MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => New York => Topic started by: Pequod1 on Sep 25, 2023, 02:23 PM
-
After 3 months of learning and using the ulterra the thing that I dreaded most happened - the ulterra did not stow.
Here’s what I did. First checked circuit breaker and power. All good. Pulled plug , waited and plugged it back in. Nothing. Did a re pairing of the unit with the remote - nothing.
Here’s what worked. Shut off. Wait a couple minutes. Turn on and wait 3 seconds then in rapid succession within 2 seconds press the power button three times. This will cause the unit to go straight up. Then rotate the head so the unit will sit in the cradle and press stow on the remote. It will work. I later re deployed it and adjusted the trim level and checked it a few more times.
One thing I highly suggest is that if you have an ulterra, you better have a quick release plate. The manual wants you to manually stow. Don’t do that. Too many screws and parts that will find there way in to the water when you remove the side plate.
-
Plus if you manually stow, you are supposed to bring the unit in for service to reset the lift screw limit tolerances. I have a late 2019 build which is the latest model and I have had to replace both the steering box and the lift assembly at my cost. Mines a 36v, 60" Riptide with iLink. $3200 motor that has needed $550 worth of parts in the first 2 seasons of ownership. Forget Johnson Outdoors customer support, they are worse than useless. Honestly I hope you have better luck than me, but I will in no way buy one of these again.
-
hope they figured it all out in the new design brushless model coming out.
-
Plus if you manually stow, you are supposed to bring the unit in for service to reset the lift screw limit tolerances. I have a late 2019 build which is the latest model and I have had to replace both the steering box and the lift assembly at my cost. Mines a 36v, 60" Riptide with iLink. $3200 motor that has needed $550 worth of parts in the first 2 seasons of ownership. Forget Johnson Outdoors customer support, they are worse than useless. Honestly I hope you have better luck than me, but I will in no way buy one of these again.
Wow Geoff.
I didn't know you had all these problems with yours.
I loved mine on the Trophy, but I only had it for 2 seasons.
So, maybe it didn't have enough hours on it to start showing problems.
Is it possible that mine was a newer version than yours??
Mine wasn't a Riptide version, but that shouldn't have anything to do with the stow/deploy mechanisms I wouldn't think.
In any event, the Ulterra is so awesome, when working.
I really hope they get it right.
Having that thing unable to stow while 20 miles out on a lake or the ocean would suck big time.
-
I was thinking of putting the 87" shaft on my large boat so I wouldnt need to go to the bow to deploy. If the freshwater units have this much trouble imagine in the salt! Looks like the Terrova is the one to get.
-
I was thinking of putting the 87" shaft on my large boat so I wouldnt need to go to the bow to deploy. If the freshwater units have this much trouble imagine in the salt! Looks like the Terrova is the one to get.
Geoff's is a Riptide - saltwater.
Mine was fresh.
I did it specifically, so I didn't have to go up front.
I had a walk around cuddy and could get up there, but when it's rocking and rolling................
Same as you, I didn't want to.
And it worked awesome!!!!
I did a TON of looking online and most people that had problems were from older units.
There is some maintenance (cleaning, lubrication, and belt adjustment) required.
But I get it.
Especially if you are needing that long 87" shaft.
However, pulling that beast up in a Terrova version.................whooooosh!
Good luck.
-
Ya I will need to increase my workout routine for sure. If I recall the only difference in riptide vs regular is sacraficial anodes and color.
-
Ya I will need to increase my workout routine for sure. If I recall the only difference in riptide vs regular is sacraficial anodes and color.
also -
Fully sealed electrical components
Stainless steel components
Corrosion-resistant surface coating
-
I never had a problem in 6 yrs worth of hard use on the terrova. Just getting a little too lazy in my old age to physically walk up front and lift it. But, if the ulterra messes up again, I’ll go back to the terrova. .
-
The new brushless quest series says it has a redesigned lift mechanism so time will tell. The freshwater are out now and salt supposed to be available sometime this fall. The brushless claims to add many hours to your battery use too. Again yet to be determined but makes sense.
-
Is it possible that mine was a newer version than yours??
Nope, I specifically waited to get the latest build which was late 2019.
If I recall the only difference in riptide vs regular is sacraficial anodes and color.
Oh no, there is another HUGE difference with the Riptide- warranty coverage. I am obviously being sarcastic because Johnson Outdoors warranty service is atrocious by my experience, and I have many thousands invested with them. But if you bring a fresh water unit in that shows evidence of use in the salt you won't get covered. Not like you would anyway.
It sure is awesome when it works, but I won't buy another one and I certainly wish I went with a Terrova.
-
also -
Fully sealed electrical components
Stainless steel components
Corrosion-resistant surface coating
Yup, fully sealed unit, nicely done Minn Kota- this was after the first season of occasional use in the salt:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/21-Sylvan-Profish/i-sGnX8ZW/0/8c458322/XL/20220410_133524-XL.jpg)
-
Yea, I remember that.
Others had the same problem too.
Did you ever solve the leak Geoff?
Tons of silicone?
-
Yea, I remember that.
Others had the same problem too.
Did you ever solve the leak Geoff?
Tons of silicone?
I had to buy a whole new steering unit because I couldn't get the lift motor itself separately. So I'm basically waiting for it to fail again and cost me another $350.
Edit: just looked it up, it's up to $382 now. Goody gumdrops!
-
I love gumdrops.
Jelly beans too.
8)
-
Sorry about your troubles Jethro
Nothing like the good old inflation reduction act to build consumer trust 😡
-
Sorry about your troubles Jethro
Nothing like the good old inflation reduction act to build consumer trust 😡
No doubt Fred!
-
I love gumdrops.
Jelly beans too.
8)
Yea Geoff.
I don’t mean to trialize your problems with your Ulterra.
Like you said, when they work, it’s an awesome piece of equipment.
But the constant problems are tough to swallow.
-
Yup, fully sealed unit, nicely done Minn Kota- this was after the first season of occasional use in the salt:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/21-Sylvan-Profish/i-sGnX8ZW/0/8c458322/XL/20220410_133524-XL.jpg)
Nothing like 4k in complete junk. My buddy runs Lil Sister charters and has the same unit. Same troubles.
In hindsight maybe I shouldnt complain about my 2014 terrova not being the most accurate spot locker...it works every time.
-
Nothing like 4k in complete junk. My buddy runs Lil Sister charters and has the same unit. Same troubles.
In hindsight maybe I shouldnt complain about my 2014 terrova not being the most accurate spot locker...it works every time.
The newer ones have a far better GPS unit in them.
My newer 2020 Ulterra would hold course on autopilot FAR better than my 2013 Terrova.
Also, the puck is helpful for spotloc and especially the jog feature.
The puck doesn't help autopilot though.
Yea, the Terrova is pretty much bullet proof.
-
I have a 2009 terrova on my Lund, I can’t complain it’s not perfect but it’s still chugging along , it would be nice if it had
Lift assist ,
One of my buds has a 2020 ulterra on his ranger and no troubles so far it has great features
-
Yes lift assist would be nice.
-
I have lift assistance on my terrova...whoever is in boat with me haha...I had option when I got mine to get a ulterra with lift assistance but had heard of the lift problems so decided on the terrova... right after I got mine my buddy ( Who had to have better then all others) got the ulterra and for first year nothing but problems basically all with deploy ...so I'm happy with my decision...I wanna get a long shaft one for Grady hopefully this winter some point ...still not sure if I'll go with the hand deploy or take a chance on self deploy
Ben
( leaning towards hand deploy)
-
...still not sure if I'll go with the hand deploy or take a chance on self deploy
Ben
( leaning towards hand deploy)
I battled those thoughts HARD when I bought my setup, I wanted 36v Riptide with Link so the cost difference between the Terrova and Ulterra in that config was less than $400. I determined that I would always kick myself for not giving the Ulterra a shot for such a little cost difference in the grand scheme of things. With the Helix 9, 3 batteries and a digital on board charger it was about $5k all in so $400 is a drop in the bucket. I highly suggest you fight the thoughts and choose the Terrova. Yes, it's cool as hell to solo launch and not bother with dock lines and all that, yes it's great to be able to throttle up the main and not have to leave the helm and yes it's pretty fantastic when you are fishing alone in all respects, but it sucks to the high heavens when it fails to stow and you get those 3 buzz-beeps. Especially when you are in some choppy seas.
This year has been good, so far (as I knock on wood), I haven't smoked the batteries, it hasn't had any failures and when it works, it's amazing. The spot lock is downright amazing, I can back my boat up to a dock on the upwind side and spot lock 10" off the swim platform and it just will not move, it's truly amazing in that respect. 20mph winds, the 36v will not move more than a foot off spotlock.
One note about buying a motor with Link, if you have Humminbird graphs... there is a god d**n ethernet cord that hangs off the head unit that is for Link, I don't think the non-link units have this big, thick ethernet cord. This is a major fail of the utmost! That stupid cord get's all screwed up with the main power cord and wraps itself around anything, including the pivot for the steering housing. I have tried about 1000 different configurations with routing the cord, zip-tying it, and they all suck. In this day and age, wireless is the king and they have a friggin' 2 gauge cord just hanging off the back of the head to connect with the thousand dollar graph I have? This is probably the thing that pisses me off more than the lift mechanism failures. Why isn't it molded into the power coil? Or why isn't it completely wireless? Anyway.. I gotta stop complaining or I'm just gonna get more upset off.
-
Nothing like 4k in complete junk. My buddy runs Lil Sister charters and has the same unit. Same troubles.
In hindsight maybe I shouldnt complain about my 2014 terrova not being the most accurate spot locker...it works every time.
mine definitely isn't the most accurate spot locker. It likes to drift off the spot then turn on full speed to get back, then overshoot the spot and turn itself around.
-
I have lift assist on my smaller boat , and it is effortless , , but I’m 1 of those guys less bells and whistles the better ,less to have issues with ,I like to keep things simple , but that’s just me
-
I have lift assistance on my terrova...whoever is in boat with me haha...I had option when I got mine to get a ulterra with lift assistance but had heard of the lift problems so decided on the terrova... right after I got mine my buddy ( Who had to have better then all others) got the ulterra and for first year nothing but problems basically all with deploy ...so I'm happy with my decision...I wanna get a long shaft one for Grady hopefully this winter some point ...still not sure if I'll go with the hand deploy or take a chance on self deploy
Ben
( leaning towards hand deploy)
You may already be aware of this, but I'm doing for clarification just in case.
The lift assist on the Terrova is not the stow and deploy mechanism on the Ulterra.
On the Terrovas these days they all have lift assist.
It is a yoyo (think tape measure) device that spring loads the shaft the further down it extends making it easier to lift up and out of the water.
I circled it in red on the attached images.
(https://i.postimg.cc/WqbZyYzN/OIP.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WqbZyYzN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Fkj6PRf5/601604.png) (https://postimg.cc/Fkj6PRf5)
-
I have this version of the Terrova on my Lund Rebel and it works great!
-
I’ve only seen 1 lift assist crap out and that was after I believe 6 years of serious use
-
I’ve only seen 1 lift assist crap out and that was after I believe 6 years of serious use
I understand they are pretty easy to replace if needed too.
-
Once in a while that lift assist gets caught on the cord and watch your fingers as it flies up when freed.
-
Once in a while that lift assist gets caught on the cord and watch your fingers as it flies up when freed.
Are you a fellow lift assist hand smasher? I did it on my buddies boat, man that hurt.
-
I saw a bud pinch his once , and my ears are still bleeding
-
I'm with you Fred less is better for sure
-
got me good one early morning and watch that demon like a hawk now.
I'm still holding out hope the quest is all they are saying it is in the few reviews that are around. Just put 3 new batteries in and I get about 7 hours trolling 1.8-2mph and the claim of 5 times that with a brushless motor is crazy to me and would make going lithium only a weight saving spend and yes more charges over the lifetime.
My current terrova has been pretty bullet proof though and I've sat in one spot in a hurricane looking at the same log for hours on the spotlock casting to a school of perch.
-
Mcully I get 7 hours trolling out of my
Terrova and my batteries are 3 years old
Of course your boat is much heavier
-
Mcully, You have coordinates for that log?? Asking for a friend!!!😁
-
Mcully, You have coordinates for that log?? Asking for a friend!!!😁
Don’t do it mcully unless you get the tree branch hole cords 😃
-
Mcully I get 7 hours trolling out of my
Terrova and my batteries are 3 years old
Of course your boat is much heavier
Yeah, I'd say I get about 6 or 7 hours out of my setup constant trolling when using it in tandem with my kicker. 1.8 to 2.2 mph.
-
With my lithium I would get 2-2.5 months out of my Ulterra.
:rotflol: :rotflol: :rotflol:
-
I get 6.5- 7 hrs without my kicker
Mac didn’t realize you fished the trophy that offen😉
-
Mcully, You have coordinates for that log?? Asking for a friend!!!😁
just north of the log cabin with the hoist in 18' on the west shore and the flag mast flag pole on the south point with the big pine tree on the east shore. Can't miss it
-
Wow couldn’t be any simpler 😜
-
I get 6.5- 7 hrs without my kicker
Mac didn’t realize you fished the trophy that offen😉
lol
-
just north of the log cabin with the hoist in 18' on the west shore and the flag mast flag pole on the south point with the big pine tree on the east shore. Can't miss it
Perfect! Thanks!!😁
-
Don’t do it mcully unless you get the tree branch hole cords 😃
I’d give them up in a heartbeat…..just ask!!!😂 the “ owner “ of that hole would love the company!!😂
-
Just found a serious flaw in the ulterra. The remote does not send a signal to the motor if a person with a metal plate in their head blocks the signal! Just ask Mr. Gotagetum ;D ;D ;D
-
I give him that one…actually 3 plates hahaha
-
I’d give them up in a heartbeat…..just ask!!!😂 the “ owner “ of that hole would love the company!!😂
It funny I looked up how long that’s been on my spot which is only 20’ from yours marked in 2009 lol
My fault for sitting there for more than 3 days lol
-
I gave up telling guys where I am when I’m perching on Erie. You have to be blind not to see the fleet. I just tell everyone I’m south of Ottawa ::)
-
It funny I looked up how long that’s been on my spot which is only 20’ from yours marked in 2009 lol
My fault for sitting there for more than 3 days lol
lol! The day I was told that it was “his spot”…. I heard him call me some nice names to his buddy. He says that why you don’t use tree branches to mark your holes, a-holes like that guy will burn your spot. When he approached, I told him thank you for clarifying that for me. He says where is the branch we left… I told him I didn’t see one. I left 30 minutes later with a limit of “ his” walleye and a dozen perch. The tree branch was under my snowmobile track!😂😂😂😂😂😂
-
Alright…. Back to the ulterra issues!!!!😁
-
Alright…. Back to the ulterra issues!!!!😁
What issues?
They work fine.
:whistling:
-
lol! The day I was told that it was “his spot”…. I heard him call me some nice names to his buddy. He says that why you don’t use tree branches to mark your holes, a-holes like that guy will burn your spot. When he approached, I told him thank you for clarifying that for me. He says where is the branch we left… I told him I didn’t see one. I left 30 minutes later with a limit of “ his” walleye and a dozen perch. The tree branch was under my snowmobile track!😂😂😂😂😂😂
We used to rebait the tipups of guys like that with porkchop bones and hotdogs.
8)
-
Alright…. Back to the ulterra issues!!!!😁
I think my '21 silverado had a lifter collapse today while I had the boat in tow. Might cost a couple ulterras to fix. Must of got some saltwater in there haha.
-
I think my '21 silverado had a lifter collapse today while I had the boat in tow. Might cost a couple ulterras to fix. Must of got some saltwater in there haha.
😂
-
I think my '21 silverado had a lifter collapse today while I had the boat in tow. Might cost a couple ulterras to fix. Must of got some saltwater in there haha.
Not mine, most expensive Ulterra out there. Only bought the major parts twice (so far)!
-
Not mine, most expensive Ulterra out there. Only bought the major parts twice (so far)!
Ouch!