Thread: Which Trolling Motor??

With its auto-deploy function, it’s the right equipment for solo fishing trips. This spot lock trolling motor pulls the boat around without giving me so much trouble, and anchoring becomes a breeze as well. Based on my observation, it’s ideal for flat water.

My 2 cents: I just received my retirement boat last month and had it rigged at the factory (22' vexus 1880 loaded) coming from a Tracker with Lowrance units and a Motoguide Xi5, I wanted a better graph as I read and here from many and of course wanted the whole boat system so the graphs would talk to the Tm. Well 1st thing I noticed is the Ultrex is much bigger and noisier than the Motoguide plus the remote is huge and heavy, I cant imagine hanging it off my neck all day. Last time I was out I decided to pack up and head back to the ramp, I believe I had the Tm on spotlock but pulled the Tm up and the motor didn't quit it beat the Heck out of the bow of my boat, every other Tm I've had in the past quit running once you pulled it up. I am seriously thinking of selling it and going back to a Motoguide.

Originally Posted by ezgoing

I would suggest Garmin Force to use with Livescope. having experience with MK and Garmin with Livescope.

I used Ultrex with Livescope on my previous boat. I quickly found that I did not like the transducer mounted on the trolling motor and went with a separate shaft. I recommend a separate shaft for Livescope if you mainly jig brush piles, etc., regardless of which trolling motor you chose.

So with my new boat I went with Garmin Force and find it a better choice with Livescope for several reasons.

First reason is I am able to control the trolling motor with my Garmin 126 unit with the Force trolling motor. So I am able to create way points and spot locks on the 126 unit and use goto on the 126 to tell the trolling motor to take me to that spot to fish. I could not do that with the Ultrex. I could only use the limited number of spots on the Ultrex remote or the goto on the Huminbird on the console. I do my fishing from the bow, not the console.

Second, I have found that the Force anchor lock is more accurate than the Ultrex spot lock. I don't have the constant movement of the Force trolling motor that I had with the Ultrex trolling motor. Nor does the Force need as much power to stay on position. The Force anchor lock is much more stable under bridges.

Third, the Force trolling motor is more powerful than the Ultrex trolling motor. I use a 36 v system on both systems. The Force will move my 24 ' pontoon over 4 miles per hour. The Ultrex would only move my 20' pontoon 2.8 miles per hour. I have been told by a friend that uses 24 volts for his Force unit that it is as powerful as the Ultrex on 36 volts.

What made you decide to go with Garmin? I recently got a Garmin UHD 93sv and love it. Should upgrade my Tm and was thinking about the Force. Wondering if it’s worth the extra money over MK? (Current [and only] Tm is an older Minn Kota)


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