Pros/Cons upgrading Minn Kota

[jlew]

Hello folks! 

     I am outfitting a new boat and am interested in a Minn Kota Ulterra.  However, I do have a few questions. 

     I love my old foot pedal controlled MK.  And I understand I can get a foot pedal with the Ulterra.  I like the ability to move while I'm casting and I like being able to navigate narrow pathways through thick weeds or stumps with ease.  Do I need the foot pedal or is the transition to remote pretty seemless?

     Also, I regularly have to pull up my motor to clear huge clumps of hydrilla or other slop.  What do you folks do about this issue?

 

Thank you.

 

[Tim Kelly]

Get an Ultrex.

[TOXIC]

Just fished with the Ultrex for the first time Saturday on my friends boat, I still run the old style Fortrex 112 on mine.  It was a great test for this new TM, the wind was gusting to 20mph with 10-12 sustained.  I will admit it took a little getting used to when I jumped up front.  The lack of "backpressure" on the peddle like in the cable steer models was the biggest thing.  The TM reacted with the slightest pressure (heel to toe) on the peddle.  Once you get used to that and the tendency to over-correct,  it was awesome.  Spot Lock in the wind was jaw dropping.  We fished a roadbed in 20 ft of water and the spot lock worked perfectly.  Things to note.....spot lock will keep the boat's nose into the wind (or current if river fishing) and if that so happens to be an awkward fishing angle, then you will need to get on the peddle. As for maneuvering in tight spaces, you will be fine on the peddle but I would not do it with the remote.  We used the remote in open water to "jag" left right or forward.  It worked well.  The remote gives you a LOT of information like battery status and level of power to the motor.  Overall it is a fine piece of equipment  and well worth the price.  We will really put it to the test on St Clair in May!!  The ability to follow your "track" is promising for drift fishing.  

[NHBull]

I am going with the Ulterra partly because of the power trim.  I can't speak to peddle vs remote, but you can always add a peddle.  The way I fish I think the remote will be fine

[A-Jay]

34 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Just fished with the Ultrex for the first time Saturday on my friends boat, I still run the old style Fortrex 112 on mine.  It was a great test for this new TM, the wind was gusting to 20mph with 10-12 sustained.  I will admit it took a little getting used to when I jumped up front.  The lack of "backpressure" on the peddle like in the cable steer models was the biggest thing.  The TM reacted with the slightest pressure (heel to toe) on the peddle.  Once you get used to that and the tendency to over-correct,  it was awesome.  Spot Lock in the wind was jaw dropping.  We fished a roadbed in 20 ft of water and the spot lock worked perfectly.  Things to note.....spot lock will keep the boat's nose into the wind (or current if river fishing) and if that so happens to be an awkward fishing angle, then you will need to get on the peddle. As for maneuvering in tight spaces, you will be fine on the peddle but I would not do it with the remote.  We used the remote in open water to "jag" left right or forward.  It worked well.  The remote gives you a LOT of information like battery status and level of power to the motor.  Overall it is a fine piece of equipment  and well worth the price.  We will really put it to the test on St Clair in May!!  The ability to follow your "track" is promising for drift fishing.  

Nicely Done ~ @TOXIC

 I fish the same Fortrex - after your Ultrex experience here are you considering making a switch ?

 I am thinking about it but it's a lot of $$ not to mention requires an entire new mount and re-rig of the 360.

 Seems as though the spot lock alone might be worth it . . . . 

A-Jay

 

[TOXIC]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Nicely Done ~ @TOXIC

 I fish the same Fortrex - after your Ultrex experience here are you considering making a switch ?

 I am thinking about it but it's a lot of $$ not to mention requires an entire new mount and re-rig of the 360.

 Seems as though the spot lock alone might be worth it . . . . 

A-Jay

 

I would love to make the switch but I bought my 112 (2016 model year) last year (from my buddy who bought the Ultrex) and I also bought a good set of rarely used 8ft Power Poles (gen 1) from a friend on lake Erie.  I am up on my scheduled tire replacement for the trailer (dual axle) and I will probably do the brakes at the same time.  My 3 TM batteries are about due for replacement as well and you know if you don't do it on a schedule, they will fail at the most inopportune time.   I run a 250 HPDI and every other year it's about $300 in filters and guess what year it is.......  I will definitely look at the switch sometime in the future but right now I am focusing on what keeps me on the water!! And just to answer the "most asked" question......Will it replace Power Poles?  Nope, no way, no how.  IMHO.  It's not set up for shallow water and it adjusts the speed of the motor depending on the amount of correction that is needed.  In the wind, it'll kick the thrust up pretty high to hold on a spot and in shallow water that would "blow out" that spot where poles would keep you there with less disturbance.  

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I would love to make the switch but I bought my 112 (2016 model year) last year (from my buddy who bought the Ultrex) and I also bought a good set of rarely used 8ft Power Poles (gen 1) from a friend on lake Erie.  I am up on my scheduled tire replacement for the trailer (dual axle) and I will probably do the brakes at the same time.  My 3 TM batteries are about due for replacement as well and you know if you don't do it on a schedule, they will fail at the most inopportune time.   I run a 250 HPDI and every other year it's about $300 in filters and guess what year it is.......  I will definitely look at the switch sometime in the future but right now I am focusing on what keeps me on the water!! And just to answer the "most asked" question......Will it replace Power Poles?  Nope, no way, no how.  IMHO.  It's not set up for shallow water and it adjusts the speed of the motor depending on the amount of correction that is needed.  In the wind, it'll kick the thrust up pretty high to hold on a spot and in shallow water that would "blow out" that spot where poles would keep you there with less disturbance.  

Thank you for the response - @TOXIC

 My rig (including the Fortrex) is new also 2016, so the thought of switching it out so soon feels pretty premature. 

My 'research' did find that the Ultrex &  TM mounted 360 combo is not skinny water friendly, meaning it's not easily (on the fly) trimmed - need tools.  So that's a concern.  May wait until they solve that one.

 Thanks again and good luck with your maintenance costs - hope there's no surprises.

A-Jay

 

[jlew]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  Is there any issue with clearing clumps of vegetation off the Ulterra?  I'm a little concerned about the "stow and go" automated unit taking a beating with the weight of clumps.

[TOXIC]

Run a Grass Goat or Ninja blade and you should be fine.  The Ultrex doesn't have auto stow and deploy though so I did not get to see that feature in action.  My buddy had the Grass Goat on the Fortrex I have now and it was fantastic in the heavy grass of the Potomac.  He kept it and I need to pick one up.  

[Further North]

I have an Ulterra and switch between the pedal and remote depending where I am in the boat.

 

Works great.  It'll take a short while to adjust to the slower turning speed, after that it's 2nd nature.

 

On the weed clumps, no problem either, though I second the idea of the Ninja Blade or Grass Goat.

 

The power trim is the cat's pajamas, let's you run shallow without spending 5 minutes adjusting the depth collar or trying to manage a cable steer with one hand on the deployment cord...

 

The Ultrex Is great...but no power stow an no power trim...that last one is a deal breaker for me.

[LoweStinger]

I have been wanting ( needing ) to get the Ulterra but have held off because of the price for now, dam that thing is expensive !!! They never seem to have sales on it either and everyone seems to be at full retail.

[Further North]

56 minutes ago, LoweStinger said:

I have been wanting ( needing ) to get the Ulterra but have held off because of the price for now, dam that thing is expensive !!! They never seem to have sales on it either and everyone seems to be at full retail.

It's money well spent, IMO.

 

I have the last generation and love it, the new ones are better.

[Tim Kelly]

The downside of getting an Ultrex is that if you get a duff one it spot locks you in 76th. Ask KVD!