What trolling motor should I buy

[NEBasser101]

I need to buy a new trolling motor. By edge is starting to fail on me. I want the next trolling motor I am going to buy to have spot lock. Has anyone had any experiences with the ultrex terrova or the motorguide xi5. Thanks

[cfalco]

So many out there it would depend on your boat etc but one thing I will say without a doubt.   Buy the one that does the most or is the most you can afford.  Nothing worse than a great boat, all the fishing tackle you need and a crummy trolling motor..

 

You just can not enjoy yourself by trying to bargain hunt a trolling motor.

[12poundbass]

If I had a choice and no budget it would be the Ultrex hands down. I have a wireless MG (pre Xi5) and it works, but sucks for what I need. Nothing against it, it's a great TM, but the fact that the Ultrex is a hybrid is a game changer. Word on the street though is MG is working on something that will compete with the Ultrex. 

[Scott F]

For me, the choice comes down to the foot pedal. I refuse to use the ridiculously tall foot pedals that come with cable steer motors. Electric steer motors are a bit slower to turn, but I’m not so impatient that I can’t wait a second or two for it to point where I want.  Remotes are handy but I don’t use it while I’m fishing. Being able to control it however from anywhere on the boat is nice. The iPilot on the Minn Kotas is great where you point it in one direction and it will hold your course without your having to stay on the pedal. Spot lock is also a must have. Your budget is the only limit. 

[J Francho]

On the top end, Ultrex.  I need a cable steer to be able to work around docks where I fish.  Electric steer can't react in the windy conditions I often face.  If electric steer is not a deal breaker, then the Terrova or the Powerdrive have iPilot.

[Glenn]

Although I don't have one, I've been on boats with the new ultrex terrova, and boy, they really work!  They really do lock you on a spot.  Great for fishing deep water.

 

That said, no matter the make, they all simply "lock" the trolling motor in place.  They can't control the swinging of the boat due to wind.  So they're terrible for fishing beds, tight quarters, spots where boat positioning is critical, etc.

 

Just something to think about.

[NHBull]

I went with the ulterra because I want a TM that I can easily control the depth

[WRB]

Whatever you decide to do go to a dealer where you can touch, feel and operate the TM if possible. One thing the new motors have in common is their size, these TM's are big and heavy. The electric assist lift is nice but uses power that you need to plan for.

Spot lock is an essential feature for deep structure fishing and stopping to retie, land fish etc.

The foot control design is very important for bass anglers who like manual quick response precision boat control. Few bass angler troll along depth lines so those features are less important.

Agian the size of these TM's are enormous compared to the older models.

Tom

[BrianinMD]

Another vote for the Ultrex, cable steer for the tight spots and spot lock for holding over windy places. Have no doubt I put more fish in the boat because of spot lock. Sure the spot lock is not useful for holding over beds and such but does not cause any deficit either compared  to any other trolling motor. 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, BrianinMD said:

Another vote for the Ultrex, cable steer for the tight spots and spot lock for holding over windy places. Have no doubt I put more fish in the boat because of spot lock. Sure the spot lock is not useful for holding over beds and such but does not cause any deficit either compared  to any other trolling motor. 

Question, do you have power assist or lift manually?

Tom

[BrianinMD]

10 hours ago, WRB said:

Question, do you have power assist or lift manually?

Tom

The Ultrex is a manual lift motor, it does has a shock built in to assist.

[gim]

If you had an Edge prior, that was a cable steer.  You may have some trouble going to an electric steer after using a cable steer.  Some people can seemingly go back and forth between the two but a lot of people have trouble when they try to switch.  If you want a cable steer like your Edge was, and spot lock, then the most logical option would be the Ultrex.

[Toad Master]

I just saw today a Ulttrex on e-bay for $1800, 36 volt and if I remember right 112 lb. thrust lightly used. I told a buddy about it.

[Further North]

2 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

 

Saying that electic steer can't handle fishing docks in the wind is a bit like saying you can't drive a manual tramsmission in stop and go traffic.  Sure you can, and many do, but it is less than ideal.  It is doable once you adjust for the delay, check motor position and predict the boat movments.  

 

'Zactly.  I do it all the time.

 

I pay very close attention to wind and current direction before I approach the dock or tight structure and set myself up for success.

 

On 11/21/2017 at 8:14 AM, NEBasser101 said:

I need to buy a new trolling motor. By edge is starting to fail on me. I want the next trolling motor I am going to buy to have spot lock. Has anyone had any experiences with the ultrex terrova or the motorguide xi5. Thanks

I have years of experience with the Terrova and the Ulterra.  Both work great.  Zero real issues that were not operator induced*. Have heard good things about the Motor Guide unit as well.

 

The Ultrex is a "hybrid" between cable steer and electric steer and also works great for a lot of people.

 

One bit of advice: Buy the most motor you can afford, and fit into your rig. 

 

I run 36 volt, 112 ft. lbs. of thrust on an eighteen and a half foot aluminum hull boat.  Lotta people would call it overkill...they are wrong.  I have never, ever...not once...had too much power...and I never will.

 

Did it cost more than an 80% thrust, 24 volt system?  You bet it did.  And yes, there's an extra battery, and a more expensive charger to buy as well...but it is better than a 24 volt system in every way that matters.

 

Will an 80#, 24 volt system work if that's what you can afford?  It sure will, and if that's what your budget or the way your boat is set up dictate...that's what you should do and don't look back...

 

...but if you can squeeze the 36 volt unit in to the boat and your budget...get 'er done...Ignore the naysayers.

 

*if you run them into the bottom often enough, eventually something's gonna give.  I've bent a couple of drive shafts (but never the main shaft that runs from the TM head to the motor), and beaten the holly crap out of a couple of SI transducers that I've had strapped to my trolling motors.  None of that is anyone's fault but mine.

[J Francho]

13 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

 

Saying that electic steer can't handle fishing docks in the wind is a bit like saying you can't drive a manual tramsmission in stop and go traffic.  Sure you can, and many do, but it is less than ideal.  It is doable once you adjust for the delay, check motor position and predict the boat movments.  

 

I disagree.  Cable steer is more like a manual.  Often I use the TM to start movement and stop movement with a quick burst in each direction.  Electric steer is WAYYYYYYYYY too slow for that.  Believe me, I'm not the only one that uses it this way.  Keep in mind, I'm speaking about a 22' boat with a 2.5L motor on the back. 

 

Now, when I'm off shore, an automated electric steer is ideal. My buddy has the same boat as mine, but with an electric steer, and I much prefer it fishing off shore wrecks and structure on Oneida or Lake Ontario.  Spot lock is a great thing!  Especially when you're a mile off shore, with nothing but water on the horizon, and no reference points other than one shore line.  It's easy to lose a small rock pile, even with GPS.

[Further North]

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

Fishing an electric steer around docks is similar to a manual transmission in that it requires you to think ahead and know motor position.  Much like how I need to know what gear I am in, what gear I will need next and what the car in front of me is doing, I need to glance down at the TM to see where it is pointed, determine which direction I want to go and predect boat movements while alotting for TM travel time.  It is more difficult but once you adjust it becomes 2nd nature.  For the record I cursed at both my Terrova and manual car when I was learning.

I agree and had the same steep learning curve.

 

I use my Ulterra around docks all the time, use my Terrova that way as well.  It requires looking and planning ahead...but it's not like the docks are going to move.

 

It's kinda like getting up to the check out at the store and waiting until the cashier tells you how much the total is before you pull out your wallet...it's not like you didn't know it was coming...

 

...to be fair...I suspect that what we call docks in northern WI and what are called docks further south are completely different animals that require completely different tactics and I am open to the idea that different equipment on the boat would make things easier and more effective as well...

 

...but around here, electric steer and docks are just fine.  Look ahead, plan ahead...like racing, if you're looking just ahead of your car, you're already screwed...