Ultrex vs Xi5 Minn Kota vs MotorGuide GPS Lock

[RangerDanger]

Gave my ultrex a good test last weekend and it has exceeded expectations. The only issue I've found is when you spotlock and it wants to back you up it will hit the limit of the cable steer and kick off.  If you straighten the motor and reset your good if your headed into the wind.  Just as fast or faster than a fortrex or maxxmum and no more standing on the trolling motor to run a bank.

[vernon]

2 minutes ago, RangerDanger said:

Gave my ultrex a good test last weekend and it has exceeded expectations. The only issue I've found is when you spotlock and it wants to back you up it will hit the limit of the cable steer and kick off.  If you straighten the motor and reset your good if your headed into the wind.  Just as fast or faster than a fortrex or maxxmum and no more standing on the trolling motor to run a bank.

I wonder if the head, shaft and motor position and alignment is correct?

Mine's never done that and I remember reading that the alignment and positioning of the motor in the bracket was critical in order to achieve 360 degree turning without overrunning the limitations of the cable. 

Might be worth a look as mine has been absolutely flawless. I've yet to find a single negative and just can't say enough good stuff about this thing. 

In fact, I keep wondering how they got this much technology and performance put together so inexpensively.

"Inexpensively" being relative of course!

[RangerDanger]

On 4/25/2017 at 7:49 AM, vernon said:

I wonder if the head, shaft and motor position and alignment is correct?

Mine's never done that and I remember reading that the alignment and positioning of the motor in the bracket was critical in order to achieve 360 degree turning without overrunning the limitations of the cable. 

Might be worth a look as mine has been absolutely flawless. I've yet to find a single negative and just can't say enough good stuff about this thing. 

In fact, I keep wondering how they got this much technology and performance put together so inexpensively.

"Inexpensively" being relative of course!

The install had a step to adjust the pedal flat with the boat deck, looked pretty flat to me so I didn't mess with it.  It only does it when it tries to go back and to the left.  It was also dead calm. But I think your right since it will go beyond straight reverse in the other direction.  It is one sweet trolling motor for sure.

[Macsimus]

The Ultrex sounds really good and I'd like to have one but the cost has stopped me cold. I seem to have reached a point in my fishing where I am simply tired of dumping wads of cash into the hobby. Between trolling motors, graphs, and shallow water anchors, not to mention the cost of keeping the boat, motor, batteries, and trailer going, it has gotten to the point where I just don't want to spend it any more. It's probably my age and where I'm at in my fishing. I fish a lot, 90-100 days a year. But more and more, I find myself yearning for a way to simplify, not complicate my fishing. Part of it is my belief in the lack of quality goods these days but also feeling like a tool for spending what they're asking. Plus, buying brand new is certainly no guarantee of a period without problems. And the companies that produce the stuff don't back them up without a fight.  

And no, I'm not ready for a kayak.   

Anyone else or is it just me transitioning to the grumpy old man stage? Sorry, rant over.

[vernon]

1 hour ago, Macsimus said:

The Ultrex sounds really good and I'd like to have one but the cost has stopped me cold. I seem to have reached a point in my fishing where I am simply tired of dumping wads of cash into the hobby. Between trolling motors, graphs, and shallow water anchors, not to mention the cost of keeping the boat, motor, batteries, and trailer going, it has gotten to the point where I just don't want to spend it any more. It's probably my age and where I'm at in my fishing. I fish a lot, 90-100 days a year. But more and more, I find myself yearning for a way to simplify, not complicate my fishing. Part of it is my belief in the lack of quality goods these days but also feeling like a tool for spending what they're asking. Plus, buying brand new is certainly no guarantee of a period without problems. And the companies that produce the stuff don't back them up without a fight.  

And no, I'm not ready for a kayak.   

Anyone else or is it just me transitioning to the grumpy old man stage? Sorry, rant over.

Unfortunately, I'm the worst of both worlds. I'm a grumpy old mans that LIKES to spend money!  

Much to my wife's dismay, if it's fishing or golf related I'll usually figure out a way to "afford" it. 

That being said, this Ultrex deal is off the charts in my opinion. Only time will tell regarding reliability and longevity but the performance aspect is (my opinion again) has been confirmed and it's better than I had hoped. 

In the last three days, I've hit the Spot Lock button over a hundred times and it has worked flawlessly. Every time I hook a fish I immediately engage it and I'm free to focus entirely on getting the fish in the boat. Plus, the boat doesn't move so I don't have to try and figure out where I was when I got the bite or maneuver back to the spot. 

Same thing when retying or changing lures. I mentioned this in my earlier review but I've used the North Up feature every time I've fished down a stretch of bank. I can't even describe how great it is to be able to fish with both feet flat on the deck. 

Of course, none of that means a thing if those features are unimportant to a guy or if he just can't afford it or justify the expense. 

This grumpy old man is a little less grumpy today thanks to the Ultrex though!

[Macsimus]

14 minutes ago, vernon said:

Unfortunately, I'm the worst of both worlds. I'm a grumpy old mans that LIKES to spend money!  

Much to my wife's dismay, if it's fishing or golf related I'll usually figure out a way to "afford" it. 

That being said, this Ultrex deal is off the charts in my opinion. Only time will tell regarding reliability and longevity but the performance aspect is (my opinion again) has been confirmed and it's better than I had hoped. 

In the last three days, I've hit the Spot Lock button over a hundred times and it has worked flawlessly. Every time I hook a fish I immediately engage it and I'm free to focus entirely on getting the fish in the boat. Plus, the boat doesn't move so I don't have to try and figure out where I was when I got the bite or maneuver back to the spot. 

Same thing when retying or changing lures. I mentioned this in my earlier review but I've used the North Up feature every time I've fished down a stretch of bank. I can't even describe how great it is to be able to fish with both feet flat on the deck. 

Of course, none of that means a thing if those features are unimportant to a guy or if he just can't afford it or justify the expense. 

This grumpy old man is a little less grumpy today thanks to the Ultrex though!

You make a strong case Vernon and i appreciate your response. I fish alone quite a bit and the ability to spot lock while re-tying or tending to a fish is very appealing. I suspect my grandson would appreciate it too as he's about to start with his high school fishing team and grandpa will be his boater. Maybe when the Tour 109 dies...except that it's been trouble-free for 3 years and it's predecessor, a Tour 82 ran for 12 years with no problems other than a bent shaft and I have no idea how that happened  (whistling to myself). Lol.

[vernon]

2 hours ago, Macsimus said:

You make a strong case Vernon and i appreciate your response. I fish alone quite a bit and the ability to spot lock while re-tying or tending to a fish is very appealing. I suspect my grandson would appreciate it too as he's about to start with his high school fishing team and grandpa will be his boater. Maybe when the Tour 109 dies...except that it's been trouble-free for 3 years and it's predecessor, a Tour 82 ran for 12 years with no problems other than a bent shaft and I have no idea how that happened  (whistling to myself). Lol.

Originally I had a tough time (for me anyway) justifying the purchase since the boat and Fortrex that came with it was less than a year old. But, as usual, I convinced myself in pretty short order and am glad I did. 

It helped that I sold the Fortrex for $900 and had about $400 in Cabelas bucks from the boat purchase. 

If you ever get the chance to try one I think you'll be sold though!  

[jeb]

I'm hoping they put the new Ultrex spot lock on the non-cable steer motor. I don't like cable steer motors, but MK apparently finally got the spot lock figured out on the Ultrex. I have a Terrova and have the new and older generation iPilot modules for it. The older one is much more accurate with spot lock (something to do with the GPS components in the modules) but will still drift around 10' or so. And it will do what it takes to keep you that close.

The newer one, which is the same as the current Terrova and Ulterra motors, allows much more drift. I keep it as a spare. Maybe MK will come out with an update module for those motors with the better spot lock. That would be ideal, as I'm happy with the terrova otherwise.

I thought about the MG Xi5, but it's got a pretty bad rep on reliability, as borne out by some posters comments in this thread. When it works, it's suppose to be a nice system though.

[PTR128]

I am in agreement with Vernon.

I have been running the Ultrex 112(Blue Tooth Mdl) for almost 5 months now and have been 100% satisfied with the quality and toughness of this unit. I have it networked in with my birds and all functions have worked flawlessly.  We (I captain for a high school) have definitely put it through its paces more than we should because some people like hitting every underwater tree and rock in the lake (tore a transducer off--never saw that before).  The shaft and head look as good as new.  The electronic functions are extensive and have been perfect so far.  It is extremely well built and am very glad I choked the purchase price down to upgrade.  It has changed the way we fish a lot of areas and conditions for the better.

I kept my Fortrex for a backup but I'm starting to think the space it takes up is way more valuable.  MK knocked this one out of the park in my opinion. 

[Alex Heitman]

I have a question. We have a Nitro Z-9 with a motor guide tour digital. Does anyone know if you have to make the recessed tray for the pedal bigger to fit the MK ultrex trolling motor? I think you do and I was just wondering if anyone has gone through this already.