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Trolling Motor Installation
California Fishing
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Nov 25, 2022 13:48:56   #
johnklang Loc: Oakhurst, CA
 
NoCal Steve wrote:
The article I read on the Minn Kota web site said it has something to do with trolling motors being engineered and designed for use with lead acid batteries. It didn't get more specific than that but it implies that it is applicable to all manufacturers. I'm going to see if I can find it again.


I have an Ultrex and can't imagine fishing without it so I have to think you'll love your Ulterra and wonder why you waited so long. I was in Canada this summer on Lake of the Woods at a fishing camp and my Ultrex started acting up, pivoting back and forth, not holding position and then racing back once it discovered it was way off. It was annoying enough that I removed it and installed a brand new Motorguide Pro that I took along "just in case," because at the time I couldn't find an Ultrex, everybody was on backorder. Well the Motorguide was worse, it didn't do anything right and the foot pedal was very hard to control. In utter frustration I put the Ultrex back on and installed new batteries I brought along "just in case", figuring that even if it didn't work right, at least the foot pedal was easier to use. Seems like the new batteries fixed the problem on the Ultrex. The Ultrex is working great again and the brand new Motorguide is sitting in the garage. It may have also reacted poorly to what may have been a battery problem all along, even though both motors ran seemingly fine using the foot pedal with the old batteries. I did read some posts while there that talked about them being sensitive to voltages. Anyway, that was my experience.

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Nov 25, 2022 14:28:13   #
NorthMoccasin Loc: SW Virginia, sometimes east central Florida
 
NoCal Steve wrote:
My new Minn Kota PowerDrive 70 with I-Pilot shipped yesterday. Anyone willing to share some installation advice/tips will be greatly appreciated.


be sure to UNPLUG the motor if you are going to not use it for a while. Mine will drain both batteries if I leave it plugged in. And yes i do "shutdown" the motor with the remote!

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Nov 25, 2022 14:53:48   #
Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.
 
NorthMoccasin wrote:
be sure to UNPLUG the motor if you are going to not use it for a while. Mine will drain both batteries if I leave it plugged in. And yes i do "shutdown" the motor with the remote!


Yes it will, the "receiver" stays powered up, waiting for a command signal from the remote.

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Nov 28, 2022 03:11:30   #
NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA
 
johnklang wrote:
I have an Ultrex and can't imagine fishing without it so I have to think you'll love your Ulterra and wonder why you waited so long. I was in Canada this summer on Lake of the Woods at a fishing camp and my Ultrex started acting up, pivoting back and forth, not holding position and then racing back once it discovered it was way off. It was annoying enough that I removed it and installed a brand new Motorguide Pro that I took along "just in case," because at the time I couldn't find an Ultrex, everybody was on backorder. Well the Motorguide was worse, it didn't do anything right and the foot pedal was very hard to control. In utter frustration I put the Ultrex back on and installed new batteries I brought along "just in case", figuring that even if it didn't work right, at least the foot pedal was easier to use. Seems like the new batteries fixed the problem on the Ultrex. The Ultrex is working great again and the brand new Motorguide is sitting in the garage. It may have also reacted poorly to what may have been a battery problem all along, even though both motors ran seemingly fine using the foot pedal with the old batteries. I did read some posts while there that talked about them being sensitive to voltages. Anyway, that was my experience.
I have an Ultrex and can't imagine fishing without... (show quote)


Thanks for sharing your experience.... interesting stuff. You would think all relevant info would be available but I think companies put most of their resources into sales. Of course missing the boat that satisfied customers equals more sales.

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Nov 28, 2022 03:13:16   #
NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA
 
NorthMoccasin wrote:
be sure to UNPLUG the motor if you are going to not use it for a while. Mine will drain both batteries if I leave it plugged in. And yes i do "shutdown" the motor with the remote!


Thank you very much for that info. Nothing worse than getting on the water with dead batts.

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Nov 28, 2022 09:07:53   #
NorthMoccasin Loc: SW Virginia, sometimes east central Florida
 
NoCal Steve wrote:
Thank you very much for that info. Nothing worse than getting on the water with dead batts.


Yep, ask me how i know.............

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Dec 10, 2022 02:31:10   #
NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA
 
NoCal Steve wrote:
Thank you very much for that info. Nothing worse than getting on the water with dead batts.


Install complete.... almost as I decided to purchase the heading sensor. It will be here next week. And finally the 3 in 1 transducer for the sonar. Because the PowerDrive motor has the skeg at one end and the prop at the other, the 7 inch transducer does not easily attach to the trolling motor. I decided to order a transducer arm mount that will attach to the rail just under where the sonar is. I'm trading the hassle of deploying two things (trolling motor and transducer) for a clean, uncluttered appearance that won't in any way effect motor performance.



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Dec 10, 2022 08:19:42   #
Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.
 
NoCal Steve wrote:
Install complete.... almost as I decided to purchase the heading sensor. It will be here next week. And finally the 3 in 1 transducer for the sonar. Because the PowerDrive motor has the skeg at one end and the prop at the other, the 7 inch transducer does not easily attach to the trolling motor. I decided to order a transducer arm mount that will attach to the rail just under where the sonar is. I'm trading the hassle of deploying two things (trolling motor and transducer) for a clean, uncluttered appearance that won't in any way effect motor performance.
Install complete.... almost as I decided to purcha... (show quote)


Nice job Steve. You're gonna love the remote control, and the Spotlock.

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Dec 10, 2022 08:57:55   #
J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio
 
Fredfish wrote:
Nice job Steve. You're gonna love the remote control, and the Spotlock.


After you learn how to use it. You can record your path around your favorite lake then just choose your recorded path and the boat will automatically run the same route and the same speed. It’s been a game changer for me. Spent way more time fishing when I was out there this year! You can also spot lock a door then jog 10 yards automatically!!

Tight lines
J

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Dec 10, 2022 16:02:14   #
NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA
 
J in Cleveland wrote:
After you learn how to use it. You can record your path around your favorite lake then just choose your recorded path and the boat will automatically run the same route and the same speed. It’s been a game changer for me. Spent way more time fishing when I was out there this year! You can also spot lock a door then jog 10 yards automatically!!

Tight lines
J


J... I didn't even know about I-Track or saved spot lock until I read the manual that came with the motor. Can't wait to experiment with them.

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