Trolling motor upgrade

I’m looking to upgrade my trolling motor on my 15 ft modified v xpress duck boat. I troll mostly but also like to fish around and over brush piles and timber. I think what I want is spot lock and would like to be able to set a heading and speed and it maintain it. Anything over that would be bonus but looking for lower cost items that’ll do these things on a small boat.

I’m sure it’s been asked a lot but couldn’t find it tonight on here. Any guidance on options? Thank you.


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I have a 16’ Jon and would like a 12 volt terrova I pilot. I’ve been using power drive for a lot of years and they do just fine. If you troll for long periods you may eventually add a second battery in parallel for longer duration. Both my 70lb are 24 volt and I stay on the TM for 7 hrs straight with no power loss. But a big trolling motor turned sideways on a light boat with the speed up high will throw you for a good one if you don’t pay attention. Not near as bad with the 12 volt. My 24 volt motors are both MK PD-V2, one is an auto pilot and the other an I pilot and the I pilot is now on my skiff where the auto pilot used to be. Do t make the mistake I did. Buy the ipilot first time and you won’t have two motors like I do now. Hindsight and all that.

A 55 lb 12 v would be plenty. Go motorguide xi3 or terrova. As long as you don't have to have a cable steer foot pedal those should work. Cable steer one's with spot lock go way up in price.

Thank you. I don’t have to have cable steer


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Ultrex for sure!!


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don't get the new garmin thing is my thought .
it is a beast that has no leash , runs like a rabbit and pushes like a bull , but don't hold still worth a flying flip
best I can tell you no MATTER what speed you are moving when you hit anchor lock .....
it backs up 10 feet or so ....:banghead
made me want to get out the screw driver and unistall it when I got to use it for sure ......:Rofl

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

don't get the new garmin thing is my thought .
it is a beast that has no leash , runs like a rabbit and pushes like a bull , but don't hold still worth a flying flip
best I can tell you no MATTER what speed you are moving when you hit anchor lock .....
it backs up 10 feet or so ....:banghead
made me want to get out the screw driver and unistall it when I got to use it for sure ......:Rofl

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Easily fixed by adjusting the anchor gain feature. Garmin is great but have to read the owners manual to know how to work it! [emoji6]

Terrova or Powerdrive will suit you just fine.

The big differences are that you cannot keep the foot pedal once you install Ipilot on a Powerdrive, a Terrova can use both. The Terrova also has a little simpler stow/deploy mechanism.

Im also interested in one of these trolling motors, I’m really liking the idea of spot lock and to be able to troll easily.
Just don’t know if I can get away from the foot controller, do you guys miss that feature??

Again
Get the Ultrex
Best of both worlds
Proven quality over the years


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

don't get the new garmin thing is my thought .
it is a beast that has no leash , runs like a rabbit and pushes like a bull , but don't hold still worth a flying flip
best I can tell you no MATTER what speed you are moving when you hit anchor lock .....
it backs up 10 feet or so ....:banghead
made me want to get out the screw driver and unistall it when I got to use it for sure ......:Rofl

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You forgot to mention it's going to wrap the cord around its neck when it does this.....bang head...throw something....

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I have a 19ft Triton Ambush and bought a Minn Kota Terrova 4 yr ago. 80lb thrust. I-pilot remote with Spot lock. Also has traking to record 2-3 tracks but never used it. Wouldn't swap with anything else.

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Originally Posted by tenncrappie

I have a 19ft Triton Ambush and bought a Minn Kota Terrova 4 yr ago. 80lb thrust. I-pilot remote with Spot lock. Also has traking to record 2-3 tracks but never used it. Wouldn't swap with anything else.

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Terrova is a good motor but I just have to have one with a rope to deploy and stow. Don’t care for having to reach out and grab a piece of plastic on the shaft.
Buddy has one of those fancy Ulterra things that auto stow/deploy.
Nothing but trouble for him. Been in shop several times and says when it goes down again he will be switching to Ultrex.
Chuck


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Originally Posted by CrappieNEA

Thank you. I don’t have to have cable steer


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Ultrex is cable steer but not like the old style you may be used to. It has power steering. Can push on pedal with 1 finger for steering. I-pilot or I-pilot link and best spot lock going. Bluetooth.
Can set boat scale for the weight of your boat. Hydraulic assist to deploy and stow.
Best thing since sliced bread.
I just got one for a buddy on the St. John’s river a week or so ago.
Brian with BBG Marine had them in stock then but unsure about now.
They sell as fast as he gets them.
He is listed in the Sponsor section here on CDC. Great guy to do business with and will save you money.


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I have the 55 pound Terrova. I bought the foot pedal thinking surely I would need it. I have used it once. It stayed in a compartment for over a year until I took it and put it in the building. On a Tracker 175 pro team it will push it along a little over 2 miles and hour acoording to the remote. Shooting docks I use spotlock and spotlock jog constantly. I keep the remote on 2 retractable fly fishing tool holder. While fishig I can grab the remote adjust the boat let the remote go and it will retract back to my side nd hang there. We jug fish at times. I have not had any trouble chasing down a catfish trying to get away.

In two years I've only used the pedal on my Terrova once or twice.

I still keep it in the boat, just as a back up in case I forget the remote or the batteries die.

keep in mind that the only spot lock option in 12 volt is the terrova. Min kota wise, Which I have and it works ok, if you are using live scope it doesn't hold you exact. The smaller the boat the more wondering it will do. it will keep you within a foot or so. I had to go with that model because I didn't want to go to 24v or 36volt. Spot lock is the only option for deep water. I am looking at power poles now. to keep me exactly on the brush piles. spot lock just doesn't cut it.

When you find one - buy it, inventory has been sparse on many models. The ultrex I recently ordered is on backorder for 12 weeks.

I went through this search a few years ago. I spent 4 m0nths looking into models and options.
I wanted a 12v, I wanted spot-lock, I wasn't brand or model specific and I thought I wanted a cable steer model.

Here's what I found
12v is not an option with cable steer and spot-lock.
From most people I talked to the spot-lock feature on MK & MG seemed to be pretty good. Both brands had good quality.
If you are interested in seeing you TM setting on your electronics, the different manufactures are brand specific and they may not work with older electronics.

I went with a MK Terrova and what drove me to that decision was the remote.
On the MG remote there is now viewing screen to see what your setting are. Even though I have older Lowrance electronics I couldn't view my TM setting on my screen without and depth finder upgrade.
A MK has a screen on the remote and it only takes a second to look down and check. As most people mentioned the foot pedal usually goes unused on the Terrova and I am the same. I leave mine in the boat and it stays hooked up because it does have some LED lights that indicate what settings are active on your TM. I find I do glance at those lights from time to time, so I keep it hooked up.
No spot-lock is perfect. However, spot-lock is better than most people are at holding the boat in place.
The first time my wife fished with me and I used spot-lock she said "I bet everyone you fish with are going to put one of those trolling motors on their boat". She was correct, virtually every guy has added a MK Terrova to their boats,
I do have 1 friend who bought a new boat this past year and he has all Garmin electronics and TM. His spot-lock is fantastic too.

All I can speak for is a 24 V Terrova with Spot Lock. I have it on a 24 ft SeaArk Big Easy and it pushes boat around great. Like everybody else I never use foot control. I wear the remote around my neck on the lanyard. Biggest issue is if you want to mount live imaging transducer you will need some aftermarket equipment.


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I had a Terrova 24v 80 lb thrust with I-Pilot. Sold it with the old boat. I bought another Terrova 24v, 80 lb thrust, with I-Pilot Link for the nused 16' Deep-V boat. While the spot lock is great, and the maintain compass heading is great, and the crusie control is great on the I-Pilot. The I-Pilot Link adds follow the contour, follow a weed line, follow way points, and if you link it to your sonar head, you can do all of it from the HB sonar unit. Since I linked both sonar units, the trolling motor and Mega 360 with ethernet hub I can control the TM from either sonar unit, see all transducers on either sonar unit etc. I did get mega down imaging on the terrova. I don't have to worry about snapping a cord. It's very well protected and survives trees just fine. Spot lock is only one feature on IPilot/Link equipped TM. Seriously look at the other features.

While spider rigging I set my TM to follow a contour line and .6mph. Then I focus on fishing. When I set the hook I hit spot lock. Once I get my line back in teh water, I continue on my way. The motor/sonar link will keep you on the contour line, weed line, hard/soft bottom transition, etc. The cruise control will maintain your speed. Both will work together and keep you on track and at speed despite the wind.

As for the foot peddle. I've never used it. It's in teh boat just in case the remote fails. However, I could also control it via the sonar unit. I've only had the new TM for 1 season and am still learning all the features. Next one I want to incorporate is the circle feature. The TM will circle a brush pile at X distance will you fish the brush pile. As for the remote battery life. I installed a 12v accessory port and USB dual port for my baitwell, remote, and cell phone. I can charge the phone and remote on the boat. I run group 31 deep cycle batteries. 2 for the TM and one for main power. Only time I wore out the TM batteries is when I spent 8 hours at full speed (3.5mph) creating a lake map on a local lake that isn't mapped. Lake also has a 10hp limit, hence the TM power.

Plan out how you want to use the TM, then find what suits your needs. I did a ton of research before I spent money on a new TM.

Edited to add: The Terrova foot peddle cord is about 16' long. Long enough that you can control the boat from the transom and let your buddy, wife, or kids fish off the front deck.

Wow thank you guys for all the information. I had stepped away from the site longer than I thought. I really appreciate the information. It sounds like overall Terrova is probably a great choice.

I will do some research but curious about the circle feature that was mentioned in the last post. I will now be fishing deep clear water lakes and think fishing brush piles will become a big part of my attack. I’ve been told you can’t get on top of them in clear water cause they’ll spook. This sounds extremely useful for the new lake I’ll be on.

Thank you for all your help. Hopefully I’ll stash enough cash to replace before spring.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappieNEA

Wow thank you guys for all the information. I had stepped away from the site longer than I thought. I really appreciate the information. It sounds like overall Terrova is probably a great choice.

I will do some research but curious about the circle feature that was mentioned in the last post. I will now be fishing deep clear water lakes and think fishing brush piles will become a big part of my attack. I’ve been told you can’t get on top of them in clear water cause they’ll spook. This sounds extremely useful for the new lake I’ll be on.

Thank you for all your help. Hopefully I’ll stash enough cash to replace before spring.


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Cast to a spot while orbiting in a circle around it with Circle Mode. Just choose the spot and how far from it you want to be, and your boat will circle the spot while you drop the hammer.
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/learn...s/i-pilot-link

I have a riptide 24 volt on my boat. Looking to buy a foot control for it

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

Cast to a spot while orbiting in a circle around it with Circle Mode. Just choose the spot and how far from it you want to be, and your boat will circle the spot while you drop the hammer.
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/learn...s/i-pilot-link

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Sounds like an awesome feature