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.

I have a Ultrex new, I put on my boat but too heavy for my little boat bow. Took it right off. 24v 45in shaft. A little dust is on it from sitting in the Air Conditioning in my shop. Since I sell trolling motors I just bought myself a Motor Guide cable steer, 1/2 the weight. $2K

thanks all for the good info. I think everyone has confirmed what I was afraid of, I think the ultrex would be the best fit for me. I cant say if I would get used to remote use or not since I have never had one, but mostly like to fish docks, creeks, working pads, pockets, etc...don't do any trolling currently. I just think I will still be a heavy user of the foot pedal for what I normally do.

It all started because I just wanted spot lock and saw the terrova could be had for around $1400 give or take. It took some time but I had come to peace with spending that much or less to get it. But the down scan is something I don't want to give up, and really don't want to have to reinvent the wheel in order to get one mounted and cabled. Now having to jump to 2k or more is gut wrenching, but probably the way I will want to go if I decide to do it.

I have an 07 bass tracker 185, so I assume in order to get to 24v I will need to add a 3rd battery and probably have to upgrade my TM wire. I don't know what it is currently but assume its smaller than I will need. Does the old motor guide come off these trackers fairly easily, I do have a front access panel I can remove but my boat is not home currently for me to look at it. I am hoping I can access the bolts without too much problems

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Originally Posted by rojoguio

I have a Ultrex new, I put on my boat but too heavy for my little boat bow. Took it right off. 24v 45in shaft. A little dust is on it from sitting in the Air Conditioning in my shop. Since I sell trolling motors I just bought myself a Motor Guide cable steer, 1/2 the weight. $2K

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will keep that in mind. I am not sure what shaft length I will need, i need to measure that and my boat is not home at the moment.

Something you need to keep in mind that we all failed to mention, the ultrex not only has foot pedal with electric assist but has remote and spot lock just like Terrova. Best of both worlds in my opinion. That’s one reason for added price. Getting a lot of bang for the buck.

Yes, the Ultrex is a "Heel to Toe" "Power Steering" Foot Control and a I-Pilot Remote Control in one trolling motor. The foot control has spot lock buttons, cruise buttons, etc. mounted on it so the hand remote is not always needed. Also it automatically switches from one control to the other flawlessly. It is the most technologically advanced trolling motor Minn-Kota makes. Also has the U-2 built in transducer.

I was a cable steer guy for umpteen years when I got my first Terrova I worried about the pedal change too, but with Ipilot it is a breeze to use. Now with my Ulterra and IPiolot Link I would never go back to something like an Ultrex, I can stand with both feet flat on the floor and just use my toe to steer just swing my foot back and forth with my heel firmly planted on the deck. No more getting hit by a rouge wave just when I pick my foot up off the deck to put my foot on the pedal or being locked to a leaning post, and having to catch my balance. Only down side is I have to glance at the head once in a while to see where it is pointed.

I was a cable steer guy for umpteen years when I got my first Terrova I worried about the pedal change too, but with Ipilot it is a breeze to use. Now with my Ulterra and IPiolot Link I would never go back to something like an Ultrex, I can stand with both feet flat on the floor and just use my toe to steer just swing my foot back and forth with my heel firmly planted on the deck. No more getting hit by a rouge wave just when I pick my foot up off the deck to put my foot on the pedal or being locked to a leaning post, and having to catch my balance. Only down side is I have to glance at the head once in a while to see where it is pointed.

Here is how I mounted my SI transducer works slicker than poop on a pump handle. The only difference is I used boat wash down hose as it is a little bigger for the SI cord and has larger coils. Not my boat in vid but just copied it.

VIDEO0010.mp4 - Google Drive

I use the US2 on my Terrova, the 2D sonar is all I need up front. Use downscan in the back to help locate spots (for example, brush piles) and then use the 2D up front to zero in on what I saw in the back but I see it in 2D sonar which is just fine.

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Originally Posted by ppowell

I use the US2 on my Terrova, the 2D sonar is all I need up front. Use downscan in the back to help locate spots (for example, brush piles) and then use the 2D up front to zero in on what I saw in the back but I see it in 2D sonar which is just fine.

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how do you get along with the terrova foot pedal, or are you remote only?

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Originally Posted by ctfortner

how do you get along with the terrova foot pedal, or are you remote only?

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I use both. Foot pedal when moving and casting from the deck and want both hands. Remote for all the other fishing (long lining, tight lining, trolling cranks, etc). One of the awesome things about this type of trolling motor is you're no longer glued to the front of the boat. I actually fish from all points of the boat now such as the back when long line trolling. With the remote you have a lot more freedom to move around and set up poles anywhere you want or fish from the back if it's closer to the spot you want to fish.

Edit: I have no issues with the foot pedal other than it's kind of easy to hit a button you don't mean to hit with my size 13 shoe, like hitting cruise control button when you don't want to.