Got home from the Skeeter tournament this weekend and noticed corrosion on my ultrex and a little on my jack plate. Did some research and found lots of people talking about electrolysis caused by ground issues from incorrect wiring which makes sense. Problem is my ultrex was professionally installed 4 years ago and this is the first time I’m having issues. What could cause this this far down the road?
The whole weekend, my sonar was not working on my bow graph and the power switch on the ultrex was acting up as well.

Other than looks, I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over it. My Ultrex doesn’t even have powder coating on the motor anymore. It is white, chalky, powdered looking. It’s 5 years old and still going. Been ugly since the second trip to the lake when I banged it into some rip rap.

The fish don’t care how it looks.

I’m not worried about the looks, whatever is going on is causing issues. My graph won’t read depth or show sonar, the power switch on the ultrex isn’t working right and several times over the weekend the motor would run for a second or two then shut off

Have you looked at wiring in the back of the boat? Ground come loose? What about the anode on your motor?

I couldn’t find any loose wires. What am I looking for on the anode? I know where it is but don’t really understand its job.

After I installed an ultrex on my boat I had some serious electrolysis issues on the ultrex and jackplate. After some internet research I ran an 8 gauge ground wire from the motor battery to the jackplate. Fixed it right up and has kept the electrolysis at bay for the last three years.

I notice this morning a ground wire on my big motor

I had the same problem it even discolored my prop. It turned out to be the trolling motor had water in the lower unit and was trying to find ground. Luckily my ultrex was just under 3 years old and the replaced under warranty

I wonder if it’s because the skeeter has a metal deck and the ultrex is mounted down to it?

The Ultrex is mounted to fiberglass on a Skeeter.

Did you keep the boat in a slip over the weekend???... If not, sure sounds like a back ground where along the way... Good read on what the anodes purpose are... Dan

https://www.boats.net/blog/boat-motor-anodes-what-they-do

I just got a new one a few months back, but my old one had corrosion all over the head. Had several good service shops look at it over the years to check the ground issue. Always checked out good. That trolling motor had one instance about year 3 of having it where it got some water in the head. I didn't know the seal was bad until the armature went out. All the service guys seemed to think the corrosion came from that issue. The motor lasted a long time after that and never had that particular issue again.

The bolts go thru - I assume the bottom side is aluminum- the entire deck is correct? That’s just fiberglass on top..🤷

Bottom side of all mine have been fiberglass including my current Skeeter.

👍👍