I live in Humble, just outside of Houston. I just picked up my boat (2018 skeeter fx 21) from a dealer after having some routine servicing done and one thing I mentioned to them when I dropped off the boat was I wanted them to check out my Minn Kota Ultrex as I noticed a vibration when running it at 7 or higher.

Dealer tells me that they found it has a bent prop shaft, not the main shaft, but the shaft the prop fits on to, which makes sense based on the vibrations I felt when operating it. However, this is what gets aggravating. Dealer doesn't work on them and points me in the direction of a shop that does and says they are an OEM authorized repair shop for Minn Kota. Ok cool, so I call them up and head that way. I get there and can barely get my boat in to their lot as they are located in a warehouse complex, where it is just a bunch of small businesses next door to each other and in a long row. They proceed to tell me I can't leave the boat and I need to take the trolling motor off and leave it. What the hell? I have no idea how to do that and really prefer for an authorized rep to do it because God forbid something happen I would have to prove I am no liable because I was the one to take it off and then have to put it back on.

The other issue is I had a transducer installed on my trolling motor to be able to read down scan, I can't remember what it is called but it is a transducer that fits under your housing of your trolling motor and then there is a transducer saver on it also. There are 2 wires that run up the trolling motor and into the head, and the other into the wiring near the foot pedal, so I have no clue how to remove that without screwing something up.

I call Minn Kota and ask for service locations in/near Houston. They have 3, 3 locations in a city as big as Houston lol. I call all 3 and all 3 tell me they can't take the boat just the trolling motor. Is it just me or does it seem odd that you can buy a boat from a dealer, they actually rig your boat out, but when it comes to servicing the trolling motor they can't do it?

FYI, I purchased my boat from Blackbeard in Oklahoma and to their credit they would take care of this if I were close enough to have them as my service center.

So I am looking for any help/advice you guys can offer. Is there a dealer who can at least remove it for me and send it to some authorized repair shop and then install it again? I mean, I have tools and am mechanically inclined but as I said above, with the boat being new and under warranty the last thing I need is something to go wrong and then I am in a fight with who's at fault.

That does seem a little weird, any time I have had work done on my Ultrex I just drive up with the boat and the service center has me out of there in about 30 minutes. I use Sartin Marine near Fork. If you want to make a trip to fork sometime soon you could call Brian and set an appointment to bring your boat by and he would fix it while you wait most likely. I think they are even open the first half of Saturdays as well.

Yellowskeeter.com can get it off and reinstall. 832-726-5513

Or call Jimmy Clapp at A & M marine service. He was a Minn Kota rep for years and does great service on trolling motors amd talons etc. 832-423-5471

If you are at all mechanically inclined it is easier to take off than changing a tire.

Very easy to remove and I know the repair shop you are referring to. They do excellent work. I have them do all my repairs. All you have to is basically remove one bolt and unhook wiring. And, I'm not mechanically inclined. I took mine to them a few months ago for an issue. Turn-around was fast and all done under warranty.

you can take it to a dealer and let them remove the motor for you, I am sure at a cost that Minnkota will not pay. Or, learn to do it yourself. YouTube should have it. on the ultrex, you can remove just the motor and foot pedal without removing the entire mount from the boat. Kinda sucks.

My Ultrex has done that since new above 7 also. I just run it.

I thought it was weird also, thank you for replying and the info. If I were near Fork or would be in the future I would go but it isn't feasible for me to make that drive from Houston.

Yea, I am not saying they wouldn't do good work, they have good reviews online and like I said the dealership recommended them but it was a bit of a shock to have to remove it myself. I was a little annoyed that the dealer couldn't remove it and send it there you know? If I can't find someone to help me out then I guess I will try and remove it myself.

Awesome, thank you for the info I will give them a call. I updated my post though to state that I had a transducer with additional wires installed so while I may be easy to take off I am not sure how to remove the wires or ensure they are put back on correctly.

Totally understand! Trust me its really easy. Just deploy motor and there is one bolt your remove. If your pedal is mounted, you will have to remove those screws too. I admit I was a little annoyed I had to do it, but overall was pretty simple and I didnt have to haul the boat all the way from Conroe to Humble.

They almost as easy to remove as a depth finder one pin and disconnect transducers and power.
If it was a depth finder you wouldn't take your whole boat in would you?

If I weren't working every day, all day and night, I'd come help you take it off for the one beer I'd be able to drink taking it off. I wouldn't have anyone else around here but G&S work on my Ultrex.

I recently had a similar issue. Yesterday, as a matter of fact, I removed my Minn Kota Maxxum trolling motor for repair.

At first I couldn't figure it out. Removed two of six screws from the base but four had blind lock nuts and just spun.

So I Googled it.

Turns out there's a thumb screw on the starboard (right) side of the base. Loosen that and the whole thing slides off.

Easy peasy.

The time-consuming part was cutting the cable ties for the transducer.

Your dealer should have pulled the TM and sent it off to a local shop for repair! That's what mine did here in Plano.

Been to said shop they do quick work, but they are difficult to talk to though. Very afraid of committing to anything.

You gotta learn how to work on your stuff. The tm its self is easy to remove, the only warning is its heavy. Removing power and transducer cables is the hardest part.

U can drop your boat off at any shop that G&S deals with and they will pick it up. Bass pro in Katy is one, there are others, but G&S picks up weekly, or the shop drops off weekely, and your boat will be outside the whole time.