Trolling motor battery died - replacement recommendations?

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

Hey y'all,

 

So my dad and I purchased a used aluminum boat this past summer. It came with a trolling motor and 2 batteries to run it. Well on our very last putting the other day the TM died on me super fast and I knew we had one or two bad batteries. Sure enough after we got it back home and tested one of the batteries is shot.

 

So now we're looking at replacing them. I've done a quick Google but I'm definitely not good with electrical and although it doesn't seem to difficult I just wondered if anyone had some first hand advice or tips for me helping choose our replacements. We only fish for fun and the stories so we're not tournament guys or anything serious but that being said we like to make the right choices and not just go for the quick and cheap. 

 

At first we were thinking lithium, but that's not going to really be an option due to price mainly. I think the ones I currently have are nappa auto parts marine batteries, and honestly I've never really felt great about how long and well the TM worked. I feel like after the 4hr mark at about 40-50% power the TM wouldn't last much longer nor output full power. 

 

I'm looking now for replacements that will provide me with ample power and security in knowing if I'm out for a day fishing I don't need to worry about the TM dying before I'm done. 

 

Anyone have any tips, suggestions and or recommendations for me?

 

Thanks so much

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Anything made by East Penn - Deka, MK, Napa, Duracell, West Marine and others are all made by East Penn...do the research to make sure.

 

You're looking for a Deep Cycle instead of a Starting or Dual-Purpose battery. Best balance of power reserve and price would be an AGM.

 

I'd shoot for a Group-31 with at least a 90AH capacity...getting two and hooking them in parallel (Pos-to-Pos, Neg-to-Neg) will double your AH. Larger batteries (group number is the size) have better 'holding power' on the capacity.

[GaryH]

Like MN said. If your boat has the room and the weight is no issue two group 31 with 90 or 100 ah would keep you fishing all day. 
I personally like Exide but East Penn are also good.

[InfantryMP]

Sam's Club has great Duracell AGM batteries, and the have a good warranty on them as well. Not just manufacturer, but a store warranty. If I remember right mine was 18 months in store if something were to happen to them I could replace them on the spot in the store. 

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

I'm in Canada but Costco up here has an Energizer 31 AMG with 100ah for $259.99. Says it has a 2yr limited warranty. 

 

Is this the ball park I should be looking? Is Energizer good?

 

They also have the Optima AGM D34Mfir $339.99

 

[MN Fisher]

If you can swing the Optima - get it...Yellow top is your best bet for deep-cycle usage.

 

Last I knew - Johnson Controls made the Energizer marine batteries...JC might have more sales than EP - but I think it's because their batteries don't last as long, so lots of 're-sales'.

[TnRiver46]

39 minutes ago, IneedAnewScreenName-98161861 said:

I'm in Canada but Costco up here has an Energizer 31 AMG with 100ah for $259.99. Says it has a 2yr limited warranty. 

 

Is this the ball park I should be looking? Is Energizer good?

 

They also have the Optima AGM D34Mfir $339.99

 

Sheesh. I’d have to work all night to fish with those! I use lead acid batteries that run about $80 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Sheesh. I’d have to work all night to fish with those! I use lead acid batteries that run about $80 

I'm looking at Duracells for the F-9 - a 31 for the TM and a 27 for the rest. About $100 each at Batteries Plus.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I'm looking at Duracells for the F-9 - a 31 for the TM and a 27 for the rest. About $100 each at Batteries Plus.

That’s more my style haha

[NavyToad]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT8231?impressionRank=1

 

AAA members 20% off this month. I’d buy it at regular price either way. East Penn makes it.

[newbiedmv]

I wouldn't recommend Everlast.

The warranty is no good as the thermal ink disappears from your receipt in a year. Plus the batteries stink.

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

I wouldn't recommend Everlast.

The warranty is no good as the thermal ink disappears from your receipt in a year. Plus the batteries stink.

^ Johnson Controls manufacture...ya, I'd stay away.

[Jig Man]

There aren’t many battery manufacturers out there.  I have used several brands and found most of them to be satisfactory.  I used to run Optimas exclusively but the last set weren’t that good.  
 

The single most important thing to look for that will keep you on the water the longest is RESERVE CAPACITY.  I don’t want anything less than 200 minutes.  My current set has 245 rc each.  

 

Yesterday I used them fishing into a 15 mph wind for 5 hours and they showed no drop in power.

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

Seems I also had no idea with lead acid they say to never discharge more then 50% of the battery. So let me get this right, if I have 2 lead acid batteries running my TM it's not recommended that I let them drop below 50% power? 1) how am I supposed to know when I'm at 50% when I'm out on the water? 2) this just seems ridiculous, you buy something to only be able to use half of it, is that not crazy?

 

Now I know lithium isn't free of this either but from what I've read atleast they can handle 80% discharge. Which is much much better IMO but I'm still shocked!

[Tennessee Boy]

8 hours ago, IneedAnewScreenName-98161861 said:

Seems I also had no idea with lead acid they say to never discharge more then 50% of the battery. So let me get this right, if I have 2 lead acid batteries running my TM it's not recommended that I let them drop below 50% power? 1) how am I supposed to know when I'm at 50% when I'm out on the water? 2) this just seems ridiculous, you buy something to only be able to use half of it, is that not crazy?

 

Now I know lithium isn't free of this either but from what I've read atleast they can handle 80% discharge. Which is much much better IMO but I'm still shocked!

I think it’s more accurate to say you should avoid discharging more than 50% of a lead acid battery to maximize the life of the battery.   To say you should never do it is an exaggeration.  It will not destroy the battery if you do it occasionally,  it will only shorten the life of the battery.  I want to have enough power to get me though the most demanding day I can imagine.   That’s true regardless of the type of battery I have. If I have that much capacity I will sometimes but rarely discharge below 50%.   I’m not going to loose sleep over that.  In 35 years as a boat owner I can think of three times when I probably discharged below 50%.

[Jig Man]

It would be interesting to know make and voltage of the OPs trolling motor.

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

3 hours ago, Jig Man said:

It would be interesting to know make and voltage of the OPs trolling motor.

MK fortrex 80lb thrust

[Jig Man]

With that trolling motor and 2 good 31 series 225 rc batteries you should be able to go all day.  AGMs are more costly but way easier to manage.

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

I've had good luck with the Walmart brand deep cycle batteries. I just replace a pair of group 27's that were purchased in 2012 and I have a group 29 that was purchased in 2014 that still holds a good charge. Not sure who make Walmart batteries but they seem to last and they are cheaper than bigger named brands.

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Hi-Powered Red Neck said:

I've had good luck with the Walmart brand deep cycle batteries. I just replace a pair of group 27's that were purchased in 2012 and I have a group 29 that was purchased in 2014 that still holds a good charge. Not sure who make Walmart batteries but they seem to last and they are cheaper than bigger named brands.

Everstart (neverstart) have always lasted me at least 4-5 years 

[Bird]

I've had Interstate, Duracell, Everstart and Bass pro and couldn't tell a difference......just pick one.

For optimal performance, don't completely drain the battery and charge after every fishing trip.

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

On 10/26/2021 at 12:30 PM, MN Fisher said:

Anything made by East Penn - Deka, MK, Napa, Duracell, West Marine and others are all made by East Penn...do the research to make sure.

 

You're looking for a Deep Cycle instead of a Starting or Dual-Purpose battery. Best balance of power reserve and price would be an AGM.

 

I'd shoot for a Group-31 with at least a 90AH capacity...getting two and hooking them in parallel (Pos-to-Pos, Neg-to-Neg) will double your AH. Larger batteries (group number is the size) have better 'holding power' on the capacity.

But hooking them in parallel won't give me the 24volts I need tho right? I'd need to hook both 12 volts in series to get my 24 volts correct?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, IneedAnewScreenName-98161861 said:

But hooking them in parallel won't give me the 24volts I need tho right? I'd need to hook both 12 volts in series to get my 24 volts correct?

Correct - connecting in series sums the Volts, connecting in parallel sums the AH.

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

Still having a hard time finding a good battery here near the Toronto area. Anyone got any suggestions??

[padlin]

According to google, there is an Interstate Battery dealer in Mississauga. I had good luck with a pair of SRM-24's in an RV.