Minn kota Ulterra opinions

Looking at rigging my new boat and planning on putting a new Ulterra on it. Just curious on others experiences with it? I had a Terrova on my other boat.

The safety factor of not going to the bow to stow / deploy the motor on a windy day is priceless to a old feller like me.

Dutchboy wrote:

The safety factor of not going to the bow to stow / deploy the motor on a windy day is priceless to a old feller like me.

Amen, and they are great

They are awesome when they work but if it doesn’t deploy it can ruin a trip. Just make sure when you stow and deploy your not moving forward.

Friend has had a couple issues with his, but I believe SBC did fix it. Don’t use it in the winter

Love mine and have used it in subfreezing winter temps. I did spray silicone on the shaft in hopes of avoiding freeze up – that may have helped.

Absolutely love mine, have traded 3 boats, kept trolling motor!!!

The 3rd hand info I’ve heard varies.

The first gen has major gps issues. That was pretty well known. Many had their gen 1 units replaced by Minnkota with gen 2 units.

The second gen with Bluetooth seems to vary. I heard from some owners to never buy one because the stow/deploy kept failing. I also heard 3rd hand info from someone who services them that said the same.

Then I’ve heard 3rd hand info that the issues were pretty much resolved and the units were pretty reliable.

Personally I’m a little cautious about Minnkota’s quality based on what I witnessed with my Terrova but if you don’t want a Motorguide, it’s your only choice. The first sign of any problem I’d call a service center immediately.

As disappointed I am with my 2014 terrova, I’d still buy a new ulterra.

I have the Terrova on my current boat (2015), and had put a Terrova on my previous boat … both worked great. Want to move to the Ulterra.
Interested in users opinions.

I used Ulterra the entire 2017 open water season. I did have one problem about the 5th use with the belt coming undone at the head. When it happened a big problem due to the location/rocks I was fishing in. Reconnected myself and used the entire season without any additional problems. Took it to Scheel’s in Roch after the season and had the gears replaced as there appeared to be a little grinding after this happened. Scheel’s commented they had seen this happen with a couple of others also.

Would I buy again, definitely. As commented, when you get older and the balance is not as good as when younger and the 3′ rollers are tossing the boat, for me now a requirement to be able to pull up to spot and deploy from console. Deploy the motor and and have the motor slowly pull to a way point. While being pulled to the way point get out the rod and be ready to fish.

I have a 620. The one thing I would do differently is to purchase the 72″ as I believe there is a loss of usable shaft length due to the gears and the motor seems to be out of the water a lot as compared to previous Terrova.

gonefishin wrote:

I have a 620. The one thing I would do differently is to purchase the 72″ as I believe there is a loss of usable shaft length due to the gears and the motor seems to be out of the water a lot as compared to previous Terrova.

That is interseting info. Don’t beleive I’ve seen that suggestion before
I also have a 620 and debating about upgrading terrova.
Thanks

I had lots of problems with the Gen 1 and it took 1.5 years after being in and out of warranty for MK to make it right and give me a Gen 2 BT GPS head for it. I haven’t had a lick of trouble since then and do not regret the purchase one bit AFTER they made it right. I would buy one again for same reasons as others here.