Got my 112/60"/36v motor installed today and just tested it a bit out of the water. Some points:

1. This thing is a chunk. Weighs a ton and then some. The head is a lot bigger than the Terrova also.
2. I tried to install the Panoptix transducer (weighs about 1.5 lbs) and it bogged down the trim and deploy. It also made the trim mechanism smell funny so I removed the transducer. It's going to be very very difficult to run a different transducer on this set up. I was able to get the cables to stay out of the way about 70% of the time. The other times the cables would get caught under the shaft and jam the unit.
3. I didn't get the Link model, but the I pilot remote is nice.
4. On my other motors I always had a RAM mount to keep the shaft from bouncing around when the motor was stowed. I don't think I will be able to use that with the Ulterra as the belt goes all the way up to the head and I am worried it would get damaged.
5. The motor has an on/off switch. When you turn the motor off there it turns off the remote. I think my old Terrova 101 did something like this but I don't remember for sure.
6. The skeg and the us2 transducers are not lined up to the armature. So when you look at the motor from behind you can see nothing lines up. Just weird considering it's a $2200 motor.
7. I could see where there could be all kinds of problems with the trim mechanism if you get any dirt in there. Not sure what Minn Kota has done to keep this area clean but you would think if you get mud or any other solids on the belt, it could be trouble.
8. If something gets in the way of the motor while it's trying to stow or deploy, it will stop and sound an alarm. But sometimes it will keep trying and you have to hit the deploy button to stop it.

I should be hitting the water later this week.

Nice report Diel! We need to hit the lake soon!!!

I just ordered a 80# 60" I wonder if it is lighter. I was planning on mounting a lss2 on it.

Thanks for the inputs and infos on it brother. I was looking into getting one but wanted to wait until all the bugs are worked out.

Whoa' Looks like a beast ..... They makin a salt water model yet ? Call me when you wanna go run it...

I don't know if they are going to make a saltwater model. It just seems like the salt would cause all kinds of problems with the belt and stow/deploy system.

On installing a transducer, the biggest problem I see is you have to stay on top of the cable while stowing it, so it defeats the purpose of the motor. You would have to go to the bow, grab the cable and then hit the button. I'm still trying to think of other ways to keep it out of the way, just haven't come up with anything else yet.

Doesn't sound like a great review so far

Nice report Diel. Surprising, but honest. Thanks. Glad I bought that Terrova from ya. She's a beast!

Thanks for the update Diel. I wonder if there is a way to run a cable through the shaft for transducer? Hope you get it figured out

As of yesterday, I had a Ulterra on order from Tackle Warehouse but it has been delayed twice. After much thought, I decided to cancel the order and just buy the Xi5 after I saw how it worked with the Lowrance HDS units. I think I would like that better than the self deploy. I felt unsure of my decision until I read your review. I wanted to add a Hydrowave speaker to the trolling motor and it sounds like one more wire to get hung up under the motor. I sure hope I made a good decision. Thank you very much for posting an honest review.

Thanks guys. C worthy, wait until you see how fast the Xi5 head spins. And in my opinion the anchor feature is much better than the Minn Kota. I'll update once I take it on the water.

I will do the same when I get a chance to try out the Xi5 connected to the Lowrance HDS. Eager to see how it works. I do wish that they had a shaft shorter than 54" though.

One should never wish for a shorter shaft...

Diel is that the same slide bracket you had or did you order the skeeter bracket?

That Xi5 is as smoooooooooth as butter!!!! so quiet too.