The MotorGuide X3 is a hard motor to review because it’s not 1 motor—it’s 12 different models in a single line designed by MotorGuide. These models each have different shaft lengths, thrusts, speed controls, and features.
Here at Fish Finder Tech, we never back away from a challenge, whether we’re wrestling with a trophy pike or wrestling with a way to write about 12 different motors under one brand name. In our technical specifications table (below), you’ll find a summary of all the variations you can find in thrust, shaft length, and more. As we continue with our review, you’ll learn about the different features on each model.
One thing we like about the X3 line is that there’s something for almost anyone—and all of these motors are well-built and reasonably priced. There are even saltwater motors—but we decided that went beyond the scope of this review, so we’re just tackling the freshwater models today.
12 motors in one—here’s our MotorGuide X3 review!
| Water Compatibility | Freshwater |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 45 lbs / 55 lbs / 70 lbs |
| Voltage | 12 V / 24 V |
| Speed Control | 5 forward, 2 reverse / 5-speed/variable |
| Control Type | Hand, foot |
| Mount Type | Bow, pontoon |
| Shaft Length | 36”, 45”, 50” |
| Shaft Material | Stainless steel, composite |
| Propeller Type | 2-blade / 3-blade |
| Battery Capacity | Variable |
| Maximum Amp Draw | Variable |
| Warranty | 2-year limited warranty |
| Spot Lock | No |
| Fish Finder Connectivity | No |
Depending on the model you choose, your MotorGuide X3 trolling motor will come with either a traditional bow-mounting bracket or a pontoon-mounting bracket. These brackets are incredibly sturdy, and we’ve had no issues even when running the motors at their highest speeds.
The MotorGuide X3 comes with everything you need to bow-mount your motor. As with any motor installation, the process is complex—you’ll need to be handy, and have the tools needed for drilling holes into your boat, then sealing it. You’ll also need to know how to wire batteries with circuit breakers to your motor and (optimally) have a clean, isolated place to run those wires.
We’re big believers in “show, don’t tell” when it comes to motor installation, so we encourage you to take a look at this video by ScottMcGehee for a great look at how to secure the mounting bracket and get your MotorGuide X3 installed on your boat. We also highly recommend you look at the owner’s manual provided on MotorGuide’s owner resources page for a better look at how to wire the motor.
The composite locking pins help the motor stay in one place with little noise or vibration—some earlier models had weaker plastic pins, and at higher speeds, vibrations could cause a bit more shakiness than we’d like. The newer composite locking pins are sturdier and keep your motor secure whether it’s stowed or deployed.
All in all, we found the installation of both the pontoon and traditional bow-mount motors fairly simple—if you’ve installed a bow-mounted trolling motor before, this should be no problem for you. If you haven’t—well, you can always ask for help at your local marine shop.
The MotorGuide X3 works quite differently depending on which model you get—the foot pedal model or the hand-tiller model. We prefer the foot pedal model, but let’s take a look at the differences between the two and how they affect usage:
Here are a couple of the features you should know about the foot pedal models:
These models feature a switch to the side of the foot pedal to adjust the speed—you can move this switch with your hand or foot. We found it a little tricky to get precise control with our feet, but we learned over time (and so can you). There’s also a switch to momentarily move at a designated speed. Once you’ve mastered controlling the motor using only the foot pedal, you can free up your hands for more important things (namely, catching fish).
The hand-steered model features a telescopic twist-tiller handle to steer—you can also rotate the tiller forward or backwards for forward and reverse speeds. You can choose between 5 forward, 2 reverse speed models, and digital variable speed models.
We prefer foot-pedal models because we want as many hands free for fishing as possible, but any one of the hand-tiller models still makes for an excellent bow mount trolling motor.
All of the models of the X3 we’ve tried have been incredibly easy to use—the only thing that takes some getting used to is steering with the ultra-precise foot pedal controls.
The motors (both 2-blade and 3-blade varieties) do a great job of getting through weeds. They feature stainless steel bushings and run very quietly—even at their highest speeds. Obviously, we want to avoid scaring fish, so a quiet bow-mount trolling motor is a must for us—the MotorGuide X3 trolling motor meets our needs.
We favor the digital models for a couple of reasons. First, they come with LED battery indicators—it’s important to know when you’re running out of juice. Secondly, variable speed control gives us much better maneuverability—we can match our trolling speed to the habits of the fish we’re trying to catch. You can get the digital model whether you’re choosing hand or foot controls—we highly recommend it.
The MotorGuide X3 trolling motor is one of the best bow-mount trolling motors on the market for its price. While it lacks features like Spot-Lock, it has some of the best steering available on the market. The rugged composite shaft, with its stainless steel outer shaft, is durably constructed. The mounting bracket included with the motor is sturdy and relatively easy to mount.
It’s easy to learn how to use the MotorGuide X3, and though steering with the foot pedal can take a bit of getting used to, it’s well worth the effort.
There’s a model of the MotorGuide X3 trolling motor for just about anyone with a small to medium-sized vessel. With variable shaft lengths featuring the new composite locking pins, it’s easy to keep the motor at the exact depth you want without too many vibrations.
We have heard from some other anglers that, at high speeds, some models tend to vibrate a bit more than they’d like. We’ve also heard some complaints about plastic washers and other internal components. Finally, the motor is pretty heavy (most models weigh around 50 lbs), and moving it in and out of the water can be a bit tricky without any kind of lift assist.
All in all, while the MotorGuide X3 has some problems, it’s a well-built, affordable, precise, and powerful bow-mount trolling motor—if you’ve been looking to get one without breaking the bank, this model might be perfect for you.
The motor doesn’t come with a battery, so this depends on a number of different factors:
The max draw on these units varies but typically falls at around 50 Ah. This means that with a 12 V, 50 A battery, you can expect your motor to last about an hour if you’re using it at max capacity for the entire hour.
Use a 12 V battery (or two 12 V batteries in a circuit for the 70 lbs model). Choose a deep-cycle marine battery—typically, you’ll want to choose one that offers between 50 Ah and 100 Ah, erring higher the longer you expect to be out on the water.
The MotorGuide X3 trolling motor comes with a mounting kit.
This motor performs quite well in wind or chop, with the more powerful motors performing better. The stability of the shaft and the mounting bracket keep wind and chop from shaking the motor too much. Remember that the motor may draw more power in wind and/or chop.
