Boat Position Breakthrough system for raising and lowering trolling motors
from The Fishing Wire

For years, anglers with bad backs have been asking for an auto-stow trolling motor-and now Minn Kota has released just such a motor-read about it here:

New fully-automatic Minn Kota Ulterra raises the bar in boat control

Boat control is critical in the quest to catch more fish, and electric trolling motors have long been a key ally in positioning our fishing platforms, especially when wind, current and other complicating factors come into play.

Still, even the finest trolling motors at times leave us wanting more, particularly when we’re faced with the prospect of manually deploying, stowing and adjusting the height of the powerhead.

That is, until now. Minn Kota’s new Ulterra bowmount trolling motor gives anglers complete, automated control over these critical functions, revolutionizing the art of boat positioning in the process.

“Along with a full suite of high-performance features such as integrated i-Pilot Link, the fast-response, electric steer Ulterra packs the groundbreaking punch of auto deploy, stow and power trim features,” say s veteran guide, tournament champ and all-around fishing expert Scott Glorvigen.

Minn Kota’s Ulterra deploys, stows and trims up or down with a push of a button.

While the technology is cutting edge, the concept is simple. “With the push of a button, Ulterra makes us more effective, efficient and safer fishermen,” Glorvigen continues. Operated by handheld remote or foot pedal, the unit responds to Auto Stow, Auto Deploy, Power Trim and a host of other commands. Plus, thanks to the i-Pilot system and slick features such as Spot Lock, it offers complete, fully automated boat control.

“It’s a huge advantage in a variety of situations,” says Glorvigen. “For example, shallow water cover and structure can be fish magnets. With traditional trolling motors, you really have to pay attention to follow tight contours and manually respond to changes in water depth and the height of the cover. Ulterra automates and dominates these scenarios, so I can focus on fishing.”

Effortless operation also encourages anglers to drop the hammer in areas they previously passed up. “Manually deploying and stowing traditional trollers is enough of a hassle that there are times we elect not to use them because it’s easier to leave them in the cradle and move on,” says Glorvigen.

Examples of commonly lost opportunities include downsized slices of structure and cover that seem to small to justify the effort required to drop the trolling motor, along with current- and wave-washed areas where the boat would quickly slip out of position before we could fire up the bowmount. Sadly, such areas can be sweet spots, meaning the cost of not fishing them adds up to countless missed catches.

“Also, think about how many times you’ve burned daylight idling over dead water while moving from one high-percentage area to another, only because it’s such a pain to run up to the bow and stow the trolling motor,” Glorvigen adds. “Ulterra takes away all the excuses.”

Ulterra’s fully automated operation allows anglers to focus on fishing.
On the safety front, Ulterra eliminates the need to bend over the bow to stow the trolling motor. “Although I’ve never fallen overboard, there have been many times, especially in rough water, where I’ve had to be really careful,” Glorvigen says, noting that Ulterra’s auto stow and deploy also puts an end to out-of-control drifts while toggling between main engine and trolling motor. “No more scrambling between the bow and the helm while the boat’s at the mercy of wind, waves and current,” he explains. “You’re in control the whole time, with no chance of drifting into nearby boats, the dock or other water hazards.”

Other safety features include a low-battery alarm that warns when power levels approach the minimum needed to stow the unit. “You can still use the motor when an alarm sounds,” says Glorvigen. “And if the power does drop too low to raise the powerhead, you can always manually store it.” Both the foot control and handheld remote are also armed with failsafe measures to prevent accidental deployment.

To accommodate a variety of boats and uses, the new Ulterra is available in 24- and 36-volt systems yielding 80 and 112 pounds of thrust, respectively, with shaft lengths of 45 and 60 inches. “The longer version is critical in heavy seas when you need the powerhead as far in the water as possible,” says Glorvigen.

“In deployment mode, both sizes rise vertically, then drop the lower unit straight down,” he adds. “So you can deploy them amazingly close to a dock or other structure. It’s one more convenience and safety benefit of this great new boat-positioning system.”

Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI2_-BBheB8&feature=youtu.be