Minn Kota Ultrex Explained
The Minn Kota Ultrex is the tried and tested Spot-Lock Trolling Motor. It has been on the market for quite some time and the ultrex trolling motor still stands as a quality product. Today I decided to go into some of its key features and what separates it from other similar trolling motors on the market.
Firstly, the Ultrex comes in a few different varieties. An Ultrex 112 is a 36v trolling motor and an Ultrex 80 is the 24v version. Shafts are offered in 45, 52, and 60 inch lengths and the head can be accompanied by either a Humminbird down scan transducer or two varieties of universal traditional sonar. A built-in 2d transducer that is compatible with most brands of fishfinder is an absolute win for the ultrex. Despite whatever electronics a boat has, the ultrex can accommodate a built in sonar transducer so that unnecessary external transducers are not needed.
The steering of the Minn Kota Ultrex is done with cables, but with power steering through sensors in the foot pedal When the pedal senses pressure, it sends signals to the power steering motor, which steers the head and shaft of the trolling motor. This steering method is nice as it is immediately responsive as well as pointing its head directly where the motor is facing. This pairs nicely with ‘scoping as it is very easy to see where the livescope transducer will be pointing.
Traditional ultrex trolling motors have a proven motor with armatures and brushes. Though not fragile, the best part about this system is that it can somewhat easily be repaired or replaced. The shaft is a composite material that is very tough and only sees real damage when it is crashed into something with great speed. The circuit boards of the ultrex are not exposed but sealed in plastic, making them highly resistant to water damage.
Finally, the good ol’ spot-lock feature. Staying in a single spot without any effort was brought to bass fishing by Minn Kota’s introduction of the Ultrex. It is by far the best feature of this trolling motor. The other buttons on the foot pedal include course-lock and constant-on, which can be handy, but for me, as a bass guy, are somewhat trivial. Anglers seeking catfish, crappie, or other species may enjoy the features, as well as some map features included in older ipilot and the new standard ultrex models, but they may also opt for a terrova or ulterra trolling motor.
