Hi Guys,

I am adding an Ultrex to my Skeeter ZX21. I only have a Lowrance HDI 7 up front, but am planning to get a better graph up there sometime later this year. Do I need the 52" shaft with blue tooth and ipilot? Any other options I need to add to the Ultrex. I notice there are several different variations and want to make sure I'm getting the right one. Right now I'm mainly interested in the spot lock, but I want a graph that I can waypoint a brush pile and tell the Ultrex to go to that waypoint and stay there.

I have the Lowrance HDS 9 Gen 2 at the console, so I'm guessing I'll need to go with a Humminbird up front to get the most out of the Ultrex.

I have the 52-inch shaft and would not want it any shorter. I fish mainlake a lot and I don't want my prop coming out of the water--and you will find yourself fishing in the wind even more with an ultrex.

I also have a dedicated Humminbird unit linked to my Ultrex just for the GPS features--following contours and goto/spotlocking on GPS coordinates. I don't even have a transducer on this unit--it is solely used for GPS features. I have two other Lowrances on the boat and have no problem with all three working fine together.

Thanks Squib. That's good information. I guess that confirms that the Lowrance units can't control the Ultrex.

I knew that the I-pilot only worked with humminbirds, but do you have to buy the network box to connect the ultrex to a Helix/solix? Or if you're only connecting it to one graph can you just use an adapter cable/plug it directly into the unit?

I have a 52" Ultrex on an FX20. Love it. I also have 2-12 inch Lowrance Carbon units. They will not sinc with the Ultrex but it doesn't matter to me as long as I have the waypoints on my Lowrances, they get me there and the Ultrex keeps me there. Nothing wrong with that, and its a darn site better than what I had!

I'd definitely get the 52"

Just so you know, you can save waypoints in the i-pilot remote and use that to have the boat drive to your spot and spotlock on it. I'm sure it's probably easier with the linked humminbird but the remote function is an option if you don't immediately change to a bird.

It's really a nice way to start the morning. I have my favorite spots on my home lake saved in the remote. I kill the big motor about fifty yards from my spot, drop the tm and tell it where to go, then I start getting my rods out of the locker and rig em up. When I'm ready to fish- I'm spot locked on my spot. Just stand up and fish.

If you fish main lake stuff, I would strongly consider a 60" shaft on that trolling motor. I have fished with waves breaking over the front of the boat, the TM has yet to come out of the water. East Texas Basin, thanks for the tip about the I-Pilot, dummy me, never even considered this. I guess I should read the rules before I tee off!!

Is the i pilot remote a gps unit? I assume it is not, so how to you get the waypoints on the remote. If it's simple, I certainly wouldn't need another graph for now. Thanks.

the ultrex sends the waypoints to the remote via bluetooth

Most people don�t have the link option where the TM is linked to the FF. All you do is follow your map to get to the brush pile and then click spot lock on TM. The only thing that you miss is the ability to have the unit auto drive itself to the spot. The only thing that you can only do with the link version to a HB is to follow a contour. Most everything else you can do manually even without any FF.

The remote uses the gps in the trolling motor, and communicates with the motor via bluetooth. When you're spot locked on a spot, you have the option of saving that spot. Then when you come back again, you can use the "go to" button to auto-navigate to any saved spots that are nearby. Press the button and the motor takes you there.

I've been thinking of going with the 60" shaft but was looking for opinions from those that have them. I'm thinking I might have to drill new holes so that the head of the trolling motor doesn't stick off the side of the boat too much. Is it a noticeable difference fishing in shallower water with the head of the motor getting in the way?

I have the 52� on a 521 Ranger and could not see dealing with anything longer. I don�t have the 52� completely dropped either(maybe 4�-6� up and fished some wind the other day at Hubbard Creek and didn�t have a problem with the motor cavitating in couple foot waves plus I had some left to put down lower if necessary. Aside from sometime trying to stay put in open water with big 3�+ swells I can�t imagine I would want to put up with all that motor sticking up with a 60� shaft when fishing shallow. I cast sidearm and underhand a pitch a lot. My opinion. Good luck. Sure you would be happy with either.

Thanks all for the great information. I'm going with the 52 inch shaft. Gonna check on price difference with and without the i pilot link. I love the idea of using the remote to take me to a spot and sitting on that spot in the wind while I fish. Can't wait to try it out.

52� shaft is plenty long enough, IMO....

Again, unless you are going to invest in new Humminbird graphs and want to link them so you can follow contours and control the motor from the graph do not spend the extra money on the I Pilot Link. Just get the basic I Pilot model. It will do everything you just said above^^^^^^ including control everything from the included remote control. Here is a very basic explanation of the differences by Humminbird: https://www.minnkotamotors.com/support/faqs/what-difference-between-i-pilot-and-i-pilot-link You can also Google or YouTube search for way more explanations. Good luck.

Seems like the 45� got the shaft.

I remember sitting on some points with my 45� dumb motor guide 109 and would only cavitate every so often even in some solid rollers. In fact, if the trolling motor was coming out of the water that much, I honestly didn�t want to be there.

But that�s just me - I know things have changed.

I would agree with both 361V and Jman. I have the basic ipilot model and rarely use the remote. I have the 45" on my Skeeter ZX190 and has never cavitated and I've fished in some rough water on PK, Tawakoni and Fork and it's not all the way down. Now a 21-22 foot boat may sit higher in the water and rise higher in swells but for my 18'-6 boat the 45" is plenty. I would definitely not go with a 60, I think those are mostly for bay boats.

lightweight! Ha!

I have the same boat and TM, and I have had days where the constant bow lift from rollers made it impossible to spot lock. Prop doesn�t work when it�s out of the water.

If I had it all to do over, I�d get the 112 36v with the 52�. I have the �link� version and I like the nice remote, but never use the remote nor the link features. I went as far as to remove the last bird I was using for it and went with Carbons front and back.

For me, I�d forgo the link and get the biggest, longest reasonable for your boat.

I have been looking at getting one for my older boat that does not have a recessed foot petal tray. I do have a HB unit and would get the link so I could follow contour lines and spot lock. With all these features how much time do you really spend on the foot pedal? Just trying to decide if it�s worth cutting a hole in the deck.

I have a 45" Ultrex and so far (several trips) it has been fine. At least on my boat (2012 BassCat Cougar) anything longer would interferer with opening my rod box with the motor stored.

Balancing yourself on one leg while working the foot pedal is difficult and hard on the back especially when you're dodging stumps. If you're strictly a crappie fisherman it's probably not as big an issue. Few people sit in one spot bass fishing very long. Cutting a hole in the deck is really not a big deal if you have the proper tools, drill, jig saw, square and marker. Took me less than 30 minutes. Having the pedal at floor level is easier on the back and a lot easier to operate. You can buy the trays on ebay just make sure you get the right size.

Thanks for the insight. I didn�t think about looking for a tray on eBay.

How do you save the waypoints on the ultrex remote? or how do you know what spot is what? this is a really good idea to go to your first spot or any spot actually.

I have the 45 on my Triton 21TRX, no regrets on shaft length, just ordered a brand new boat, it will have the 45, i really think it depends on the boat you run, if it sits nose high like some boats i could see the 52, but my boat sits close to level.

Im pretty sure you can only do that on the link model, since you wont have a screen on the remote for the non link, but I could be wrong, On the remote for link with screen when it lists your way points it has a distance on them so when I was using that feature I would select the closest one. I have hummingbird graphs though so unsure if that changes anything like it giving you the distance? I dont use the link remote much anymore since I bought the mini remote.

You don't need the link to save waypoints on the remote, and yes the remote has a screen. I don't have the link version but I use that feature all the time. When you're locked on a spot, you just hit the save button and select the save location on the remote's screen. Then when you come back- you just need to be within a quarter mile of the spot and you can hit the "go to" button on the remote and it will show the available save points on the screen. Select one and the motor takes you there and locks on the spot.

That's pretty neat thanks East texas bassin