Minn Kota trolling motor questions

Evening everyone, I am wanting to get a new trolling motor with spot lock. I prefer not to spend 2k, so that seems to have narrowed my search down to the terrova model on the minn kota side of things at least. The one negative (maybe) would be the transition to the electric steering of the foot pedal, because I have always had a cable steer TM. I know it has the remote, but I feel pretty sure I will still use the foot pedal a lot too. I can probably get used to the that.

What I am confused about is, I have a Garmin unit on the bow for down scan. I see that the Terrova comes in a US2 which has a cable to connect to Garmin units, but if my research is correct, that would not give me the down scan as is. So I assume I would need to mount my own transducer to use that, which seems doable, but to get the wires out of the way would be some trickery.

Or am I missing something here? Is there an easy plug and play way to use a Terrova and my current Garmin unit with down scan? It is mind boggling trying to understand the differences between terrova, ultrex, ulterra...US2, built in MEGA imaging or not, link or not, bluetooth or not and so on. My end goal right now is to get a good reliable unit with spot lock and use down scan on the bow and not need a separate arm just for my transducer to do so.

I hated the pedal on my Terrova and only used it once, on it's maiden voyage. Your mileage may vary.
For the sonar, Minn Kota makes an adapter cable for Garmin, much like this one. I'm not a Garmin man, so don't know if this is the exact cable that you need for your specific unit. If not, they will have one. It screws into the transducer cable from the TM.
The US2 transducer gives you 2D.

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoo...r-us2-1-garmin

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talk to Brian at BBG Marine. I screwed up and bought the us2 transducer thinking I would have down imaging. It won't do it. I am in the same place as you trying to make my Helix work SI and DI without mounting another transducer

Better get Ultrex if your wanting a real foot control and spot lock.l just got an Ultrex it works just like a cable steer with power steering. I think Terrova is for trollers.

Sounds like to me you are very informed. There are threads here to help learn with keeping the cord out of the way. I am pretty sure plugging my helix di into my US2 fried my unit. If I had it to do over again I would have bought a MK 70# Power Drive with I-Pilot no US 2. I own a BT 55# Terrova I-Pilot US2

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Originally Posted by NE GA Pappy

talk to Brian at BBG Marine. I screwed up and bought the us2 transducer thinking I would have down imaging. It won't do it. I am in the same place as you trying to make my Helix work SI and DI without mounting another transducer

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I was going through similar last year- talked to BBG and they set me straight with great service and fast shipping.

x2 on Brian at BBG. Bought both my Terrova and my Ulterra from him.

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I would save your money and find a used ultrex for around or under $2k. You will hate the terrova pedal and have to buy cable management system for a add on transducer as the built in ducer is very limited.

On a Terrova with the newer models that have the lift assist, you can remove the assist spring setup ( which most people don’t need anyway ) mount Garmin transducer on motor and cable up grove in shaft. No cable management system needed. Couple of videos on YouTube about installing on Terrova. Most don’t like pedal. Mine hasn’t been hooked up in 6 years. Depends on how you fish but if you want or need pedal then Ultrex is way to go but then you get into cable management or separate mount. Most depends on how you fish.

Appears I am the odd man out. I love the foot pedal on the Terrova. I hate cable steer Trolling Motors. The cable is a pain. The beauty of electric steer is the 18' cord. I can sit in the back of the boat and steer it. Or leave the peddle in the bow storage and use the I-Pilot / I-Pilot Link remote.