I sell/install both and am an authorized service center for the Talons. As said above, its your money and ultimately your decision, but you asked for others opinions. From that standpoint I would offer my point a view compared to your concerns:- How much would an 8 Power Pole ride above my motor in say, level position? The 8 Talon is 41″ tall. If youre running a 3L outboard this means the top of the Talon could possibly be below the top of the outboard cowl. The 8 Power Pole is showing a retracted height of 55″, a little over a foot taller than the Talon. Also the weight of the Talon bracket will not go 20lbs. The sandwich bracket has a shipping weight of 21lbs — the actual bracket weighs less due to the packing.- How big of an impact do you think the weight savings (over a Talon) would be on holeshot and top speed? Youre looking at apx 40lbs for duals. You may have to adjust the jackplate and could possibly loose 1 to 2 mph.- Everything Ive read seems to give the Sportsman 2 good reviews and PP lists it as having the quietiest motor…apart from finish and warranty, any huge reason to step up to the Pro Series? If youre looking at $$$s, the Sportsman 2 is the best bang for the buck.-Prices Ive tracked down:8 Talon + bracket + remotes + footswitch=$ We have that price advertised at http://www.jonestrollingmotor.com/index_3.htm , also advertising dual package for $.008 Sportsman + bracket + remotes = $/single braced bracket or $/dual braced bracket — Dual braced bracket is only used on the 10 model, not needed on the 88 Pro Series + bracket + remotes = $/single braced bracket or $/dual braced bracketSome other side notes: On the Talon, you dont have to find room, or possibly give up storage, for the pumps and hoses. You dont have to worry about a possible hydraulic leak in the bilge area either. the Talons are removable so during the times that you do not need them, they can be removed (and restoring the speed / holeshot loss of the added weight). Both are good shallow water anchors and do what they advertise.Let me know if I can help.JohnJones Trolling Motor Services870 773 Motorguide/MinnKota/PowerPole/Lowrance/Humminbird
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Coming from someone who has one, do yourself a favor and get two. If your budget wont allow, just wait until you can afford two. My boat came with one, and after fishing out of two boats that had 2, I actually sold my Pro Series 2 and Im waiting on getting a pair of lightly used blades from a friend when his boat sells.I havent been in a boat with Talons, and they may actually be better as a single than a power pole, strictly from a geometrical standpoint. If all youre wanting is something to stop you in the wind while you re-tie or handle a fish, it may not be an issue, but flipping or setting up on a bedded fish, there far too much swing, even when the nose is pointed directly downwind. To me if I dont have any more control over the position of the bow of the boat, then it defeats the purpose of having one. Also, depending on the size of your boat, 1 may not hold it completely solid, depending on the lake bottom composition in your region. I was fishing in some strong winds recently on a point that had a pretty hard, gravely bottom, and my boat drug the spike multiple times, without any wave action. I have an Eyra, which is far from being a large boat, too.
Get two or none. I have two 12 talons and love them. I chose talons because of their depth versus height. Will never own a boat without anchors in the future. Consider the depth you fish before you pull trigger either way. PP pros vs talons PP will be lighter, not affect hole shot or top end as much as Talons. Can put down 1/2 way while in water so there out of way of coangler. PP cons vs talons Youll lose the ability to pull them off quickly or drop them with a tilt bracket should you need to. In my opinion the talons are quieter than the pump from the PP. Hydraulic versus electric.
Here are the top three reasons – Money, Availability, and Recycling/Reusing.
Trying to save a few bucks on your pole barn and don’t care about longevity or ease of use, then used utility poles may be the answer. Most people, who are going to invest an average of $50,000 into a new building, prefer to have a design solution which can be relied upon however.
As discussed in my recent articles, most utility poles are replaced due to decay issues. Oil based preservative treatments (like penta or creosote) are affected by time and gravity. As the treatment chemicals wear thin at the ground line, decay begins to occur and the utility company replaces the pole. In an attempt to reuse the poles, the portion which was at the former ground line (the decay zone) should be cutoff and properly disposed of in a landfill. This leaves the remainder of the pole being the portion with little or no treatment chemical remaining.
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If one of these poles happens to rot in a new pole barn, the cost to replace it will be more than what was initially “saved”, even if the poles were free.
Building a pole building which requires a structural review of the plans? (In my humble opinion, all plans should be so reviewed.) Building officials are probably not going to “buy in” to the use of used utility poles. Why? There is no way to determine if what remains will meet with the minimum code requirements for preservative treatment.
Fully enclosed building? Many will find the odors of oil based chemicals to be an issue, not to mention having the chemicals continuing to leech from the posts. Even the CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) treated pole can no longer be used in residential applications due to EPA (Environment Protection Agency) regulations.
Ease of use – used utility poles are round and tapered. In order to place them in a building so dimensional lumber can be properly affixed, the sides of the pole which will be attached to, are best cut to a flat surface. Besides complexity, this also adds the issues of hazardous chemicals being placed into the air, both as fumes and in the sawdust. Dealing with the taper, means the poles will not be set plumb, in relationship to the actual center of the pole, but will instead be leaning outward, so the outside face is vertical. This may be less of an issue, unless an interior finish of some sort is to be added at a later date.
Many utility companies have used poles laying around – they are not easily disposed of, as they should be taken to a landfill and buried as hazardous waste. This makes the utilities all too happy to either give them away, or to sell them at what seems to be a bargain.
And, while I am all for recycling and reusing, this is just one place where it does not make sense from a practical or economic standpoint.
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