Old habits die hard

Years ago all I used on my boats were cable drive Minnkota trolling motors. Got use to the foot pedal and how to use them. My Lund came with a Ulterra which is really the bomb for running the motor from the back of the boat. Problem is I miss fishing the bow with the cable steer. Running the Ulterra with the remote isn’t nearly as easy for me.

The boat is a 2014 and it had the Ulterra on it when I got the boat in mid summer of 2017. So it’s somewhere in that age bracket. A new Minnkota Ultrax (36 volt) is going to be nearly $2,900 I have no idea what my 36 volt Ulterra would be worth on the used market.

To those of you with a Ultrex, am I crazy for even thinking about getting one? Should I learn to deal with the Ulterra?

Thanks for any insight.

I think that my Ulterra has a cable plug on it.

Dutch, I will offer my opinion on this as I’ve used both cable steer and electric steer in multiple minn Kota models.

If you are used to doing more casting from the front deck (bass or muskie primarily), the cable driven models are superior. The Ultrex is cable steer with the features of spot lock, ipilot, etc that electric steer models traditionally have. That’s why most bass boats are equipped with them now.

If you like to use the remote or move around the boat with the pedal, then the electric steer models like terrova or ulterra are superior. Some people prefer the foot pedal use because they need both hands to fish.

gimruis wrote:

Dutch, I will offer my opinion on this as I’ve used both cable steer and electric steer in multiple minn Kota models.

If you are used to doing more casting from the front deck (bass or muskie primarily), the cable driven models are superior. The Ultrex is cable steer with the features of spot lock, ipilot, etc that electric steer models traditionally have. That’s why most bass boats are equipped with them now.

If you like to use the remote or move around the boat with the pedal, then the electric steer models like terrova or ulterra are superior. Some people prefer the foot pedal use because they need both hands to fish.

X2! I have the ultrex and love the cable. I’ve been so accustomed to the foot control and dint want to give it up. I like the immediate response that I don’t feel with the electronic pedals. May be just me. BUT, I’m embracing the remote and it’s slowly growing on me

I have had an ulterra for two seasons now and I love it. But I was coming off a terrova before that. Back in the day I liked my maxxum cable drive quite a bit. I think a lot of it has to do with your style of fishing, but there’s something to be said for being able to stow the motor from the driver’s seat.

Dutchboy, I’m a bit confused by your statements;

Dutchboy wrote:

My Lund came with a Ulterra which is really the bomb for running the motor from the back of the boat.

Dutchboy wrote:

Running the Ulterra with the remote isn’t nearly as easy for me.

Are you using the remote both at the back and also when at the bow? Do you use the foot pedal at all?
I find myself switching control about 50/50 remote verses foot pedal. I do find myself using the foot pedal more when at the bow. Adjusting from the cable driven pedal to the electronic pedal did take some time, but now I don’t see myself going back to a cable driven.
Obviously there is a market for the Ultrex and we have choices. Maybe somebody can take you out for half a day and let you “test drive” the Ultrex.

Nope, never use the pedal. If turning is going to be slow I might as well use the remote. Maybe I need to try the pedal before spending the money.

Randy Wieland wrote:

I like the immediate response that I don’t feel with the electronic pedals.

This is the part of cable steer that I have also found to be a huge advantage from the electric steer models as well.

Dutchboy wrote:

Nope, never use the pedal. If turning is going to be slow I might as well use the remote. Maybe I need to try the pedal before spending the money.

Be prepared that the pedal will not change the steering response time. I will say that even though I do a significant amount of casting using the foot pedal or remote, I’m not boxed in between a bunch of boat docks. I’m fishing to rocks, weedbeds, and shoreline for Pike and Muskie.

Electronic foot pedal to cable foot pedal is definitely not the same. I even USE the pedal differently than I did before. I find myself trying to be a bit more proactive and anticipate my turns sooner. Tapping the pedal for direction, in a series of adjustments, rather than waiting until the last second and doing a full turn to get back out and away from a tight spot. Yes I may give up a cast or two now and then, because I choose not to take the boat as deep into a tight spot. It’s kind of the same as choosing to drive a larger vehicle knowing you won’t have access to all the little parking spots you could get into with a vehicle with a tighter turning radius.
You can still get in there, it just takes a bit more time and effort.

You may well decide you still prefer the cable. It’s only money, ya know.

I’m just the opposite. I had a MinnKota Fortrex for years. Loved it except on very windy days trying to hold a spot. I can still remember my brother who had no idea how to run a trolling motor yelling at me to hold the spot. I encouraged him to shut his hole. I bought an Ultrex when they first came out. It’s great. The pedal is almost as responsive as true cable drive. Spot lock makes my brother happy on very windy days,too. We get along better as a result. I rarely use the remote. I’m in the bow pretty much all the time. Buy it and enjoy. Hoping our ice is off in a couple weeks. I also hope they don’t barricade the public access. Good luck.

I had a buddy who would get mad at me about boat control. One windy day I causally asked if he would like to run the trolling motor. He said sure and was really struggling. He never asked to run it again and no longer complains.

muskie-tim wrote:

I had a buddy who would get mad at me about boat control. One windy day I causally asked if he would like to run the trolling motor. He said sure and was really struggling. He never asked to run it again and no longer complains.

My response to anyone complaining about my boat control. “Next time we’ll take your boat.”

I have a terova. I fish from the front almost exclusively. I use both the remote and pedal. Speed by remote and steer with pedal.

why does anyone even want a cable driven motor unless it came with the boat? I got a terrova and never understood why anyone would want a cable driven motor. is it to free up a hand? being able to use a remote to change speed, spot lock, follow contours, the list goes on is unbelievable really. i do have the foot pedal but have never touched it in 2 years. if I lose that remote, I am FKD. i like sitting anywhere in my boat but preferably in a comfy chair watching the biggest graph.

Eyeguy507 when I’m walleye fishing— trolling or controlled drift— i use the remote a bit. When I’m casting in the bow which I do about 90% of the time, the responsiveness of the cable drive is quicker and better for me. I’m used to the cable drive. Might old boat had one. I can see where it looks like a pain in the butt tho. Let’s go open water.

Red Eye wrote:

My response to anyone complaining about my boat control. “Next time we’ll take your boat.”

Ha! Sometimes my brother or father barks at me too about boat control. Next time I’m using that as a response.

eyeguy507 wrote:

why does anyone even want a cable driven motor unless it came with the boat?

A lot of anglers fish for more than just walleyes. When was the last time you saw a terrova on a bass boat? They ALL use cable drive powered bow mounts. And with the Ultrex now, they have all the features of a terrova with the steering response of a cable drive.