufacturer, though.

I did some checking and it looks like the Shakespeare brand has disappeared completely from the US market. They used to be carried by some discount chains like Walmart and Kmart, but no longer it looks.

The Motorguide motors available over here are priced in line with a comporable Minn Kota. If, indeed, one could be sure they were absolutely being re-badged as "Shakespeare" over there, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. I have my doubts, however, because the prices seem too low.

I agree, that taking care of the equipment is important, but I also think that electric outboards are a place where you are getting more by paying more. That's not to say that it necessarily matters, an angler that uses his electric outboard only 5-10 times a year and on small waters could well get by with a budget motor for quite some time.

But as an aside, I don't think it's ever a good idea to venture onto bigger, wind prone waters or an estuary with only an electric for power.

Grouse