Thread: Minn Kota with Universal Sonar

Hi folks. Hope everyone is doing well.

Does anyone use a Minn Kota Powerdrive trolling motor with the Universal Sonar? If so, can you tell me how well it works (the sonar, that is)? Is it better, worse, or same as independent transducers?

Thanks.

I have one and they work fine. The only drawbacks is they can't give you temp readings and they only have a 12° cone. I recently put my xducer on the bottom of the motor to try it for a while. If you do get one and have a Garmin sonar to hook up to it, let me know. I have a brand new adaptor cable I'll give you.

I've been checking other internet sites and all I've seen seem to agree the built in transducer is pretty reliable. But the Universal Sonar adds about $100to the price of the MK Power Drive over the same model without sonar.

The lack of temperature seems like a significant drawback over a traditional transducer (at least those with temp sensors). I want temperature.

By the way. What's a normal cone? 12 degrees seems pretty narrow.

I don't know what brand of fishfinder/depthfinder I'm going to go with. If I go with the MK Power Drive with sonar, I'd be limited to Garmin, Lowrance or Hummingbird. Right now, I like a couple of Lowrance models. I also like the Raymarine DS400X, which isn't compatible.

I plan on buying the motor and electronic the first week of February. Right now, I'm sort of leaning against buying the MK with sonar and just going with a traditional set-up.

Most xducers are 20° but new technology are getting them up to 90°. The book for my Lowrance says it will go up to 60° by increasing sensitivity. If i had to do it all over I would just get the power drive and auto pilot and save some money. When mounting the xducer on the bottom of the motor, there really isn't a neat way of routing the cable up to the sonar because of the way the mount works. But I can live with that for now. When my warranty expires I'm going to attempt to remove the US and somehow put my Lowrance xducer in the hole. I talked to Tom Foster (Minnkota authorized dealer) in Suffolk and he said I should be able to get the cable up thru the shaft like the do the US cable now.

I want to be able to remove the fishfinder and transducer when the boat is not in use, like I do with the engine, and will do with the trolling motor. Removing the fishfinder is easy. The transducer is the hard part.

I have a small, long transom jon (1548) with a 9.9 hp engine.

I see these moveable transducer mounts at Cabelas and BPS. I wonder if they are worth the money.



The mount on the left seems like a good idea. I could use it on the transom and take it off when I need to.

Hey SkyChimp. I was wondering where you went.

I have the skimmer transducer for a Lowrance mounted to the trolling motor. I routed the cable so I can unhook it from the head unit and the transducer/cable can be removed with the trolling motor. Mounting the transducer to the TM works well. Take the money you save on the TM and put it towards the depth finder.

Hi Keith. I've been around lurking the forum. I had back surgery in November and have been taking it easy since then. Now that I'm feeling 100% again, I'm trying to finish up my boat before spring. The trolling motor and fish finder will do that.

Is the trolling motor the best place for the transducer? What's the difference in performance between the trolling motor and a traditional transom mount?

If you want the depth finder to work while running on the gas engine, then the TM is NOT the best place to put the transducer. You can put it on the transom about 2/3 the way outboard from the gas engine. Locate it between strakes. You just have to remember that what you see on the screen is behind the boat and not underneath you if you are in the front of the boat near the TM.

The biggest gripe I've always had with having transducer on the trolling motor was the wires running down the shaft etc. The sonar equipped does away with that. I run two Garmins one at the back and then the bow. But, you cannot get a temp reading with the built-in sonar. I'm well pleased! If you're in the tidewater area, check Tom Foster at Motortech in Suffolk next to Dashiell's Tackle. He is excellent, fair-priced and a warranty center and danged nice guy.

MIKE aka Uturn