New Ulterra Spot Lock

What are your experiences and reviews of the new spot lock feature? I have an older Terrova with Spot Lock and I am unimpressed. It wonders around too much. I’ve heard the new Spot Lock is much improved.

I have the new terrova with spot lock. Way way better then the old one

The new spot lock is defiantly improved. I’ve used it about 4 times this spring so far and have been pleased.

Yes it is. I certainly feel like I’m getting what I paid for with this current model.

I actually like the “wandering”! There’s been several times when the fish have moved a little that I noticed by better action at one end of the swing. I re-centered that direction. What a great feature!!

Minkota spot lock:
Version 1 good
Version 2 sucked
Version 3 Excellent

mxskeeter wrote:

Minkota spot lock:
Version 1 good
Version 2 sucked
Version 3 Excellent

X2!

Is there any way to convert a version 2 into a version 3, or are you out of luck?

walleyevision wrote:

Is there any way to convert a version 2 into a version 3, or are you out of luck?

Yes, post your v2 for sale in the classifieds and buy a new one.

Are you looking for a 24v or 36v?

Actually, I’ve heard that people were having luck calling Minnkota and asking to have the whole motor replaced under warranty.

My current plan is to sell my 24V Terrova with iPilot Link and get a new 24V Ulterra with iPilot (no Link). I will also be selling a Humminbird 859. Hopefully posting all the equipment on the classifieds next week.

Yes there is. If you can get Minnkota to sell you a Blue Tooth head unit and remote, it is plug and play. I was one of the few they did that for. It cost me $500.00 to do it but it was worth it. The new Blue Tooth Spot Lock is worth every cent. The stock on was terrible, almost threw my buddy out of the boat. They didn’t want to sell it to me. I nicely persisted and they sold me one. Their reasoning was that it would not be under warranty. So my Ulterra ended up costing me $2700.00 but at least it works as it should now. Good luck

Crappy Fisherman wrote:

Yes there is. If you can get Minnkota to sell you a Blue Tooth head unit and remote, it is plug and play. I was one of the few they did that for. It cost me $500.00 to do it but it was worth it. The new Blue Tooth Spot Lock is worth every cent. The stock on was terrible, almost threw my buddy out of the boat. They didn’t want to sell it to me. I nicely persisted and they sold me one. Their reasoning was that it would not be under warranty. So my Ulterra ended up costing me $2700.00 but at least it works as it should now. Good luck

Well I think you’re very lucky. I contacted Minkota about my version 2 terrova 3 different times and was told nothing was wrong with it. It was within specification. Contacted them when version 3 came out and was told there was absolutely, positively no way to update version 2. I also talked to a couple Johnson Outdoors reps and was told NOWAY to update it. I traded it off on a version 3. Marine dealer gave me $875 trade in on a new Terrova. Minkota stuck it to thousands of fisherman with their version 2. Motor guide had issues also so I stuck with Minkota because I run Birds on my boat.

mxskeeter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Crappy Fisherman wrote:</div>
Yes there is. If you can get Minnkota to sell you a Blue Tooth head unit and remote, it is plug and play. I was one of the few they did that for. It cost me $500.00 to do it but it was worth it. The new Blue Tooth Spot Lock is worth every cent. The stock on was terrible, almost threw my buddy out of the boat. They didn’t want to sell it to me. I nicely persisted and they sold me one. Their reasoning was that it would not be under warranty. So my Ulterra ended up costing me $2700.00 but at least it works as it should now. Good luck

Well I think you’re very lucky. I contacted Minkota about my version 2 terrova 3 different times and was told nothing was wrong with it. It was within specification. Contacted them when version 3 came out and was told there was absolutely, positively no way to update version 2. I also talked to a couple Johnson Outdoors reps and was told NOWAY to update it. I traded it off on a version 3. Marine dealer gave me $875 trade in on a new Terrova. Minkota stuck it to thousands of fisherman with their version 2. Motor guide had issues also so I stuck with Minkota because I run Birds on my boat.

I was very lucky. The only reason they did it was because I sent it in under warranty and I asked them if I could update to the Blue Tooth. I had seen on line a post about updating it. They were doing for a short time,which included the time frame that I had sent mine in. It still cost me $500.00 but as I said before, it was worth it to me. The thing was worthless the way it was. It’s a shame we are stuck with products that don’t work as claimed. When they knew how poorly the Spot Lock worked they should have offered everyone that purchased one an upgrade for free.

For those that were able to upgrade, was this strictly on the Ulterra, or is the Terrova upgradable also?

reddog wrote:

For those that were able to upgrade, was this strictly on the Ulterra, or is the Terrova upgradable also?

It should work the same, just a different remote. I think they list the part numbers in the Symantec. If it was me I’d order the parts and install them myself. The casing, screw holes and plug in are all the same. The only difference is a the remote. Don’t do it because I said so. Check first, but I’m sure it will work.I have the no link model. The only thing in the upper casing is the Spot Lock and the Pairing Buttom so they may even be the same part number.

I just tried to look up the parts numbers. They don’t list them for the newer models. That might mean they won’t sell it them.

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Profits over doing what’s right .

Crappy Fisherman wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mxskeeter wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Crappy Fisherman wrote:</div>
Yes there is. If you can get Minnkota to sell you a Blue Tooth head unit and remote, it is plug and play. I was one of the few they did that for. It cost me $500.00 to do it but it was worth it. The new Blue Tooth Spot Lock is worth every cent. The stock on was terrible, almost threw my buddy out of the boat. They didn’t want to sell it to me. I nicely persisted and they sold me one. Their reasoning was that it would not be under warranty. So my Ulterra ended up costing me $2700.00 but at least it works as it should now. Good luck

Well I think you’re very lucky. I contacted Minkota about my version 2 terrova 3 different times and was told nothing was wrong with it. It was within specification. Contacted them when version 3 came out and was told there was absolutely, positively no way to update version 2. I also talked to a couple Johnson Outdoors reps and was told NOWAY to update it. I traded it off on a version 3. Marine dealer gave me $875 trade in on a new Terrova. Minkota stuck it to thousands of fisherman with their version 2. Motor guide had issues also so I stuck with Minkota because I run Birds on my boat.

I was very lucky. The only reason they did it was because I sent it in under warranty and I asked them if I could update to the Blue Tooth. I had seen on line a post about updating it. They were doing for a short time,which included the time frame that I had sent mine in. It still cost me $500.00 but as I said before, it was worth it to me. The thing was worthless the way it was. It’s a shame we are stuck with products that don’t work as claimed. When they knew how poorly the Spot Lock worked they should have offered everyone that purchased one an upgrade for free.

I didn’t expect the update to be free. They should have did it for everyone that was stuck with a version 2 for a reasonable fee.