What will the next improvements for Trolling Motors be? 2024
tcbass reply :
With features like Spotlock that keeps you within 1.5 feet or so of your spot, Bluetooth, cellphone apps, and remote controllability, trolling motors like the Minn Kota Ulterra are already really advanced and impressive
I know that Motor Guide already has a wireless foot pedal, don't know why Minn Kota doesn't have that yet. But that could be a big improvement for the Ulterra. No more 5 feet of cord when you are moving your foot pedal around. I know a lot of people never move theirs, but I move mine depending on what side of the boat I'm fishing on.
So, what do you think the next big improvements in trolling motors will be?
Puggz reply :
i picke up up a new Ulterrra iLink BT a few weeks back and I'll say its impressive. I've previously ran a '13 Terrova iPilot and a '15 Ulterra iPilot. The new motor is more responsive and quieter.
Going forward I'd like to see even better controllabilitly with the spot-lock as a wind plays havoc with it. Maybe better logic in the controller and a user select-able sensitivity that would allow greater, less frequent changes.
Personally, I think there's merit to having the foot petal hard wired tho. One less thing to charge and a great backup in case the BT fails.
OperationEagle reply :
The boat control features on the iPilot Link are really such a huge advancement.
They did a nice job with the improved spot lock radius, jog feature, circling, follow the contour...its crazy what the unit can do.
Mine is with a 2016 motor and its loud as it adjusts or as you direct it left or right. Having it as quiet as the cable steers would be nice.
In terms of new capability maybe a better way to label waypoints where it automatically assigns the lake name followed by a date stamp. I guess this would be in conjunction with the humminbird F finder.
Speaking of...the autochart live is awesome as well. Last week I got into a mess of largies in a spot. "AC lived" the area to figure out why they were there and found a gap in vegetation due to bottom hardness. Will be a spot I go back to next time I'm on the lake.
tcbass reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 5:23 AM, Puggz said:i picke up up a new Ulterrra iLink BT a few weeks back and I'll say its impressive. I've previously ran a '13 Terrova iPilot and a '15 Ulterra iPilot. The new motor is more responsive and quieter.
Going forward I'd like to see even better controllabilitly with the spot-lock as a wind plays havoc with it. Maybe better logic in the controller and a user select-able sensitivity that would allow greater, less frequent changes.
Personally, I think there's merit to having the foot petal hard wired tho. One less thing to charge and a great backup in case the BT fails.
Maybe the footpedal could be wireless, but come with a hardwire backup in case the bluetooth goes out, similar to using a printer wirelessly but having the USB cord to hardwire it for set-up.
MT204 reply :
On 7/13/2017 at 3:24 PM, tcbass said:
I know that Motor Guide already has a wireless foot pedal, don't know why Minn Kota doesn't have that yet. But that could be a big improvement for the Ulterra. No more 5 feet of cord when you are moving your foot pedal around. I know a lot of people never move theirs, but I move mine depending on what side of the boat I'm fishing on.
So, what do you think the next big improvements in trolling motors will be?
I've got a cordless pedal on my 10 plus year old MinnKota.
12poundbass reply :
Wireless foot pedal is nothing great. I use my key fob all the time because I hate the wireless foot. Did I mention the key fob is extremely inconvenient but I prefer it over the wireless foot.
tcbass reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 5:51 AM, 12poundbass said:Wireless foot pedal is nothing great. I use my key fob all the time because I hate the wireless foot. Did I mention the key fob is extremely inconvenient but I prefer it over the wireless foot.
I hate using my remote and love my footpedal. Different strokes for different folks, eh?
Puggz reply :
As always things of this nature are very subjective. One thing you can't take away from MK is the way it integrates with the HB products. And as operationeagle noted, they are always improving.
IMHO, When it comes to trolling motors, Motorguide is a distant second. I just wish the HB touch screen units were a bit more reasonably priced. The Helix units are awesome but touch screen adds a whole other level of convenience. The Solix series seems to be designed more around the off-shore angler yet it would be right at home on my Ranger Fisherman.
A-Jay reply :
While we're dreaming here, I'd be up for seeing a voice controlled unit.
The technologies are out there.
My newest GoPro's can all be used hands free from a distance by simply say "GoPro take a picture" or "GoPro start / stop video".
An effective option in the wind is their very small voice activated Wi-Fi remote worn on my shirt color.
Once paired with the camera (can manage more than one simultaneously which is cool) it allows me to preform a number of necessary camera actions from a distance & hands free.
I can see me being very happy to just say "Ultrex deploy / Recover" or "Ultrex go spot lock" or "jog left 10 ft" or even "Go find the Big Bass".
A-Jay
tcbass reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 9:59 PM, A-Jay said:While we're dreaming here, I'd be up for seeing a voice controlled unit.
The technologies are out there.
My newest GoPro's can all be used hands free from a distance by simply say "GoPro take a picture" or "GoPro start / stop video".
An effective option in the wind is their very small voice activated Wi-Fi remote wore on my shirt color.
Once paired with the camera (can manage more simultaneously which is cool) it allows me to preform a number of necessary camera actions from a distance & hands free.
I can see me being very happy to just say "Ultex deploy / Recover" or "Ultrex go spot lock" or "jog left 10 ft" or even "Go find the Big Bass".
A-Jay
Good point! Almost all newer mid-range vehicles use voice control now. That would be nice.
I wish GoPro made one that zoomed! "Gopro, zoom 2x."
A-Jay reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 10:32 PM, tcbass said:
Good point! Almost all newer mid-range vehicles use voice control now. That would be nice.
I wish GoPro made one that zoomed! "Gopro, zoom 2x."
Me too.
The Superview is nice but quite often so is getting a little closer to the action.
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
I would like to see a hybrid cable steer/power drive model. Working around docks sucks with a power drive. Staying on off shore structure sucks with a cable steer. Give me both!
12poundbass reply :
My brother in law used to work for Motorguide. Attwood (Attwood, Motorguide,Mercury, Brunswick all the same company) is only 30 minutes from me. This is where they test and manufacture Motorguide. When he worked there project Falcon if I remember right was the Xi5 code name. He'd give me little hints here and there. Mostly vague for fear of being fired.
Side note the selfish side of me wished he still worked there, they'd have an employee sale every year and they'd have Attwood and Motorguide products for 10% of retail.
On 7/14/2017 at 10:41 PM, J Francho said:I would like to see a hybrid cable steer/power drive model. Working around docks sucks with a power drive. Staying on off shore structure sucks with a cable steer. Give me both!
I thought MK's new TM was a hybrid?
J Francho reply :
I know nothing! I'll have to look it up.
Got it, from their FAQ. Wayyyyyyy cool. I should pay better attention!
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/Support/FAQs/FAQ-Details/Is-the-Ultrex-trolling-motor-a-cable-steer-driven-motor-like-the-Minn-Kota-Fortrex,-Maxxum-and-Edge-/
tcbass reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 10:55 PM, J Francho said:I know nothing! I'll have to look it up.
Got it, from their FAQ. Wayyyyyyy cool. I should pay better attention!
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/Support/FAQs/FAQ-Details/Is-the-Ultrex-trolling-motor-a-cable-steer-driven-motor-like-the-Minn-Kota-Fortrex,-Maxxum-and-Edge-/
"The future is now!!!"
crypt reply :
voice control....or a some type of heads up control, say attached to glasses or a fixture on your head to steer where you want.
12poundbass reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 10:55 PM, J Francho said:I know nothing! I'll have to look it up.
Got it, from their FAQ. Wayyyyyyy cool. I should pay better attention!
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/Support/FAQs/FAQ-Details/Is-the-Ultrex-trolling-motor-a-cable-steer-driven-motor-like-the-Minn-Kota-Fortrex,-Maxxum-and-Edge-/
If you came up with the idea on your own that's awesome.....just a day late and a dollar short. Maybe next time. ?
moguy1973 reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 9:59 PM, A-Jay said:While we're dreaming here, I'd be up for seeing a voice controlled unit.
The technologies are out there.
My newest GoPro's can all be used hands free from a distance by simply say "GoPro take a picture" or "GoPro start / stop video".
An effective option in the wind is their very small voice activated Wi-Fi remote wore on my shirt color.
Once paired with the camera (can manage more simultaneously which is cool) it allows me to preform a number of necessary camera actions from a distance & hands free.
I can see me being very happy to just say "Ultex deploy / Recover" or "Ultrex go spot lock" or "jog left 10 ft" or even "Go find the Big Bass".
A-Jay
As I was reading through this I was thinking it needed some voice automation like Alexa or Siri or Google assistant or whatever. Then I read your post. The remote on these units seems great to be able to operate it from a distance but you can't use the remote while fishing. Got a big fish on and you are heading towards rocks or a dock or waves are pushing you around you can't reach for the remote very easily to steer. Being able to say "Enable spot lock" or whatever and have it do it would be great.
Scott F reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 12:05 AM, moguy1973 said:As I was reading through this I was thinking it needed some voice automation like Alexa or Siri or Google assistant or whatever. Then I read your post. The remote on these units seems great to be able to operate it from a distance but you can't use the remote while fishing. Got a big fish on and you are heading towards rocks or a dock or waves are pushing you around you can't reach for the remote very easily to steer. Being able to say "Enable spot lock" or whatever and have it do it would be great.
The models with remotes are used by a lot of guys who are not bass fishermen. The walleye and muskie anglers for the most part only use the remote and never use the foot pedal. They probably buy more of these units than the bass fishermen do who still seem to prefer the cable steer.
I could see mobile phone apps that control trolling motors to remove the computer power needed for stuff like voice recognition to your phone and not in the motor itself.
Edit; I just looked this up. There already are phone apps for operating Minn Kota iPilot and iPilot link trolling motors. Voice commands are not supported. Maybe in future versions.
A-Jay reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 12:05 AM, moguy1973 said:As I was reading through this I was thinking it needed some voice automation like Alexa or Siri or Google assistant or whatever. Then I read your post. The remote on these units seems great to be able to operate it from a distance but you can't use the remote while fishing. Got a big fish on and you are heading towards rocks or a dock or waves are pushing you around you can't reach for the remote very easily to steer. Being able to say "Enable spot lock" or whatever and have it do it would be great.
@moguy1973 Check out the features on this unit-
Something similar would certainly addresses your concerns.
I have this and it works as advertised.
https://www.amazon.com/GoPro-Waterproof-Activated-Official-Accessory/dp/B01LWW1ZK9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500049430&sr=8-1&keywords=gopro+voice+activated+remote
A-Jay
OperationEagle reply :
Re using phones as a remote seems like a good idea but I am always afraid of dropping my phone into the water.
Also interested in preserving battery life w my phone.
The current MK app for the iphone is very limited as it has only basic functions. As an example there is no stow and deploy button for the ulterra on the phone. I left my remote on the boat expecting to use it once I launched it. Had to go for a morning swim to drag my boat back to the dock. Guaranteed that I wont do that again! If I had a stow and deploy capability I could have used my phone instead.
Voice command is an excellent add that would be useful. Might be annoying to others in the boat however as adjustments are often made in quick successive order.
12poundbass reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 12:36 AM, OperationEagle said:Re using phones as a remote seems like a good idea but I am always afraid of dropping my phone into the water.
Also interested in preserving battery life w my phone.
The current MK app for the iphone is very limited as it has only basic functions. As an example there is no stow and deploy button for the ulterra on the phone. I left my remote on the boat expecting to use it once I launched it. Had to go for a morning swim to drag my boat back to the dock. Guaranteed that I wont do that again! If I had a stow and deploy capability I could have used my phone instead.
Voice command is an excellent add that would be useful. Might be annoying to others in the boat however as adjustments are often made in quick successive order.
I too went for an early morning swim recently. I told my 6 year old to not let go of the rope as I was launching. He didn't let go....he also didn't move the rope as I was backing down. SNAP! There goes the boat. After retrieving the boat we both had a laugh.
Sam reply :
The Grass Goat, or a similar device on the shafts.
J Francho reply :
On 7/14/2017 at 11:53 PM, 12poundbass said:If you came up with the idea on your own that's awesome.....just a day late and a dollar short. Maybe next time. ?
I mentioned it YEARS ago here, during a heated thread on which was better. I'll always contend that it depends your style and fishing and locations you fish. This appears to be the answer to all of that.
12poundbass reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 1:45 AM, J Francho said:
I mentioned it YEARS ago here, during a heated thread on which was better. I'll always contend that it depends your style and fishing and locations you fish. This appears to be the answer to all of that.
Years ago you posted it on here? Hmmm I think your idea and millions in royalties were stolen then. You could be a God to many fisherman across this globe! What do ya do? Just go back to work I suppose?
BassNJake reply :
I saw that power pole has released the Vision which is some sort of touch screen tablet for a lot of various electric controls.
This all-in-one touch-screen tablet allows multiple boat accessories to be connected and controlled by one smart device. VISION is the marine industry's new Digital Dash. Anything on the boat that has ON/OFF capability can now be expanded and custom controlled with dimmers, presets and timers.
http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/story/1499891160790jr51xzks
It's not that far of a stretch to think that voice control would be able to be integrated into this type of device.
Getting the trolling motor companies to allow another companies device to run their controls is where the issue would be.
I could see the boat companies coming out with some sort of hybrid computer control system and incorporating WIFI capabilities like the newer cars/trucks
12poundbass reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 2:14 AM, BassNJake said:I saw that power pole has released the Vision which is some sort of touch screen tablet for a lot of various electric controls.
This all-in-one touch-screen tablet allows multiple boat accessories to be connected and controlled by one smart device. VISION is the marine industry's new Digital Dash. Anything on the boat that has ON/OFF capability can now be expanded and custom controlled with dimmers, presets and timers.
http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/story/1499891160790jr51xzks
It's not that far of a stretch to think that voice control would be able to be integrated into this type of device.
Getting the trolling motor companies to allow another companies device to run their controls is where the issue would be.
I could see the boat companies coming out with some sort of hybrid computer control system and incorporating WIFI capabilities like the newer cars/trucks
I do too and then the boat prices will be even further from my reach. A moderately rigged bass boat will set you back 50k easily, that's being generous. If these new things became standard boats we be like vehicles now, nobody can work on them unless you have 4 engineering degrees.
Russ E reply :
I have owned the new Minn Kota Ultrex for 6 months now.
sits on a fortrex mount, runs like cable steer and has all of the advanced functions like spotlock and auto pilot.
I will never go back to a straight cable steer.
it was expensive, between $2100.00 and $2500.00. depending on what options you want.
I debated between the fortrex and power poles or just buying the Ultrex.
glad I chose the ultrex it works great.
I like being able to control it with a normal foot control, but being able to drive from anywhere in the boat with the remote. You can go back and forth between the two instantaneously.
tcbass reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 4:14 AM, Weedwhacker said:I have owned the new Minn Kota Ultrex for 6 months now.
sits on a fortrex mount, runs like cable steer and has all of the advanced functions like spotlock and auto pilot.
I will never go back to a straight cable steer.
it was expensive, between $2100.00 and $2500.00. depending on what options you want.
I debated between the fortrex and power poles or just buying the Ultrex.
glad I chose the ultrex it works great.
I like being able to control it with a normal foot control, but being able to drive from anywhere in the boat with the remote. You can go back and forth between the two instantaneously.
I do use my remote when stowing/deploying from the driver seat.
And I can steer the boat when I have people fishing up front so that's nice too.
gimruis reply :
If the Ultrex had been introduced one year earlier I would have gotten that too instead of a maxxum/talon combination. Not sure if ya'll saw this, but there's a new talon that's 15 feet deep. It also has a light mounted to it.
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/NewTalon/
tcbass reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 8:44 AM, gimruis said:If the Ultrex had been introduced one year earlier I would have gotten that too instead of a maxxum/talon combination. Not sure if ya'll saw this, but there's a new talon that's 15 feet deep. It also has a light mounted to it.
https://www.minnkotamotors.com/NewTalon/
If I get a new boat I'll go with Talons and the Ulterra. I love my Ulterra but I fish docks a lot and the wind still moves you around some, a good way to crash into a dock.
slonezp reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 2:31 AM, 12poundbass said:I do too and then the boat prices will be even further from my reach. A moderately rigged bass boat will set you back 50k easily, that's being generous. If these new things became standard boats we be like vehicles now, nobody can work on them unless you have 4 engineering degrees.
12poundbass reply :
On 7/15/2017 at 11:04 AM, slonezp said:
Somebody else posted something similar a couple months back. That's crazy! I was talking to the service manager at the Tracker dealer I went to a month or 2 ago and he had a boat he had just got done installing 30k worth of electronics in. Unbelievable.
Quarry Man reply :
Trolling motors that read your mind
trolling motors that work with the fish finders and take you to the fish
Motors that last longer go faster and are less frustrating to use
trolling motors that cost more
Preytorien reply :
I just wish there was more than ONE option for a foot controlled transom-mount trolling motor. As far as my Google skills go I've only found one, the MotorGuide Bulldog. There's a product called ProControll Foot Controll Adapter, but it's gotten mixed reviews. Seems like there would be a good market for something like that.
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
Surprised that no one has said this yet and it might not be the next thing but I'm sure it's coming, I forsee a Hybrid outboard in the not too distant future that would use both gasoline and electric stepper motors in some kind of scheme to save the planet. Having an electric motor as a part of the outboard would give you the ability to troll with the outboard as well, then the next thing you know your outboard will have a pedal drive, a remote control, and all of the other bells and whistles that you can get on a trolling motor. That $98,995 boat listed above will probably be a cool $148,995 with the eco friendly my package isn't big enough package.
J Francho reply :
Torqeedo has lithium powered outboards that have the equivalent thrust as a 150 hp in development. It's coming for sure. I think they will step over the complicated hybrid technology, though. On a side note, my girlfriend works at lithium battery manufacturer. They do cell phones, cars, and other stuff. Pretty wild technology.
http://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/outboards/deep-blue
tcbass reply :
On 7/26/2017 at 9:12 PM, Lures'n'Liberty said:Surprised that no one has said this yet and it might not be the next thing but I'm sure it's coming, I forsee a Hybrid outboard in the not too distant future that would use both gasoline and electric stepper motors in some kind of scheme to save the planet. Having an electric motor as a part of the outboard would give you the ability to troll with the outboard as well, then the next thing you know your outboard will have a pedal drive, a remote control, and all of the other bells and whistles that you can get on a trolling motor. That $98,995 boat listed above will probably be a cool $148,995 with the eco friendly my package isn't big enough package.
Does seem like a hybrid outboard would be on the way. Cars are already doing it.
This is fine for deep water like Lake Superior but I believe a lot of people like bass fisherman who fish docks or shallow water would not want their big motor in the water.
Whenever I fish shallow I put my big motor almost all the way out of the water because one time I was trolling around and the wind blew the big motor into a rock and scraped it up.
scaleface reply :
Jet propulsion .
J Francho reply :
On 7/27/2017 at 3:49 AM, scaleface said:Jet propulsion .
I like that idea - weedless!
Tim Kelly reply :
I'd be happy if they just got teleport working. It would save me a fortune in air fares and make fishing trips more frequent!
tcbass reply :
On 7/27/2017 at 4:40 AM, Tim Kelly said:I'd be happy if they just got teleport working. It would save me a fortune in air fares and make fishing trips more frequent!
And divorces more frequent!!!!
OCdockskipper reply :
I have a couple of ideas that aren't trolling motor related, but dovetail into what the future may hold according to my brain.
How about a "heads up" display that projects the depth finder screen to somewhere in front of the boat? No need to keep looking down.
After that, how about a 360 degree projection around the boat 30 feet out that gives you a view of the bottom? All structure is visible.
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