remote control vs. foot pedal trolling motors buying guide

Point-and-go steering, or direct cable feedback under your foot

Two ways to steer a trolling motor -- your foot, or a handheld remote

A cable-steer foot pedal gives direct mechanical feedback with nothing to charge; a wireless remote frees up deck space and adds gesture steering, at the cost of a battery that can die mid-trip. Here's how the top 2026 picks in each style compare.

Compare remote vs. foot pedal control

Quick answer: Our top pick for remote control vs. foot pedal trolling motors is the Minn Kota PowerDrive 55 Trolling Motor (Foot Pedal) (Best Cable-Steer Foot Pedal). If you're looking for best handheld remote, the MotorGuide Xi5 Wireless Trolling Motor is a strong alternative.

The steering method changes how the motor feels to use, not just what's on deck

Reviewed by the TrollCove team · last updated 2026-08-31

A cable-steer foot pedal, like the corded PowerDrive 55, wires directly to the motor's steering mechanism -- you feel exactly where the prop is pointed through the pedal itself, and there's no remote battery to die mid-trip. The tradeoff is a pedal and cable taking up deck space, and it ties your steering input to wherever the pedal is bolted down.

A handheld remote, like the MotorGuide Xi5's FOB, lets you steer from anywhere in the boat -- useful if you move around while fishing rather than standing at a fixed spot. Some remote-based motors, including the Xi5, also offer an optional wireless foot pedal, but that's a different mechanism than a cable-steer pedal and owner reports note it can lag behind quick directional changes.

The Garmin Force Kraken splits the difference: a wireless remote as the primary control, with a foot pedal still available to pair if you want the option, plus app and smartwatch control layered on top. If you want one motor that doesn't force the choice, that flexibility is what you're paying the premium for.

Cable-steer beats wireless for raw responsiveness

A corded foot pedal steers through a physical cable, so there's no signal lag or battery to fail -- the tradeoff is a pedal and cord across your deck instead of a pocket-sized remote.

A wireless foot pedal isn't the same as a cable one

Some remote-control motors also sell a wireless foot pedal as an add-on. It frees up cable clutter but adds its own battery and pairing dependency, and owner reports on the MotorGuide Xi5's version note slower response to quick heel/toe input than a corded pedal.

Hybrid motors let you decide later

A motor that supports both a wireless remote and an optional foot pedal, like the Garmin Force Kraken, means you're not locked into one control style at purchase -- useful if you're not sure yet which you'll prefer on the water.

Product Best For Price Rating
Minn Kota PowerDrive 55 Trolling Motor (Foot Pedal) Best Cable-Steer Foot Pedal $850 - $950 4.6/5
MotorGuide Xi5 Wireless Trolling Motor Best Handheld Remote $1,250 - $1,600 4.6/5
Garmin Force Kraken 63" Trolling Motor Best Hybrid Remote + Pedal $3,600 - $3,800 4.8/5
Best Cable-Steer Foot Pedal

Minn Kota PowerDrive 55 Trolling Motor (Foot Pedal)

★★★★★ 4.6

The corded foot-pedal configuration of the PowerDrive 55, with a waterproof pedal on an 18-foot cable that steers the motor directly -- no pairing, no remote battery, and steering feedback you can feel through your foot.

  • Direct cable steering with no remote battery to charge or lose signal
  • Hands stay free for casting once your foot is on the pedal
  • The pedal and its 18ft cable add clutter across the deck
  • Not available in the same box as the GPS-enabled models -- you pick pedal or remote at purchase
$850 - $950 View on Amazon
Best Handheld Remote

MotorGuide Xi5 Wireless Trolling Motor

★★★★★ 4.6

Ships with a 2.4GHz handheld remote FOB (single AAA battery, roughly 20 hours of runtime) that controls speed and direction from anywhere in the boat, plus wireless Pinpoint GPS anchor mode built around that same remote.

  • Steer from any seat in the boat, not just standing over a deck pedal
  • Up to 40 remotes or pedals can be paired to one motor
  • MotorGuide also sells an optional wireless foot pedal for the Xi5, but owner reports flag it as noticeably less responsive than a cable-steer pedal
  • A dead AAA battery mid-trip means switching to backup control
$1,250 - $1,600 View on Amazon
Best Hybrid Remote + Pedal

Garmin Force Kraken 63" Trolling Motor

★★★★★ 4.8

Includes a floating wireless remote with a color screen and point-and-go gesture steering, while still supporting an optional foot pedal pairing -- plus app and compatible-smartwatch control for anglers who want a third option.

  • Gesture steering plus an optional foot pedal covers both control styles on one motor
  • The remote floats, so dropping it overboard isn't a lost-control emergency
  • Highest price of any option in this comparison by a wide margin
  • Two connected remotes max, fewer than the Xi5's pairing limit
$3,600 - $3,800 View on Amazon
⚡ Limited-time perk

Free two-day delivery on your pick

Get your trolling motor in two days -- try Amazon Prime free for 30 days.

Try Prime free for 30 days

Sponsored link -- we may earn a fee if you sign up. No extra cost to you.

Which one should you get?

You want the most reliable, lowest-maintenance steering

A corded foot pedal like the PowerDrive 55's has no battery to charge and no wireless signal to lose -- it's the simplest mechanism to trust on a long day out.

You move around the boat a lot while fishing

The MotorGuide Xi5's handheld remote steers from wherever you're standing, not just from over a fixed pedal position.

You don't want to commit to one control style

The Garmin Force Kraken supports both a wireless remote and an optional pedal on the same motor, at a real price premium for that flexibility.

More Boat Fishing Electronics

Fish Finders

Know where to point the trolling motor before you drop a line

Marine & Trolling Motor Batteries

Power the motor through a full day on the water

Kayak Trolling Motors

A boat-sized trolling motor will overload a kayak hull -- these are sized and mounted for paddle craft

Bow-Mount Trolling Motors (vs. Transom-Mount)

Pull from the front for precision, or push from the stern for simplicity

Cheap Trolling Motors (Under $400)

You don't need a $1,200+ GPS system to get reliable, quiet electric power on the water

Quietest Trolling Motors

Brushless motors that won't spook fish in shallow water

Trolling Motors for Pontoon Boats

Pontoons are heavier and mount differently than a bass boat -- here's what actually works

12V Trolling Motors (vs. 24V/36V)

More volts means more thrust -- but also more batteries, weight, and cost

When to Buy a Trolling Motor for the Best Price

Trolling motors don't discount often -- here's when they actually do

Saltwater Trolling Motors

Corrosion resistance isn't optional once you leave fresh water

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a wireless remote actually less reliable than a foot pedal?

For steering responsiveness, a corded pedal generally wins -- it's a direct mechanical link with nothing to pair or recharge. A handheld remote adds convenience (steer from anywhere, hands free of a deck cable) but depends on a battery and a wireless connection, which is one more thing that can fail mid-trip.

Can I get a wireless foot pedal instead of a handheld remote?

Yes, on some motors -- MotorGuide sells one as an add-on for the Xi5, for example. It's still wireless (battery-powered, pairs to the motor) rather than cable-steer, and owner reports describe it as less crisp on quick directional changes than a traditional corded pedal.

Do all remote-control trolling motors also support a foot pedal?

No. Some, like the corded PowerDrive 55 in this comparison, ship as pedal-only or remote-only depending on the specific model you order. Others, like the Garmin Force Kraken, are built to support both a wireless remote and an optional pedal on the same motor.

Does gesture steering on a remote actually work well in practice?

It's a real feature on motors like the Garmin Force Kraken -- point the remote in a direction and the motor turns that way -- but it's still a wireless input, so it inherits the same battery and range considerations as any remote control, just with a different steering interface than simple directional buttons.

View our top pick →