Im looking to buy a new trolling motor and would like TFF's thoughts on a riptide ulterra 80lbs thrust with link. Do yall think the kinks have been worked out on them, is the extra money for the link worth it yalls opinion. Thanks in advance for thoughts

Mine has been working great with no issues and the added benefit of ease of launching is worth every penny they're getting for them..... When you get it you'll question yourself why you didn't get it sooner....

Thanks Sk, by the way keep up the good work on the youtube vids, really enjoy them

I have the freshwater version. My boat partner who was previously in charge of anchor management, said if this one ever breaks, he will buy another one.

We are on our second Ulterra. The First Generation Spot Lock was horrible.

Then MinnKota came out with a fix for that and it was great.

We broke our first motor right after we bought the upgrade by tagging an underwater stump. (It happens).

We bought our second Ulterra and everything was working great on it.

Around early April we went to Fork and when we got up into the timber we could not get it to deploy.

We have a lot of time on the water and we know the product well and also know several trouble shooting techniques with it. We could not get it to deploy. Our trip was done.

It was at the authorized repair shop in Garland for two months.

It was under warranty and we pretty much got a brand new motor back from the shop.
They never told us what was wrong because I don't even think they knew themselves.

Everything on the motor looks brand spanking new.

I got it mounted a week ago, but we just have not had time due to my work schedule to get out on the water.

This was the first time we ever had an issue with deploying it.

The ole proverbial Murphy's Law.

We absolutely love our Ulterra and I would buy another one in a heartbeat despite what just happened to us.

I think you will love it.

Have had mine (freshwater 24 volt - 80 lb thrust) for about a year now. Every once in awhile (3 times) it loses it's mind in stows backwards - with the prop on the wrong side. Easy fix - simply turn off and reposition in property alignment and turn back on. Must reboot something. Only problem I've ever had with mine. Love it and wouldn't trade for another. Hope this helps.

Awesome good to know

The Link gives you a ulterra control menu right on your Humminbird fishfinder, very convenient, don't have to use the remote.

Also recommend buying one of the Micro Remotes. The large remote that comes with the trolling motor is big and heavy around your neck.

There probably good for brushpiles but electric steer motors are too slow IMO to fish timber effectively! I do love my MK Ultrex though. And it breaks down too!

Love my Ultrex. The only issue I have, is when I have it on spot lock and if it turns straight to the back, it kicks off spot lock. When I bought it, my wife said, the trolling motor is worth more than your boat.

Thanks for the great info, but after some online looking it seems the riptide ulterra with link may be discontinued which is a bummer since that is what i was leaning towards

I second SK, the auto deploy is worth the price. As a person who fishes mostly by myself, to be able to back my boat in, let it drift free and deploy and spot lock away from everyone while I park is a huge advantage. The one thing that I do not like is the steer motors and the pedal operation. Commands are slow to transfer and slow to slew. Much prefer the cable steering but, you can't have everything.

Is yours noisy as well, whe n it turns?