I'm looking at getting a new trolling motor soon, while checking out the MK Ultrex, I came across the Ulterra. Anyone run the Ulterra on your bass boat? I'm curious about the remote operation & self deploy/stow option that this TM has, seems it could be beneficial when launching solo. Thoughts?

Looks like it would literally break off in rough water to me

I run one. I fish it in lots of stump fields like at Fork. I love it. The foot control has no response so it is only used for minor adjustments occasionally. I primarily use the remote. Yes it is beneficial when launching solo. That is one of the reasons that I bought it. It is also nice just not having to deploy and stow manually during the day. You don't realize how much that saves your back until you try one all day.

I've had mine in rough water and never had an issue. I have had 2 issues since I bought it and both were my fault. The first time I mounted a 360 to it which the mount that I used was too heavy and a wire got caught up and had to take it in under warranty to have the timing redone. This last time I was running full speed and hit a stump under the surface. It flexed the TM way up under the boat and then it straightened back pushing me off the stump. That messed up the timing somewhat and I need to take it to the shop and have them adjust it. It still deploys just not as smooth. The mount held up perfectly and I really can't complain. I've seen the Ultrexes in the repair shop with shattered shafts quite a bit from the same type of collision. I don't know if it is the mount design or what that made the shaft do what it was suppose to do in bend but not break but it isn't going to break off and that is for sure.

I am tempted to get an Ultrex just because they have a mount for the 360 and it does have the remote which I am accustomed to but not sure if I am willing to give up the auto deploy.

Jarrett, that was one of my concerns as well, doesn't look very stable, especially while stowed. I'm used to being able to strap my current TM down while running in rough conditions. However, I probably won't push it as hard as I used to, getting older and taking my wife out on the lake whenever she wants to go along, not fishing tournaments and Mr Milams comment about being easy on the back not yanking the TM up and down all day is intriguing. I do like the remote, cruise control, spot lock, etc. Guess I'll do some more research, thank you for chiming in, I do appreciate the feedback.

I would choose the Ultrex unless you have problems lifting and lowering the weight of the trolling motor. The Ultrex comes with a remote control also. It just doesn't self deploy.

I did all the research on the new Lowrance Ghost and they answer all of the negatives on the other trollers. But they are pricey. You should check them out.

You can put a ram mount on the boat and clamp it to it if you want. To me it kind of defeated the purpose that I got it for. I do nothing to mine and have never had an issue. I do have a Champion so rough water isn't as rough as it could be for certain boats. I have looked at it while running and the head barely vibrates. As I get older my back gets worse and just standing and fishing will start to hurt after a while. I figure that I get an extra couple of hours on the lake before it really hurts since I have stopped manually deploying the TM. In really rough water when I am near something like maybe close to the shore or timber, I used to pull the TM up and run back to the seat to get the motor started before I was blown into something. Now, I just leave spotlock on, take my time, get a drink, crank the motor and as I start to move hit the stow button and drive off.

Just put one on my center console. Love it. Super easy to use. My one complaint is not having a 54" size which is what my old riptide was. 48" was too short and the 60" which I got is a bit long. In deeper water i can just run it a bit deeper, but in shallow water the head is going to stick up a bit more that I'd like. Course I can always fish out of the back of the boat too so there's that.

First, what kind of graph(s) do you have? If you have Lowrance, then I'd go with a Lowrance Ghost or a Motorguide Xi5 as they'll integrate with your graph. Hummingbird and Minn Kota work together the same. The spot lock on the Motorguide is more accurate than the Minn Kota but both need some sort of ram mount for stability while going across the lake. I chose the Xi5 for my bay boat but both Minn Kota and Motorguide auto deploy/stow models have tons of problems in salt water (where I fish 90% of the time)
Fresh water you'd be ok there

I have a Gen 1. Had it for 3 years now. The spot lock on it is not as good as the newer versions. I captain a high school team and let them run it, so it has hit it's fair share of rocks and stumps. They are much tougher than they look. I'm 57 and portly, I wouldn't trade the auto stow and deploy for anything.

This was my concern as well. But I went ahead and ordered the 60. It is being installed this week.

I had an Ulterra around a year, first six months all good then over next several months trim module and control board went bad. Last straw was power trim module went out second time. I told Minn Kota enough and had them send me an Ultrex to replace it(not saying common just my experience).The self deployment is nice when it worked but the thing I didn't like most was the slower speed of electric steering in submerged timber when bass fishing. As far as durability in rough water, there's a bunch doing fine all over Minnesota hanging off big walleye boats we saw past two Summer's

Mr Milam, what length shaft do you have on the Ulterra mounted on your Champion?

My boss has one on his Walleye boat. They're plenty sturdy. He fishes Lake Michigan, Huron and St. Clair and as far as I know he's never had a problem... Dan

I am using the 60". A little long and I had to get used to it flipping but the 48 would have been too short. Unlike the other trolling motors you can't just cut off the shaft.