Preytorien Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I'm putting a small 30-40lb trolling motor on the back of my Sea Eagle SE-8. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewse8.html I'll probably use an entry level type transom mount motor with 30-40lb thrust and 30" shaft. I am wondering, what kind of battery should I get for the motor. I've never had one, so I'm looking for newbie advice. Pretty much all I've come up while researching is that it needs to be a deep cycle battery. But what else do I need to have? Is it required to have the Minn Kota battery center? I'm not doing any huge lakes or anything. It'd mostly be a little pond scout with the addition of some secluded coves of a smallish lake by my house. Thanks Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 31, 2014 Super User Posted January 31, 2014 The thing you need to keep in mind is how long you will run the motor and how far from your vehicle you will get. You don't want to have to paddle back. The best numbers that you can look at are reserve amps sometimes called reserve capacity. The higher those are the longer you can run the trolling motor without depleting the battery. I'd look for 180 or more. Don't concern yourself with CCAs or Marine CCAs. Reserve is the important item. Quote
BassResource.com Advertiser FD. Posted January 31, 2014 BassResource.com Advertiser Posted January 31, 2014 Walmart Everstart series 29 deep cycle. The only battery you will ever need and they are cheap. 3 Quote
Super User buzzed bait Posted January 31, 2014 Super User Posted January 31, 2014 Walmart Everstart series 29 deep cycle. The only battery you will ever need and they are cheap. That's my answer. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 31, 2014 Super User Posted January 31, 2014 You will need a battery box and a circuit breaker. You don't need to pay the MK prices. Wal Mart has it all. Circuit breaker http://www.walmart.com/ip/RIG-RITE-MANUFACTURING-12-24-Volt-Marine-Circuit-Breaker-with-Auto-Reset/33716913#Specifications choose 40 0r 50 amps depending on the trolling motor specs, and search battery box on the wally world website. They have different sizes depending on the battery size. They are under $10. So that's $20 instead of the $50 you'd spend on the MK Powerstation. Quote
bartdude186 Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Walmart, you wont beat it. i had a 14ft aluminium jonn boat electric only with 2 55lb thrust trolling motors and and one of the biggest everstart battiries walmart had and it would runn it all day 8+ hours and then some with 2 200+ pound guys and lots of gear. Quote
carlm01 Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I have a seaeagle 285 pro and use a 40lb trolling motor . If you are just going from spot to spot and anchoring like I do then get an AGM they cost more but weigh less and every pound in an inflatable counts Diehard has one that weighs 50lbs and Optima has one that weighs 45lbs , Hope this helps.. Quote
Kickedback Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 DITTO on the Diehard. I too have a Seaeagle 285FPB and use a 30 motorguide. I find the power good unless you fight a hard head wind. The Diehard allows me to never think about how much is left. Quote
Preytorien Posted February 17, 2014 Author Posted February 17, 2014 That's my answer. I see you both suggest that one, which I like the price since I'm not fond of shelling out $200 on a battery. They're really that good eh? Quote
Brian Needham Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 the cheapest, best battery for what you are doing, and the easiest to replace is the biggest everstart wal mart sells. you can thank me later Mods, lock it up......no more answers are needed. LMAO Quote
Preytorien Posted February 18, 2014 Author Posted February 18, 2014 the cheapest, best battery for what you are doing, and the easiest to replace is the biggest everstart wal mart sells. you can thank me later Mods, lock it up......no more answers are needed. LMAO Perfect. That's the one I had been eyeing anyways. You just made up the mind of this guy. Thanks! Quote
Brian Needham Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Perfect. That's the one I had been eyeing anyways. You just made up the mind of this guy. Thanks! well, just make sure it is the biggest marine deep cycle they have..... as described in Fishindaddy's post as well. Quote
Vzwire Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Another vote for Walmart batteries. I do have the MK power center. Why buy the MK? It has a button you can press to tell you how much power is left. I press it less and less now when on the water because I pretty much have full confidence I can run all day without worry. I run a 30lb thrust MK, and was out on the lake yesterday for about 6 hours. When I got home I hit the button just to see how much power I used on the trip. It still showed full power. I will admit I use the motor to get me from spot to spot and then anchor, not really ever a run and gun kind of angler. But to summarize in short: A Walmart battery permanently hooked up to a good battery maintainer when not in use will be all you will ever need. 1 Quote
Christian M Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 I'd go with an AGM Optima. They come with a 3 year warranty and they last 3-4 times that. They weigh less, can be mounted in any position, and are waterproof, which is important on an inflatable Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted February 19, 2014 Super User Posted February 19, 2014 They are lighter because they don't have the liquid but more important they don't have as much lead, which also means they don't have as much capacity. This also means they are not going to have as much run time. Don't care who makes it or how it's made 160 minutes reserve is not going to give the run time 225 minutes will. No more than 60 amp hour (Ah) is going to give the run time 120 Ah will Quote
carlm01 Posted February 19, 2014 Posted February 19, 2014 Just remember we're talking about an inflatable boat here , Go as light as you can , Quote
Preytorien Posted February 20, 2014 Author Posted February 20, 2014 The boat actually has 950# capacity. I'm not so concerned about it. I bought this used from a guy who used a size 29 battery in it, along with toting his wife and dog when he went fishing, so it didn't seem to cause any issues. The only reason I've not looked at an AGM battery is the price. I'm already getting "the look" from the wife at all these add-on items I'm getting for this thing, so I've got to be conscious about price. Quote
B@ssCrzy Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Walmart Everstart series 29 deep cycle. The only battery you will ever need and they are cheap. This is what I run my trolling motor on and I am on my 5th or 6th year. Been a great battery and great price. I do have a charger/maintainer that I always have it hooked up to as soon as the boat is parked. Some sort of in-line fuse or circuit breaker is also a good idea. Quote
basshead1 Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Walmart Everstart series 29 deep cycle. The only battery you will ever need and they are cheap. I have had mine for almost 2 years and run my 30# all day for 8 hours and still have not made it below 72% capacity when it hits the charger. I use it on a 10 foot Bass Raider . Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.