Ultrex installation

[RobA]

I currently have a dealer installed Minn Kota Fortrex on my Ranger RT178 and am thinking of changing to a Minn Kota Ultrex.  Is that a fairly easy DIY project?  I'd do it myself if it's fairly easy.  The dealer would do it for me (adds a year to the warranty) but he's 75 minutes away.  

[WIGuide]

Easy to do especially given that you already have a Fortrex. They have the same bracket so you wouldn't have to drill any new holes other than for the GPS/Heading puck. Is your dealer offering to warranty it for another year if they do it? I did a quick look at the Minnkota website and didn't notice anything in their Ultrex warranty on dealer vs diy install. 

[RobA]

11 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

Is your dealer offering to warranty it for another year if they do it?

I was at dealer today and he said if he, as an authorized Minn Kota dealer, installs it then Minn Kota adds another year of warranty.

[WIGuide]

In that case, I think it'd come down to how much they're going to charge and if that price is worth a year of warranty. I'd be guessing it'll be at least 2 hours labor plus a few dollars in parts, plus your time/gas to drop it off and pick it up.

[mcipinkie]

Minn Kota adding another year warranty for dealer installation doesn't make sense unless it's just a chip to help their dealer sell service.  I've never seen anything like that before.  Caution advised.

 

It's an easy DIY project if you can reach under the deck.

 

At least $50 worth of gas hauling your boat to dealer and back plus your time.  I'm guessing $300 charge.  Not worth it if you're handy with tools.  If good access, I could do it in under 2 hours, but I've done 4 of them.