Trolling motors, pro’s & cons

[CATCHEMCARO]

I have a 2001, 520 VX, I have a 5 year old 24v Ultrex, 80 pound thrust. Unfortunately I have to store my boat out side in the sun. I have a custom Ranger cover on it, but the high temps from the sun melted the black sealing compound that separates the built in transducer and the electric motor. I had it fixed, kinda. Now it make a crap load of noise.

So Im in the market for a new trolling motor. I loved my Ultrex and might just replace the motor and shaft assembly.
Im just wonder what some of you guys and gal might think. I just wanta fish.
So what trolling motors are you all using and have had good luck with for more than a few years?
Thanks

[JL]

I had Minn Kota forever. Didn't like the Ultrex noisy operation and went with the Ghost! Have been completely happy and issue free so far.

[JVGondal]

I had the same problem with my uktrex 80
The integrated transducer leaked water into the motor not once but twice. Crap design.
When water leaks in corrosion starts on the internals and the motor makes a grinding noise when in operation
I ended up changing the transducer end to a non transducer. I Just bought the non ducer end cap
new brushes and rotor
The through bolts that hold it all together are shorter when you ditch the transducer end cap so had to get the shorter bolts
I did it all for less than 200 dollars and looking back I did not need the most expensive part the rotor
I got all the parts online
I ran an old school external transducer down the motor shaft with a transducer saver and never looked back

The job is not too hard if you have mechanical skills
Toughest part is the wiring. I soldered mine to be sure they can not come unplugged or have a bad connection
Not sure if the wires come soldered on the terminal board from the factory or if they are just plugged in.
Mine were soldered but it had a repair from a shop year before so I’m not sure. Any case if they are soldered on I suggest removing them with heat using a soldering iron. Cutting them as close and tight as possible will make the wires too short or very close as it is an extremely tight fit

[CATCHEMCARO]

Thanks for the feed back. This will be the second time I fix it and the last. If the problem is solved this time around, Im adding a welders burn blanket over the front of my Ranger cover to attempt to keep the nose of the boat a little cooler. Thanks again for helping.