Minn Kota is one of the most well-known trolling motor brands.
If you’re in the market for a new trolling motor, chances are you may be considering various Minn Kota models along with the other trolling motors out there.
Since you’re reading this article, you may be considering the Maxxum and Edge models, in particular.
What are the differences between these two Minn Kota trolling motors? What are the voltage requirements of each, what are their biggest selling points, and how do they compare when you look at them side by side?
Glad you asked!
In this article, we’ll go in-depth as we consider the similarities and differences of Minn Kota’s Maxxum and Edge trolling motors.
Table of Contents
Direct Comparison
| Minn Kota Maxxum | Minn Kota Edge | |
| Mounting Style | Bow Mount | Bow Mount |
| Steering Type | Cable Steer | Cable Steer |
| Thrust (Pounds) | 55, 70, 80, 101 | 45, 55, 70 |
| Shaft Length (Inches) | 42, 52 | 36, 45, 52 |
| Control Type | Hand Tiller/ Foot Pedal | Hand Tiller/ Foot Pedal |
| Voltage | 12, 24, 36 | 12, 24 |
| Speeds | Variable Speed | 5-Speed |
The Voltage Requirement of a Minn Kota Maxxum
Before we dive into our side-by-side comparison of these two Minn Kota trolling motors, we need to spend a minute or two discussing voltage requirements. The voltage requirements will tell you what size batteries and how many you’ll need to operate each motor.
The Minn Kota Maxxum is available in a fairly wide range of thrust capacities. The 55-pound option is a 12V system, so it will require one 12-volt battery. Most of the other Maxxum models are 24V systems, so you will need two 12-volt batteries.
The largest Maxxum model, a 101-pound thrust unit, is available through some third-party sellers such as Great Lakes Skipper. It requires 36 volts, so you will most likely need to use three 12V batteries wired in series.
The Voltage Requirement of a Minn Kota Edge
The Minn Kota Edge is a smaller trolling motor than the Maxxum. It comes in three thrust options, with the smaller two being 12V systems. The largest thrust option, a 70-pound unit, requires 24 volts.
Again, you will most likely be using a 12V battery or, for the 24V motor, two 12V batteries wired in series.
Top Selling Points of Each Trolling Motor
Every trolling motor has its own unique set of features–those things that set it apart from the competition and can mean the difference between a casual glance and a sale.
What are those features when we look at the Maxxum? How about the Edge? What are the main selling points of these trolling motors?
1. Minn Kota Maxxum
Size
The Maxxum is a large trolling motor for medium and large boats. If you have a boat up to 25 feet long and 5,000 pounds fully loaded, the Maxxum will be the better choice for you.
Bowguard Breakaway Mount
The Maxxum’s unique breakaway mount will “break away” during an impact, then will automatically reset itself. This saves you time and hassle and helps protect both your boat and your trolling motor from damage.
Digital Maximizer
Maxxum’s Digital Maximizer allows you to set your exact speed rather than choosing from a range of options. This not only gives you more control over how fast you can go but also helps you conserve battery power by letting you go only as fast as you need to.
2. Minn Kota Edge
Latch and Door Mount
The Edge is known for having a convenient, space-saving mount. The “latch and door” mount style makes it super easy to install on almost any small boat. Once you’re ready to remove it for the winter or move it to a new boat, removing the mount is just as easy as installing it.
Power Prop
Some Edge models feature Minn Kota’s Power Prop, a 2-bladed propeller with a sharp, sleek design for cutting through thick water plants without becoming tangled. Though the Power Prop is sold separately as a replacement prop, it is preinstalled on the Edge 45 models.
Simplicity
For those who simply want a basic, easy-to-use trolling motor that will get the job done, the Edge is a great choice. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that come with other Minn Kota motors, but it doesn’t need them. It is a simple, quiet, cable steer motor.
Breaking it Down
Now we come to the meat of this article: our side-by-side comparison of Minn Kota’s Maxxum and Edge trolling motors. This comparison will help you understand how each motor performs against the other in several key areas.
Let’s get into it!
1. Power
Power is one of the most important considerations when you’re looking for a new trolling motor.
Larger boats will need more powerful trolling motors to get them through the water quickly and efficiently, while smaller boats need less powerful motors to keep them from shooting out of the water.
Let’s talk about the power capabilities of each of these trolling motors.
Minn Kota Maxxum
The Maxxum boasts a wide variety of power options so, regardless of the size of your boat, chances are, you’ll find a Maxxum model that can handle it.
The Maxxum is offered in four different thrust levels: 55, 70, 80, and 101 pounds. The 55-pound option will provide plenty of power for small and medium-sized boats, while the 101-pound option packs a big enough punch to move large boats through the water with ease.
Minn Kota’s motorheads are designed to run cool and quiet without skimping on the power capabilities. The Maxxum is one of Minn Kota’s most powerful cable steer motors, but it won’t excessively drain your battery and is quiet enough to let you sneak up on the fish.
Minn Kota Edge
The Edge doesn’t offer quite as many options, especially for large boats; however, it may be a more suitable choice for small and medium-sized boats.
The Edge comes in three thrust levels: 45, 55, and 70 pounds. The 45- and 55-pound options are great for small and medium-sized boats of various sizes and loads, while the 70-pound option will provide a decent amount of power for medium to large boats.
Like the Maxxum, the Edge has a cool, quiet motorhead that gets the job done, but it simply can’t provide the same level of power.
Winner: Minn Kota Maxxum
2. Size
Similar to power, size is an important consideration since different size boats will need different size trolling motors.
You may need a motor with a different shaft length depending on how high your boat sits above the water, and you might also like to know other specifications such as cable lengths, battery requirements, and shipping weight.
So, let’s take a look at the numbers.
Minn Kota Maxxum
The Maxxum has available shaft lengths of 42 and 52 inches. The smaller length will work best if your bow is 1 to 2 feet above the water, while the longer length will work best if your bow is 2 to 2 ½ feet above the water.
On foot pedal models, the cable that runs from the control head to the pedal is 5 feet long. Depending on the thrust level you buy, you will need to separately purchase between one and three 12V batteries to power the motor.
Shipping weight averages around 70 pounds but may be more or less depending on the specific model you choose.
Minn Kota Edge
The Edge is offered in three shaft lengths of 36, 45, and 52 inches. This means that, whether your bow is less than 10 inches or more than 25 inches from the waterline, you should be able to find an Edge model that will work for your boat.
As with the Maxxum, the foot pedal cable is 5 feet long. You will need either one or two 12V batteries to power the motor, depending on the thrust level of your particular motor.
The Edge is much lighter than the Maxxum, with a shipping weight of around 45 pounds. This lighter weight as well as the added shaft lengths makes this trolling motor easier to move and one of the top options available for a wider range of boats.
Winner: Minn Kota Edge
3. Durability
Trolling motors are generally built to last–you shouldn’t have to replace them every season or two. It’s important to investigate the materials used in the construction of the trolling motor to get a general idea about how durable it might be.
It’s also good to explore warranty information, as the warranty will help you understand how confident a company is in its product as well as what kind of help you can expect if the product fails within the warranty period.
Let’s consider the durability and warranty information for the Maxxum and the Edge.
Minn Kota Maxxum
Minn Kota’s heavy-duty composite shafts are guaranteed for life, no matter what model you purchase.
The Maxxum’s mount is made of anodized aluminum, so it is resistant to rust, damage, and UV exposure. The motorhead is cased in a composite material that protects it from any impacts, and the hardware is made from zinc and stainless steel.
The Maxxum comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty, though many Maxxum owners have stated that their trolling motor lasted for 5 or 6 years and was still going strong.
Minn Kota Edge
The Edge is just about as durable as the Maxxum. It also boasts the same indestructible, lifetime-guaranteed shaft and tough composite motorhead as the Maxxum.
The Edge’s mount is more compact than the Maxxum’s, but it is also built to last and constructed of anodized aluminum. The Edge’s hardware is mostly stainless steel and zinc.
The Edge also comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Winner: Tie
4. Functionality
You want a trolling motor that is functional, practical, and gets the job done–whatever that job may look like. A functional trolling motor will provide good value for the money, be easy to use, and will be considered the best option for certain users.
Let’s compare the functionality of the Maxxum and the Edge and discuss the ideal buyer for each one.
Minn Kota Maxxum
The Maxxum is one of the most functional cable-steer motors offered by Minn Kota. It is large enough to pull even large boats quietly through the water, and it is available with great add-on features such as the Digital Maximizer and the Bowguard mount.
The Maxxum is an exceptional product for the price and is backed up by warranties covering the shaft specifically as well as the overall product. Its main drawback is that it is fairly heavy.
The Maxxum is an ideal trolling motor for serious anglers with larger boats who frequently spend all day out on the water.
Minn Kota Edge
The Edge is also highly functional, as it will fit a greater variety of small and medium-sized boats. It is significantly less expensive than the Maxxum, but it is also a more simply-designed product that doesn’t come with the Digital Maximizer.
As with the Maxxum, the Edge is backed up by separate warranties for the shaft and the entire unit.
The Edge is an ideal trolling motor for a wide variety of anglers with smaller boats who enjoy having a simple, easy-to-use product.
Winner: Tie
5. Overall Design
Finally, the way a trolling motor is designed can have a big impact in terms of how easy it is to use and how well it works. Small details can sometimes make the biggest difference, so it’s important to look closely at the little things when shopping for a new trolling motor.
Let’s take a look at how well the Maxxum and the Edge are designed.
Minn Kota Maxxum
The Maxxum is designed with performance, durability, and ease of use in mind.
The Bowguard mount is one of Maxxum’s most obvious and unique design features. It is made to break loose from your boat on impact, then reset itself. That means the mount will separate from the bow without disconnecting, then reattach itself after the impact has passed.
The Digital Maximizer is another great design feature since it allows you to dial in the specific speed you want to travel. This helps you conserve battery power so you can be out on the water for much longer than you could with the typical 5-speed trolling motor.
On top of these great features, you get a product made of durable materials, a prop that can cut through thick underwater vegetation, a directional indicator that lights up so you know exactly what direction you’re heading in day or night, and a battery light indicator.
Minn Kota Edge
The Edge is also well-designed, but it doesn’t have the same great features as the Maxxum.
The Edge’s mount is small and compact, so it should be able to fit on your bow no matter how small a bow you have. The latch-and-door mount style makes it super easy to install and remove, while the motor’s relatively light weight makes it easy to stow and deploy.
Some Edge models also come with Power Prop propellers, which are even tougher than the usual propellers included with Minn Kota motors.
Winner: Minn Kota Maxxum
Final Recount
- Minn Kota Maxxum: 2 wins, 1 loss, 2 ties
- Minn Kota Edge: 1 win, 2 losses, 2 ties
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons | |
| Minn Kota Maxxum |
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| Minn Kota Edge |
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Final Verdict
Our overall winner is the Minn Kota Maxxum.
While both motors are quality products, we’ve selected the Maxxum as the winner because of its superior power capabilities and improved design features, both of which the Edge simply cannot compete with.
That said, both the Maxxum and the Edge are high-quality products from what is arguably the top trolling motor brand in the world.
Sarah Hood has been writing for Anchor Travel since 2021. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, singing, and spending time in the great outdoors.