Looking to upgrade a powerdrive ipilot. What is your choice of motor for trolling and spider riggin? Also do some tree pitching in the spring.
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Looking to upgrade a powerdrive ipilot. What is your choice of motor for trolling and spider riggin? Also do some tree pitching in the spring.
Ultrex
Ultrex is what I have one order.
Went with it because of the pedal feel. I’ve used an Ulterra, but I don’t know if I’d ever get used to the disconnected feel of the pedal. Auto stow and deploy would be nice though.
But, motors are hard to find right now, and it’s not impossible Minn Kota will release a new motor soon.
The brushless motors have more thrust and reduced battery use, but I’ve never used either one.
Have an Ulterra. Really like it for trolling. You can record a track and then tell the Ulterra to follow it from end to beginning or beginning to end then set back and troll, and let the trolling motor steer the boat.
Only problem I have found is if the track goes under a bridge. The motor loses GPS and goes crazy trying to find the track.
This is a feature on the Terrova I pilot as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by Ranger R61
I also like the ipilot motors. To my thinking, the terrova is the ticket if stow and deploy isn’t an issue. If mobility issues warrant, then an auto stow would get the nod. I’m on the one more thing to go wrong page. I just picked up my motor from the repair shop and we spoke of this while I was there. Another is battery life. If the batteries get run too low there isn’t enough power to stow. This happens here on the offshore boats and lots of them carry a spare battery just in case.
The Ulterra and Ultrex have the same functions for ipilot. They differ in the pedal and stow and deploy. The Ulterra has an electric steer pedal with auto stow and deploy. The Ultrex has the electric steer with cable feedback so it feels more like a conventional TM and manual stow and deploy with assist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger R61
With some boats, it can be tricky to mount the short mount of the Ulterra.
I don't like cable driven motors. Besides, I never used my foot pedal this year. Either remote or sonar controlled for me.
I highly recommend I-Pilot Link. It will follow a contour line, or be x distance from the line. Makes it fantastic to troll at 15' depth over all the brush piles in my lakes. Or record your own route and follow it in either direction, stop in the middle and continue on.
Bonus features is Humminbird specific. Make a map, then follow the hard/soft bottom transition, or follow a weed line. Plus if your TM is connected to an ethernet port, then use your HB units to control the TM. You can make the TM go to a contour line and follow it in either direction, follow hard/soft bottom in either direction, follow the weed edge, or just go to a waypoint.
I spent a lot of time following the contour and following hard/soft bottom this past year spider rigging. When I caught fish or got hung up I hit anchor. Took care of business and resumed my trajectory.
An added feature is spot lock. Not just spot lock but you can adjust it in 5' increments in any direction. Bump up three times and go 15' up. I can place my lines on the spot on the spot.
i also have M360 and make adjustments to place me exactly were I want to be to fish a specific spot. I use the wind to my advantage. Point the bow into the wind and let the TM hold me where I want. I fish from a 16' Deep V Sport model, full windshields. I have no issue holding position.
I have a Terrova, 60" shaft, 24v, MDI transducer built in, and I-Pilot Link. Ethernet linked to my Helix 9Gen4 MDI/MSI units. I can literally sit under my bimini top in a pouring rain and spider rig. Pop out when I get a fish on, and duck back under after I get the line back in the water.
Pic of my boat while swimming with the grandkids this year.
Attachment 413634
Ultrex
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Quote:
Originally Posted by skeetbum
My Ulterra when the battery gets too low the motor will not come on, but will leave enough in the battery for auto stow to work. Unless this is not happening then there is something wrong with that Ulterra.
I had an accident and broke some ribs that didn’t heal right and I couldn’t lift my trolling motor without pain so I didn’t have a choice. The Ulterra was my only option. I got a 36 volt and never run short of power. It took some getting used to but I won’t ever go back.
Love my Ulterra. When it stops working, I’ll replace it with an Ulterra. I had an Ultrex and I really liked the foot pedal but the auto deploy/stow is awesome. If only they’d make a hybrid of the two. That would be perfect