Trolling motor, battery, Minnkota MK-110P?

[Dan:]

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/battery_chargers/portable_chargers/mk110p.aspx

Anyone used one? Any advice for a first time TM buyer? Will this work with most batteries?

Also, I am planning to buy a 55lb Endura TM. I'd like to also buy a battery at work but I'm unsure what kind to get. All I need it to do is run the TM. What should I be looking for?

[Wayne P.]

A deep cycle battery in the largest size you can afford. Yes that charger will work well with a lead/acid flooded cell battery.

I have two of the 55# Enduras and use a size 27 battery with each, but I don't use those motors all day, just for added boost for my bow motor on electric only waters.

The motor is a non-digital 5 speed and is harder on battery usage than the variable speed digital motors like the Traxxis in the transom mount type.

[Dan:]

Ok, thanks Wayne. I'm going to check the batteries we have at Dick's to see what they say on them. To be honest I have no idea about boating electronics whatsoever. I'd like to stick with stuff I can get at Dick's so I can use my employee discount.

So you think the Endura 55 will work well as a transom mount on a 10.5' jon?

Any important tips for charging batteries?

[mudkart]

Compare the prices at work w/ the everstart marine deep cycles from Walmart. With that TM you want a Group 27 or 29 IMO. Also be sure your place of work will provide a refund/exchange of your deposit (if that is part of the purchase price) when you return the battery for a replacement (Walmart does: keep the receipt).

Look for a Schumacher 12 amp charger such as this:

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC-1200A-SpeedCharge-Charger-Maintainer/dp/B000BQSIWK

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SpeedCharge-12-Amp-Battery-Charger/13005744

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Schumacher-12-amp-Battery-Speed-Charger-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ320571757062QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

And as far as TMs go, the digital ones (e.g. MK traxxis 55, the one you guys borrowed for Pohick) outlast the five speed ones by a significant margin IME. It's worth the extra $ to me.

[Wayne P.]

Dan, the 55# will do well on a jon boat. That is the motor that is used as the rental at Hunting Run.

[Jig Man]

You time on the water will depend on how strong your battery is.  That is why you should be concerned with the battery's RESERVE CAPACITY or reserve amps.  12 V. trolling motors draw a lot of amps so go for the largest amount you can get, preferably 200 but down to 180 would probably work for you.

[Dan:]

ok, the one I'm looking at is a Stowaway Deep Cycle - Professional Series. It says 205 reserve capacity minutes and 115 amp hours. Does that fit the bill?

[Bigbarge50]

Dan,

I have the edura 55 and run it off a deep cycle I bought at Walmart and happen to live in NOVA too. 

I bought the Minn Kota at Dicks on Columbia Pike in Arlington.  They had a 50 dollar rebate like a month or so going on it...so it cost me actually $200, not the normal $250 from "fishing" places.  The battery was like $70, and I got it at Walmart just because I had trouble finding other places that had deep cycle batteries.  It is a trolling one without starting.  I charge it with a easily 10 year old charger, though I did look heavily at the one you pictured.  That dicks was selling a edura 45 with a free charger for like 209.... I figured I would just spend the same amount for the extra 10 lbs of thrust.   

To be frank, I like the edura, but all things being honest, I wouldn't mind moving up to the traxis.  On the bigger waters I fish (burke, Foutainhead, ..ect) I wouldn't mind the extra juice of a traxis 70... and the battery meter and digital optimizer.  Then again i could just buy a meter or get the minn kota power center box.   

Drop me a PM if you want to talk some NOVA fishing or more specifically some deals on stuff in the area.  Always looking for a bargain and sure they will have some good ones with hunting season around the corner in the rapidly approaching fall. 

[Dan:]

That's the Dick's where I work. I didn't catch the rebate offer until after it expired. We also just got some batteries in the store. I've never seen batteries at any DSG stores until this past month.

I'll compare some prices of stuff with my discount vs. amazon and walmart and what not.

oh, and thanks for the advice mudkart!

[Bigbarge50]

Dan, your dicks is where I bought these double colorado blade strike king spinner baits..... say dick's exclusive on the very limited packaging that comes on the lure.  I can not find another spinner bait like it, especially dual colorado and trailer hook (seemingly should be kinda common, but no one seems to carry dual colorado) I will tell you that spinner has torn it up for me this summer, and has become a real go to plug for me.  I caught a 3.5 lb one one it, then lost it in a tree, went to your store and bout two more, so I have a back up. 

It has been so good on friday I had to fix it because the 3lb-er I caught destroyed it...... literally he bent the living daylights out of the stem to the blades and he knocked an eye out of the head. 

If you don't already have one, might be worth the employee discount to get one or two.  Been the best spinner I have used, and I have bought a lot..... to the point I started making my own (seeing this one is the best, speaks poorly of my spinner bait making haha).  Might go pick up a second and third back up for the future, especially if/when they go on sale. 

Any insider tips on when a fish finder might be on a great sale?  Been in the market all summer. 

[Dan:]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check them out. Our tackle is very limited right now, we've mostly been getting hunting stuff for the upcoming season.

As for the fish finders, I'll check tomorrow but we only have a few models right now. If you see it on the Dick's website, you can come into the store and have them order it online for you at the customer service desk and it will ship for free to your house. I know we just had one on sale but it ended.

[pudmunk]

+senkos were on sale last week for 4.99