Why You Shouldn't Buy a Trolling Motor With an MDI Transducer 

I love how you don't swear that every new product is the next big thing. You tell us fishermen your honest opinion, and I think that has helped your business tremendously. It definitely makes me a customer

Two years later this motor is going strong ru-vid.comUgkxBZWgzfpS2Jj7JqIHyaSZjyVHNUgCKCBf Just uploaded a video of it after 2 years. We use it probably a dozen days each year on our small raft.-original review- We got this motor the other day and tested it out. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it seems good to me. It has all the features advertised - the motor housing is metal. We will see how it performs longer term and I will revise this review if needed. Some initial observations:- Good thrust, moves our boat around really well- It comes with a circuit breaker but no switch - so there's no way to kill the motor other than yanking the connection off the battery. I installed an inline switch.- The mount bracket is plastic and I worry it might break- There are a number of plastic parts that I worry about, but the most important ones are metal or some kind of composite

I definitely understand where your coming from but I have beaten the heck out of my mdi ultrex and haven’t had a problem. I’ve hit it to where I was thinking something is going to be messed up for sure several times and still has worked flawless

It's good to hear the cons, especially when it affects us bass guys. Thank you

Thank you for being honest! I was debating on getting the Ultrex with the MDI transducer versus without. The transducer is definitely in a highly vulnerable spot.

How about doing a video about which pre owned depthfinders would be the best to buy. That would be cool for us poor folk😊

The thing I like about the built in transducers is they seem less likely to be damaged when fishing in shallow lay downs and rock. I’ve broken mine at the weak spot where the screw clamp goes through several times. I keep having to super glue it back together. The buillt-ins seem much more durable.

Got to admire any vendor that shares their honest opinion on something, especially when it's more of a thumbs down than a thumbs up. I have never done business with this particular company.....but betcha I will when I have the opportunity to !

Got the Ultrex with the US2. Added the MDI/SI with the matched attachment kit and it fits like a glove, perfect. If I damage it ($$) I can take it off and still us the US2, no down-time. Just make sure you get the right adapter/mounting kit for the Ultrex. Gotta admit I mistakenly ordered the Ultrex US2, now I’m glad I did!

Can not beat the ulterra power trim. Try it, you will never go back, and you can avoid "beating up" your trolling motor with the push of a button

Wish minn Kota would allow transducers from Lowrance and Garmin units. Just to have that clean look

his motor with the transducer was made in 2019, it is now 1-25-21 ,,... is here any change?

Thanks for being honest.

The exact reason I went with a Riptide Ulterra! No transducer is installed and I can install the livescope transducers easily.

Sooooooooooooo..... You wouldn't hit the rocks with a transducer that is mounted to the trolling motor that hangs lower than the OEM transducer that comes with the unit? Get the heck out of here..... If you wreck it up then go to your MDI external transducer by evening out the gap at the bottom so it's flat then mount the external. Who cares at the point what happens to the damaged MDI transducer at that point it's broke. LOL... I get the concern.... However, we own boats. What's money..... If you want to play it safe... THEN STAY LANDSIDE & RIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION! Otherwise, by fast things, get your heart racing and FISH ON!!!!!! LOL... If you are fishing a rocky area and don't know it.... Ummmm... The MDI isn't your issue. Grinning. User Error...

I enjoy your videos, I find them informing. I do wish you would level the intro music volume to the voice levels of the video, tired of getting blasted out of my chair.

umm its called a skeg, if you are beating up the transducer you are doing something wrong, have one on a surface drive mud boat and no issues. The long dong transom mega transducer is way more at risk that the trolling motor

I was told if your unit does not support MDI it won't work period. That's a none starter. If I wanted to run a Garmin or legacy Hummnbird (non MDI supported) cable up the shaft, how difficult is that?

You've stated what you don't recommend. What model do you recommend with spot lock and 24v (or 36 v) capability? (BTW, I already have a Garmin 93sv echomap plus if that makes any difference and may upgrade if any technology gets significantly better than that)

Which trolling motor would you buy if buying a new one I have a terrova that is older looking at things that will work with my hummingbird electronics which one that tears up the least money not option just best and dependable thanks

I thought this was going to be a hit piece (pardon the pun) on the MDI. But not the case. HB should make a guard for the ducer that wouldn't interfere with the imaging. Or do they now?

Love the honest feedback

Thanks for another great review. Have you had much much installing external transducers to trolling motors with mounts that require the shaft to slide through the collar to deploy and stow (I.e. Xi5)? I don’t like the idea of having the cable just dangling in the water to get snagged and destroyed, but don’t see many real solutions out there either. Any thoughts here? Good topic for a future video? Hope this makes sense.

I’ll stay with my old Motorguide Tour. I can mount whatever ducer I want on it, and if I break it, I guess I’ll have to go to the X5 🤷‍♂️

Good job

So my issuie I needed a 60inch shaft and it only came in the mdi I want to add garmin SV transducer any tips would be greatly appreciated. I mainly fish deeper water and rough water conditions

I have a 12V terrova with US2 sonar and I don't have room t mount the DI or SI transducer. The guys at Bass Pro installed it at about the 5 o'clock position on the TM!! Is this correct?

I have a helix five and would like to by a throling motor to match it Do they exits

I’m new to Humminbird units. I’m thinking about switching from lowrance. If you buy mdi helix does it have regular non mega side scan on it? Or do you have to buy a transducer for side scan?

What’s your preferred method for mounting an external transducer to a Terrova/Ulterra? I’m leaning towards the coiled bike lock cable system, because of the protection from catching the cable on brush. What do you think?

Crap. I just bought an mdi ultrex. Wish i would have seen this 3 wks ago.

How do I adjust my shaft on the ultrex trolling motor? I do alot of shallow water fishing and need to raise it from time to time. When I attempt to raise the shaft it slides back down.

Question, I have an older model Terrova, can I remove the transducer and ad a plain cap, and montan external transducer. 45”, 80 lb ,24 volt, with remote control and foot pedal. Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Justin i have a minn kota 4traxx with a Hook2 5 transducer installed in it. Question: can if I plug my Hook2 7 (Tripleshot Capable) into that transducer will it work?

When you say no room for another transducer does that include a livescope unit ? If I want to add livescope to my ultrex what unit should I go with ?

Geez timmy just stay out of the rocks.

You can't get it without it ???

the con buying parts from these people doa power pack no response ever. just out 350 bucks or whatever it was. hope the donation helped you out

While it does limit options, that thing is pretty stout. Rocks will definitely be more problematic than a soft water logged stump or log.

Now if I put the mega 360 ducer on that eliminates having those on the bottom of the tm right?

I disagree but thanks for your opinion. Just have to be careful when traveling in shallow water

If you spend that much money on something and can't take the time to carefully maneuver, then ppl need a life coach

Hey, guys! Thanks for the videos! Do you have a video or suggestions on the best way to add an MDI tranducer to my Ulterra. I was too ignorant of what I had, thinking my Ulterra already had the MDI built in...it doesn't, and now I've bought a new Helix7 specifically for the MDI, and it's not compatible. I mean, surely there has to be a way??? Thanks!

I want to buy a minn Kota terrova 54” shaft 55lbs thrust 12volt trolling motor with no transducer in the head with footpedal to do this I have to buy the trolling motor with heading sensor an a remote then purchase the footpedal separate what kind of trashy shit is this a trolling motor with no foot control

this video is highly misguided. it's basically an opinion video. don't beat your shit

hello friend ,thank you for the video, we have some goods are looking for tester to do reviews, is there any way we can cooperate?we are selling refrigerator water filter.