Trolling motors are essential tools for anglers who want to fish from boats or kayaks. They provide a way to move across water without having to paddle. Trolling motors come in two sizes: electric and gas-powered.
Electric trolling motors are smaller and lighter than their gas counterparts. This makes them easier to handle and store.
Gas trolling motors are larger and heavier, but they also offer greater power. If you’re looking for a new trolling motor, consider these three things before buying.
Electric trolling motors are typically quieter than gas models. They also require less maintenance.
On the other hand, gas trolling motors are often more powerful and can run longer. The choice between the two depends on your personal preferences.
When choosing a trolling motor, look at its horsepower rating. Most trolling motors have a range of 2 to 6 HP.
Higher numbers mean higher speeds and better performance. Also, check the warranty period. Some trolling motors only last for one year, while others offer five years or even lifetime warranties.
What You Should Know About Trolling Motors
A trolling motor requires two different types of batteries. The starter battery powers the ignition system, while the deep cycle battery provides power to the entire motor.
Dual-purpose batteries combine these two functions into one battery.
A trolling motor is an electric motor used to move boats forward or backward. This motor uses two batteries connected together in series. When you connect them in series, the voltage goes up.
In this case, the voltage goes up to 72 volts. You need to make sure your boat has a power source that can handle 72 volts.
How Important Is Battery Selection For Electric Motor Usage?
Deep cycle marine batteries are designed for running down to a discharged state before being charged again. They are made to last longer than car batteries. Always charge them after use.
We recommend using a 12-volt deep cycle marine battery with a minimum of 110 amp-hours ratings, usually a group 28 size battery.
If an amp hour or CCA rating isn’t available, we suggest choosing a deep cycle battery with 180 minutes of reserve capacity.
Battery Types
Deep cycle batteries are used for powering electric trolling motors. There are two main types of deep cycle batteries: lead-acid wet cell and AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat).
These batteries are often referred to as “deep cycle” because they are designed to discharge less current over a longer period than other battery types.
Traditional Batteries are still by far the most popular trolling motor battery. But there are some new ones coming out that use lithium-ion technology.
What Type Of Battery Do I Need To Run My Trolling Motor?
Most electric trolling motors will work with any deep cycle 12-volt marine battery.
However, for the longest run time, and the highest capacity, we recommend using lithium iron phosphate (Li FePO4) batteries. These batteries will give you double or triple the run time. This means you’ll get more fishing time.
Dakota Lithium batteries weigh less than lead-acid batteries. They’re lighter and more maneuverable. They also take up less space. This makes them ideal for electric vehicles.
Dakotas’ lithium iron phosphate batteries have a flat voltage curve. This means that the voltage doesn’t drop as you use the batteries.
You get all the power down to the last drop, even though you’re using less than half of the battery’s capacity.
How to Calculate Run Time For a Trolling Motor Battery
The total run time depends on the power settings and whether your battery is lead-acid or lithium.
Step 1
Determine the Voltage of Your Motor. A 12V motor is smaller and less expensive than a 24V or 36v motor.
However, a 12V motor uses only one battery. A 24V or 36V motor requires two batteries.
Step 2
Determine the amps draw of your motor. Your motor should draw less than the number of amps your battery is capable of discharging at any one time
To do this, multiply your battery voltage by your battery capacity. Then divide the result by the maximum amperage of your motor.
For example, if you have a 12V battery with a 20Ah capacity and your motor draws 10 amps, then your battery must be able to provide 5 amps of current.
If a trolling motor draws too much current. You need to replace the battery.
A pair of parallel-connected batteries doubles the run time of a single battery. By connecting two batteries in parallel, the maximum continuous current is doubled.
In this case, two 23Ah batteries have a maximum continuous current of 46Amps. This is enough power for a trolling motor with up to 50lbs of thrust.
Most trolling motors require more than one battery to run them. You should always buy bigger batteries than what you need.
A full-day fish needs a high-capacity battery. Half-day fish can use a lower-capacity battery.
Deciding which battery is right depends on the application you want to run. For example, if you’re going to use your motor for propulsion, you’ll need a high-capacity battery.
But if you’re going to run it in spot mode, you should choose a smaller battery.
Your trolling motor battery should last about an hour while you’re trolling. You may want to consider using a smaller battery if you plan on spending more than an hour out on the water.
How Often Should I Charge the Trolling Motor Battery?
Batteries should be charged before use. Fully charged batteries last longer.
The Batteries We Recommend
Dakotah Lithium Fishing Team recommends the following options: Motor Voltage & Poundage / Recommended Battery / Performance – 12 volt 30 lb trolling motor / 12V 54 Ah battery.
Full day of run time – 12 volt 55 lb trolling motor / 12 V 54 Ah battery / Depending upon application – Minimum Half Day of Run Time.
OR – 12 Volt 100 Ah Battery / Full day of runtime plus. This is the number one choice for kayak tournament fishing.
If you want to go longer than a full day, you can connect the batteries in parallel instead of in series.
That means connecting them in parallel lowers the voltage. For example, if you had two batteries that were each rated at 60 amps, you could connect them in parallel to get 120 amps total.
This product is great for tournament fishing. It gives you extra time on the water. You can jumpstart your boat with any single battery in the set.
TeamDL Pro Staff recommends using this product if you’re going out on an offshore trip.
Results may vary due to conditions. This is a general consensus. Data based on 200+ pro staff testing shows that Dakota Lithium batteries perform better than other brands.
Should I Get a Single V Lithium Battery Or Three V Batteries in Series?
Batteries should be tested in marine applications before being used in any other application.
Single batteries provide more run time than multiple batteries connected in series. Multiple batteries connected in series provide less run time than single batteries.
Simplicity is the easiest way to upgrade your boat. You can easily add a single 36V battery to replace three 12V batteries in a series.
This will save you hundreds of dollars in weight and cost. A single battery can last up to two days on a single charge.
Pro bass anglers prefer this setup because it allows them to fish for longer periods without having to stop and recharge.
More versatile. You are not tied down to 36 volts forever. If you switch out your motor in the future, you can still use the battery bank.
For example, one Team Dakota Lithium Pro Bass Angler switched out his trolling motor mid-season from 36v to 24v and was able to use his existing battery bank.
Batteries can be used as an emergency backup system for boats. When a boat needs to be started, the batteries are connected together to provide enough voltage to get the engine going.
Connecting multiple 12V batteries in parallel or series is easy if you use an electrician’s tool called a multimeter.
You connect the positive terminal of each battery to the negative terminal of the next one.
Then you measure the voltage across each battery. If the voltages add up to more than 14.4 volts, you need to connect them in series. Otherwise, connect them in parallel.
Conclusion
We recommend the VMAX marine battery because it is the best deep cycle battery under group 31.
It is slightly heavier than most deep cycle batteries, but it is still very light. It is also an affordable option.
A trolling motor battery should provide enough amperage to run your trolling motor.
You should choose a battery that has a high capacity and can last for many years. Your battery should be easy to mount and use.
Interstate Batteries are the best batteries for fishing because they provide reliable power to start your trolling motor. Their battery life lasts longer than other brands.
