Ulterra vs Terrova + 24 Volt vs 36 Volt

I'm faced with replacing all of my batteries, and installing a new trolling motor as my next project.

Originally, my boat was set up for 24 volt trolling, with 3 batteries in the back. previous owner upgraded to 36 volt, adding a battery - which blocks easy access to the bilge area.

I'm considering going back to 24 volt which would remove a battery (and 65 pounds) from the rear.

This is a typical 20' bass boat, and I'm wondering if:

• Anything over 80 lb's of thrust is really needed.
  
• Will going to 24 volts make my run times shorter?

Next subject: I have an elite 7 Chirp on the deck, it needs it's own transducer.

I'm going back and forth on the Ulterra VS the Terrova. The only feature of the Ulterra that I can see I would really enjoy is the auto deploy. Of course if for some reason that failed, I would be irritated!!!! The terrova has a nicer price point for sure, and seems like it deploys and stows easily. I like the iPilot option in both.

So there's the question... ulterra or terrova... and in 24 volt or 36 volt?

Trust me, occasionally I enjoy the power of my current 105 lb motor now, it will darn near toss you off the boat if you aren't paying attention.... would I hate myself stepping down to 80lb?

24 volt system will not stay charged as long as a 36 volt system. ulterra isr really nice but takes some tricks to run an external transducer. Id stay with 36 volt system

It's Texas so go big or go home haha. I just went from a 80 to a 112 terrova. I have a 20' center console so need something a little stronger. Size of your boat will matter. Also will the extra battery with a 36 volt be in your way more times than not? Auto deploy seemed really nice but I used the extra money I saved and got a better depth finder. Hope I helped a little haha

Well, the only reason the extra battery would be a pain is if i needed to get to the bilge pump, which to date, I have not needed to do. The extra weight from the extra battery doesn't seem to cause any ride problems, and I am right now researching how to get that stupid cord down a terrova! Seems tricky. From what I understand, the cord on the Lowrance transducer is thicker than the hummingbird, so using the notch doesn't work as well??

Maybe I should just sell off my elite 7 and put a hummingbird on the front???

I have the terrova but will eventually upgrade to the ulterra because the auto deploy will make it so much more convenient when solo. The terrova does have a groove in the shaft for the transducer cable.

Unloading my boat solo as well as being able to be at the console to crank the motor and control the boat in bad areas and have the luxury of self deploy is just worth it for me.
As far as the 36v, if you have too much thrust, I have heard that effects the spot lock being able to work properly. It over compensates for the power moving you around more from what i have have the terrova but will eventually upgrade to the ulterra because the auto deploy will make it so much more convenient when solo. The terrova does have a groove in the shaft for the transducer cable.

Unloading my boat solo as well as being able to be at the console to crank the motor and control the boat in bad areas and have the luxury of self deploy is just worth it for me.
As far as the 36v, if you have too much thrust, I have heard that effects the spot lock being able to work properly. It over compensates for the power moving you around more from what i have heard.

I run 12v and my old tm ran the battery down at the end of the day. I run the terrova 3x as much as the old tm and have never ran the battery down so they are pretty efficient

Well, decide whether you want the i link. If you pay for that feature then a hummingbird would be the way to go. If you aren't going to use it and keep your lowrance then buy the terrova without it.

I have an 80 thrust 60" shaft 24v ipilot on my 19foot 102 beam center console. I know that my boat is lighter than most center consoles but it does fine. Sure I could go faster with a 36 volt but I have used it all day and still only used half a charge. I have never run out of juice when fully charged and that is using spot lock and some trolling around/moving. these trips are sometimes 7-8 hours of fishing time. It depends on alot of things. Are you following banks all day for bass, is it windy and your trying to hold a spot in some chop are you trying to troll 3mph for a few hours. I would think that your would be fine with the 80 the 112 would be nice but not a must have. What else would you do with the money is what I always ask my self. if the money is just laying around then get the bigger one if it could go elsewhere for more bang then there ya go

So then the big question is IS the notch big enough to handle the lowrance cable.

I called minnkota, and even they weren't sure. They said some cables fit, some cables don't - for both HB and Lowrance.

I haven't investigated the iLink too much, but ipilot would be great.

I think it would be awesome to use the transducer built into the unit, but I bought a chirp cause I want to use chirp... right???

I wonder if the "notch" in the collar could be widened.... surely you could file it bigger or something.

I run an Elite 7 on my bow and the external transducer cable fits just fine down the slot of the shaft of my Terrova. The collar is not a factor....

what I'm being told is the Chirp transducer cable is thicker. But I have been unable to confirm this.

I would consider getting a front graph that is totally compatible with the built in transducer, but I'm wondering if I would be losing functionality. The manufacturers websites are very difficult to figure out what's really going on.

If you use lowrance, have you looked into the motorguide unit?

I did, I was really planning on an xi5 but my local shop had some bad words for it. Made me nervous about it

I've been reading several of your post and you're being told a lot of things regarding electric steers, CHIRP, Universal sonar and sonar/DF to trolling motor matching. Looking forward hearing from you (discussed some of this on the BBC board with you).
John