Battery for a trolling motor

Status
Not open for further replies.
dok

dok

.
Nov 14, 2008
9
Clark Mills SunCat Palmetto, Florida
I just purchased a SunCat 16.5 ft. and the previous owner used a Minn Kota 50 lb thrust / 12V trolling motor for power. I like the idea of an electric motor rather than having the gas on board, but I am concerned about battery life. He always used a starting battery because he only needed 10 minutes to get in and out of his canal. I plan on being a little more adventurous with her and would like to have the confidence of a deep cycle or gel type marine battery. Anyone using a trolling motor for power and if so what battery do you use? Anyone know how long I can get out of the starting battery?

Thanks for your help!
Kevin
 
Joe11688

Joe11688

.
Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
I don't think that you'd want to use a starting battery unless you have some way of replenishing it. They really aren't made to be drawn down too many times. I would go for a deep cycle battery of at least 100 Amp Hours. You could even add a solar charger to keep the battery up, or recharge it when you got home. If you know the power usage of the motor, you can figure out how much it will use by multiplying the time in Amp Hours by converting Watts to Amps.
 
P

porsche

.
Dec 23, 2007
68
catalina catalina22 lake tillery NC
what battery

I have a T34 lb thrust and an 85 amp hr. deep sycle which I ran on my 14ft canoe for 2.5 hours non stop with no notice to loss in power. Not apples to apples but maybe some help. I would use a deep cycle hands down, how big depends on your use. Alan
 
I

Ian4781

.
Feb 19, 2008
42
pearson 26 Pearson 26 Knowlton.
Kevin I had a Minn Kota on an Oday Mariner that I hooked up to a 5.5 amp solar panel ,that charged when not in use.The Mariner I would think at about 1400lbs with keel would be heavier and produce more drag than your boat.I never used it for more than about 3/4 of an hour at any one time,however,never noticed any decrease in power.I loved the quiet dependable use of electric and used it for 3 years without a problem.
 
Roger (Ninette Manitoba)

Roger (Ninette Manitoba)

.
Jan 22, 2008
519
Sundance Sundance 20 Weekender Ninette, Manitoba, Canada
I had a 55# thrust minkota on a 17' oday daysailer. The boat weighed 575#. I used a 750 cca group 24 deep cycle battery. It would run the boat on medium setting for about 6 hours and top speed for 1.5 hours. I would not recommend a starting battery either. You will not get as many cycles out of it as a deep cycle, and it will run poorer as it drains down.
 
dok

dok

.
Nov 14, 2008
9
Clark Mills SunCat Palmetto, Florida
Thanks for all the good advice. You all confirmed my suspicions about using the starting battery. Any feelings on a deep cycle vs. the gel type batteries?

Kevin
 
H

HAL

Bats

Starting bat will be wrecked quickly if you deep cycle it.
Deep cycle 3 choices

1:lead acid
Cheap, acid spills, must keep topped up, should not be to deeply drawn down.

2:gel cell
Costly, some have very specific charging specs that if not followed can cause damage, can be deeply drawn down.

3:AGM
Costly, no spills, can be mounted in any direction,easy to move around, charged without damage by most normal systems, can be deeply drawn down.

We use a 30-lb and 40 amp AGM on our tender. May be looking for more power when it gets real windy,
 
J

Jansen

.
Jan 20, 2007
101
McGregor 26S Mobile, AL
I have a 30# that works well with my 15' Mutineer and a deep cycle battery, never ran it down.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom