DON1937 Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 My 17.5 Tracker with a 60hp. four stroke and a trolling motor has 2 batteries. One is marked cranking motor and is a size 24 with 475 CCA. The other which I assume must be for the trolling motor and the trim/tilt. In your experience is the 24 with the 475CCA adequate or should I look for one with 500+ CCA in a size 24 or just replace it with a 27 with 600+ CCA? There is an 8 amp charger installed in the boat. I'm enjoying lurking here and reading the discussions! Great forum with many helpful people. Quote
tnriverluver Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 As long as it fits bigger is always better. Look at Walmarts group 29 and see if it will go in there. Roughly $80 last time I bought one. Currently have three. (one in travel trailer and 2 in boats) Long lasting charge and recharge fairly quick compared to others I have had. My oldest is 3 years old and going like new so far!!! Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted July 23, 2012 Super User Posted July 23, 2012 If you have a 24V trolling motor and are using the cranking battery for 1/2 of the requirements for the trolling motor, your trolling capacity is the cranking battery. If you have the common 12V trolling motor, then it should only be connected to the larger deep cycle battery and your outboard/ accessories powered by the group 24 cranking battery. The Trim/TIlt is one of the accessories. Quote
DON1937 Posted July 23, 2012 Author Posted July 23, 2012 Thanks for this information. The group 29 is an Interstate battery and they seem to be more expensive than some others but I don't know if they're any better. Academy here has Exide batteries for a decent price but again I don't know anything about them either. Price is not really important but I'd like to get what I pay for. I'm too old to row back to the docks if one of my batteries fails Quote
jeffo21 Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 I have had some of the other brands but seems liek the WalMart batteries hold up better on my trolling motor. Quote
Super User Sam Posted July 23, 2012 Super User Posted July 23, 2012 The Tracker I have will only accept size 24. I tried to install 27's and 29s but they do not fit. Consider Wal-Mart for your batteries. Wal-Mart has the best warrenty on the market today. Ask the clerk about the warrenty. As for cranking power, get the biggest and baddest one you can find. As for the deep cycle, do the same. Just tie the electrical lines to each positive and negative terminal together with electric tape so you can be sure to replace them properly. Have you given any thought to upgrading to a 24-volt trolling motor system? I did and I love it. My Tracker hauls a## at setting 5. I can really move out and if I am not careful, get thrown out of the boat when she takes off. Quote
DON1937 Posted July 23, 2012 Author Posted July 23, 2012 If you have a 24V trolling motor and are using the cranking battery for 1/2 of the requirements for the trolling motor, your trolling capacity is the cranking battery. If you have the common 12V trolling motor, then it should only be connected to the larger deep cycle battery and your outboard/ accessories powered by the group 24 cranking battery. The Trim/TIlt is one of the accessories. So....if I understand correctly all the larger battery does is power the trolling motor and the smaller battery cranks the motor and powers everything else. Would a larger cranking battery be worth it or should I just stay with group 24. Is 450 CCA sufficient? The guy at the dealer where I bought the boat said I should go with at least 550. Don't want to make a big deal out of what is a small decision.......just want to get some ideas from those with experience. With my cars and trucks I just go to Sears and buy their battery with the longest warranty Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted July 23, 2012 Super User Posted July 23, 2012 So....if I understand correctly all the larger battery does is power the trolling motor and the smaller battery cranks the motor and powers everything else. Would a larger cranking battery be worth it or should I just stay with group 24. Is 450 CCA sufficient? The guy at the dealer where I bought the boat said I should go with at least 550. Don't want to make a big deal out of what is a small decision.......just want to get some ideas from those with experience. With my cars and trucks I just go to Sears and buy their battery with the longest warranty The MINIMUM size of the cranking battery should be the MCA that the outboard motor requires. Once you add electronics, run livewell pumps, lights and other accessories and you fish more than you run the outboard, a larger size is needed with more reserve capacity. With a fishing boat you usually don't run the outboard long enough to even make up for the dischange of starting it, so it needs to serve deep cycle duty also. You car/truck has a larger alternator and recharges the battery quickly and competely in a short time and you don't "normally" sit in your vehicle and run electrical stuff that will run the battery down. Bottom line "BIGGER is better" Quote
tnriverluver Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Go with as many Amps as will fit in the compartment or tray as I stated earlier unless you enjoy trying to rope start the engine once the batteries are run down. More amps means longer time before that happens. Too small a battery will also cause an early death to your starter motor by making in run hot. With automotive engines you generally want twice or more of the engines Cubic inches in cold cranking amps. With boats you want enough CCA and as much reserve capacity as you can fit or afford!! Quote
DON1937 Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 I have plenty of room for another group 27 battery so thats what I'll probably go with. I didn't see any 24s or 27s at Walmart but Academy has the Exide in both sizes and different amp ratings. Thanks!! Quote
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