What trolling motor are you using? 12v, 24v, 36v? What kind and how many batteries are specifically for the trolling motor?
Depends on how many batteries you’re charging. I’ve been told to get a Guest brand. Depending on how many batteries, probably ~$100 per battery.
The motor should be charging that battery, but I like to take mine out maybe once or twice a year and check and stick it on a trickle charger if its a little low.
Isn’t there a certain number of hours most people go by? I think I do it once a year. I may not be doing that enough.
I’ve only replaced mine when I was replacing my float switch. Although there was a week when I had the boat in the marina and no working float switch or bilge and I didn’t sink, just needed a bucket before going out
I have a dual battery charger that I took out of my pioneer. I am can probably give you a super awesome deal on. It currently sitting in storage in Charleston, I took it out of the boat it used to be in the forward fish box.
before anyone can give you anything close to decent answers on the trolling motor and battery questions, what boat, motor, trolling motor, and batteries do you have.
as for maintenance, once a year or every 100 hours, which ever comes first.
bilge pump, as needed
before anyone can give you anything close to decent answers on the trolling motor and battery questions, what boat, motor, trolling motor, and batteries do you have.
as for maintenance, once a year or every 100 hours, which ever comes first.
bilge pump, as needed
Makes sense, Chris. The boat is a 2002 Florida Skiff 17’2 (made by American Marine Sports, I think). The motor is a 2002 Mercury 90HP ELPTO, and the trolling motor is a Minn Kota Riptide 12V w/55lb thrust. Please get back to me with your thoughts.
Cliff, holler at me…
“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”
You could use a Perko switch and connect the trolling motor battery as a second battery. You then could switch to the trolling motor battery while you are running the boat to your next fishing spot and charge the trolling motor battery. Batteries last longer if they are charged back full as soon as possible and stay fully charge. A dual bank charger would be best if you could afford it. You could use a single bank charger and connect to the Perko switch and charge one battery at a time.
A 2 bank onboard charger would work perfect in your situation. The only thing you have to make sure of is that both batteries are isolated from each other at all times, and when you’re charging them, they are isolated from their components that they power. A perko type switch is perfect for that application on your cranking battery and then just unplug the trolling motor before charging. You will be very happy with an onboard charger, I promise.
They all have excellent ideas. The one thing that will save the life of your trolling motto battery is make sure it is charger 100% before you put your boat up, even if it’s for a few days. Nothing kills batteries quicker then sitting around 1/2 charged.
Also preventive maintenance up front might save you in the long run.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
Walmart has a $40.00 Charger that works well! Be sure to charge 1 battery a time. Disconect the jumper wire on a 24V system. The charger has an automatic cut off and wont hurt your battery. Be sure to check the water leval at least 3 time a year! I have 3 of the chargers and use them on different batterys at the same time.Works well for me and much cheaper and if one goes bad it wont kill you to replace it. I don’t like onboard chargers as they have to live in an awfull enverioment an are expensive! I know some people that have had good luck with them and some that haven’t! Besieds I have 5 boats I use.
Walmart has a $40.00 Charger that works well! Be sure to charge 1 battery a time. Disconect the jumper wire on a 24V system. The charger has an automatic cut off and wont hurt your battery. Be sure to check the water leval at least 3 time a year! I have 3 of the chargers and use them on different batterys at the same time.Works well for me and much cheaper and if one goes bad it wont kill you to replace it. I don’t like onboard chargers as they have to live in an awfull enverioment and are expensive! I know some people that have had good luck with them and some that haven’t! Besieds I have 5 boats I use.
quote:Originally posted by Black Bart
1) How long should my trolling motor's battery last on a full charge?
Like mentioned above, there are so many variables that play into this. Size of your boat, size (capacity) of your battery, and the style of trolling motor. Most folks don’t realize the HUGE disparity in battery use between a variable-speed and a 5-speed motor.
The variable-speeds use far less battery on slower trolling speeds. At wide-open throttle, they are about the same as 5-speeds. So if you (like most of us) use the lower half of the speed range, then a variable speed trolling motor may give you half the electrical draw, and essentially double your time on any given battery charge.
I use the “next to the biggest” battery sold by Wally World (they were out of the biggest ones when I got there). My motor is a 55lb thrust Minn Kota variable speed. I get, quite easily, a whole day of fishing out of it on the lower range speeds while using it to match the current speed or wind.
My boat is fairly light, just an aluminum 14’ jon boat.
quote:
2) Do I need to spend hundreds of dollars on some fancy battery charger, or will a $100 dollar unit work just as well?
I use this one, it works just fine. The 15 amp charge will charge my battery from “about dead” to “full” overnight generally. It is automatic, and shuts off when it’s done. It is NOT a good “maintenance” charger that you leave plugged in 100% of the time you aren’t actively charging the battery. The fan will burn out in time (fan is always on).
I just attach it to the battery, plug it in, select “15A”, and forget it. The next morning, I unplu
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