Trolling motor

[Ranger119C]

What is the best trolling motor on the market? Looking to upgrade. I have a z119 with a 225 merc

[mjdjr18]

If you are doing research for a purchase you are probably best off going to the Electrical/Wiring/Trolling motors forum and nosing around there for a while. I don't think there's a "best". In my opinion, you need to consider what attributes are important to you and then figure out which trolling motor ticks more boxes.

[fishnfireman]

^^^ what he said^^^
IMO what electronics you have will play a big part in you choice.

[pabasshawk]

The one I have of course.

[catdude28]

The one I have of course.

But of course

To the OP, if you want to mate your electronics to your troller, then the decision is made. If not, the Lowrance Ghost seems to get the best feedback of the 3 newer brands. If you don't need brushless, the Ultrex has been around for a while and is a proven performer now.

If you have another decade to wait, Power Pole may be out with theirs.

[bassfisher444]

If by best you mean the toughest and most reliable then a Fortrex, get a 36v model.

[mactlman]

ghost if you have lowrance -- garmin if you have garmins -- ultrex if you have birds easy peesey!!!

[mattfish11]

If by best you mean the toughest and most reliable then a Fortrex, get a 36v model.

I echo this 100%. I used and borderline abused my fortrex... Still crushes.

But I'm an Ultrex user now. No regrets - Spotlock is worth it's weight in gold.

[Panama]

I have Ultrex. I have been VERY happy with it. Have had NOT one problem going on probably 4 years or so and I live on a lake and it gets a lot of use.

My main point is I would not buy a new trolling motor without spot lock. It is a great fishing tool. I use it a lot. Ultrex does a lot of other things too which I use .... but spot lock is a deal-breaker for me and other brands make their own version of it as well.

By the way, I pulled of another 24 volt TM and did the swap myself. It is about a 1 day job or even less. I bought my Ultrex from Russell Marine at a good price way back then.

[Thamelau]

My opinion is that the connecting with your electronics is really overstated. It's just like all the other do-dads my Ultrex does for me that I don't use (and know very few people that do while bass fishing). Maybe I am missing out big time, but the only function I could imagine using is telling my trolling motor to spot lock on this waypoint. Other than that I wouldn't use contour following, and I don't even know what else there is. It seems so marginal that electronics brand would have very little affect on my choice personally.

Spotlock would be the number 1 thing on my list of things. Even shallow water fishing, I use it all the time. Brushless seems overstated to me as well. Most serious bass fisherman are already outfitted with size 31 trolling batteries (or at least batteries that last a whole day, even if they are smaller), so longevity doesn't really add benefit in my mind. It's like only being able to drink a gallon of milk before it expires, but buying a 3 gallon pale. The power to me is the same. How many fisherman really need more power? I have fished in hellacious wind and my 36V Ultrex with size 31 Sams Club batteries that are 5 years old now have never died and never let me down towing a tank of a ZX225 Skeeter. I think that the noise reduction could be something that actually adds confidence to some of my fishing, but even having Lowrances, I don't know if it would justify the increased price of the Ghost over the Ultrex for me. Quick search yielded an Ultrex for $2800 from BPS and a Ghost for $3500. That's $700 for a motor that the only benefit I would see would be a bit quieter.

I guess ultimately my recommendation is the Ultrex. It may not be the newest or prettiest, but it covers all my bases (and all the bases of most fisherman I know), saves a chunk of money, and I know what will more than likely need serviced, where I can take it to have it serviced, how to do most of the service myself, and where I can buy parts. Maybe the others are the same way on the service part, IDK.

[pabasshawk]

I had an Ultrex which was great for 3 years until the steering sensor went out one week into a 6 week trip to Lake Champlain. Couldn't get it repaired in time to save the trip so bought a new Fortrex that worked fine and save the trip but I sure missed the spot lock. When I got home I installed a new ghost which has been great. Have since repaired the Ultrex so I now have a Fortrex and Ultrex as spares. The ghost is a cleaner installation as far as wire and cable management.

[like2fish2]

Is anyone using a 24 Volt ultrex with spot lock on a Z520C? If so, how do you like the performance?

[Mcjenson]

My opinion is that the connecting with your electronics is really overstated. It's just like all the other do-dads my Ultrex does for me that I don't use (and know very few people that do while bass fishing). Maybe I am missing out big time, but the only function I could imagine using is telling my trolling motor to spot lock on this waypoint. Other than that I wouldn't use contour following, and I don't even know what else there is. It seems so marginal that electronics brand would have very little affect on my choice personally.

Spotlock would be the number 1 thing on my list of things. Even shallow water fishing, I use it all the time. Brushless seems overstated to me as well. Most serious bass fisherman are already outfitted with size 31 trolling batteries (or at least batteries that last a whole day, even if they are smaller), so longevity doesn't really add benefit in my mind. It's like only being able to drink a gallon of milk before it expires, but buying a 3 gallon pale. The power to me is the same. How many fisherman really need more power? I have fished in hellacious wind and my 36V Ultrex with size 31 Sams Club batteries that are 5 years old now have never died and never let me down towing a tank of a ZX225 Skeeter. I think that the noise reduction could be something that actually adds confidence to some of my fishing, but even having Lowrances, I don't know if it would justify the increased price of the Ghost over the Ultrex for me. Quick search yielded an Ultrex for $2800 from BPS and a Ghost for $3500. That's $700 for a motor that the only benefit I would see would be a bit quieter.

I guess ultimately my recommendation is the Ultrex. It may not be the newest or prettiest, but it covers all my bases (and all the bases of most fisherman I know), saves a chunk of money, and I know what will more than likely need serviced, where I can take it to have it serviced, how to do most of the service myself, and where I can buy parts. Maybe the others are the same way on the service part, IDK.

I agree with you that connecting electronics to trolling motors is overrated with most bass fisherman. I don't even bother connecting my 2D since I'm running livescope and 360.

I will disagree on the brushless motor though. I have a force, and ran ultrex's for years. I think the brushless motor, improved cable management, and better mount make the added expense over the ultrex worth it imo. And when you get into an ultrex with ipilot link / DI / SI, they are right around the same price as the force / ghost.

[99R93S]

My opinion is that the connecting with your electronics is really overstated. It's just like all the other do-dads my Ultrex does for me that I don't use (and know very few people that do while bass fishing). Maybe I am missing out big time, but the only function I could imagine using is telling my trolling motor to spot lock on this waypoint. Other than that I wouldn't use contour following, and I don't even know what else there is. It seems so marginal that electronics brand would have very little affect on my choice personally.

Spotlock would be the number 1 thing on my list of things. Even shallow water fishing, I use it all the time. Brushless seems overstated to me as well. Most serious bass fisherman are already outfitted with size 31 trolling batteries (or at least batteries that last a whole day, even if they are smaller), so longevity doesn't really add benefit in my mind. It's like only being able to drink a gallon of milk before it expires, but buying a 3 gallon pale. The power to me is the same. How many fisherman really need more power? I have fished in hellacious wind and my 36V Ultrex with size 31 Sams Club batteries that are 5 years old now have never died and never let me down towing a tank of a ZX225 Skeeter. I think that the noise reduction could be something that actually adds confidence to some of my fishing, but even having Lowrances, I don't know if it would justify the increased price of the Ghost over the Ultrex for me. Quick search yielded an Ultrex for $2800 from BPS and a Ghost for $3500. That's $700 for a motor that the only benefit I would see would be a bit quieter.

I guess ultimately my recommendation is the Ultrex. It may not be the newest or prettiest, but it covers all my bases (and all the bases of most fisherman I know), saves a chunk of money, and I know what will more than likely need serviced, where I can take it to have it serviced, how to do most of the service myself, and where I can buy parts. Maybe the others are the same way on the service part, IDK.

I agree with you that connecting electronics to trolling motors is overrated with most bass fisherman. I don't even bother connecting my 2D since I'm running livescope and 360.

I will disagree on the brushless motor though. I have a force, and ran ultrex's for years. I think the brushless motor, improved cable management, and better mount make the added expense over the ultrex worth it imo. And when you get into an ultrex with ipilot link / DI / SI, they are right around the same price as the force / ghost.

I tend to agree with Thamelau on this one, but only because of how I fish. All my stuff is setup to work together and I have never used it once, I just fish simply. Now if it ever failed me and needed replacing, I do appreciate the insight on the force. I get a feeling my ultrex will last me a long while yet, but one never knows.

Lot of good info here and again in the trolling section to read up on. Lots and lots of opinions, IMO the main thing I think is be realistic on how you will use and so you get what you need.

[bassfisher444]

Is anyone using a 24 Volt ultrex with spot lock on a Z520C? If so, how do you like the performance?

I would get a 36 volt for sure on a boat that size.

[Rangerdeepv]

I have the same boat as OP and the Ghost sits on mine as there were already a couple Lowrance units there.

[adchunts]

Is anyone using a 24 Volt ultrex with spot lock on a Z520C? If so, how do you like the performance?

If you only fish on dead calm days and don’t want to move around much, it might work. I have a 24V Ultrex on my 18’ Bass Cat and have considered moving up to 36V. Your boat is twice my boat (literally), so I don’t think you would be happy at 24V.

[KandKKustomz]

it will be the move by PP 100%. no matter what brand lowrance garmin , minn kota or PP you choose we can get it to you at a great price fast and free and no tax

[Highcentered]

I run an Ultrex and love it. If I had to replace it I'd probably get a Ghost since it seems to be a proven unit now but the brushless Ultrex that may or may not be out yet seems promising. On a 19+ foot glass rig do 36v for sure.

[Highcentered]

Is anyone using a 24 Volt ultrex with spot lock on a Z520C? If so, how do you like the performance?

It'll work...BARELY. Would be about like having a 12v on a 17' aluminum rig.