4330198236 by Mighty Max Battery
1820175 by Minn Kota
23M1000401 by Newport Vessels
ML35-12 by Mighty Max Battery
ML35-124241 by Mighty Max Battery
23M1000203 by Newport Vessels
UB121000ALT3 by Universal Power Group
VMAX857 TM by VMAXTANKS
ML50-12542 by Mighty Max Battery
FP12550 by WEIZE
Any fishing aficionado will attest to the importance of a quality trolling motor battery. One of the most common issues with finding a good one is whether or not it can discharge electricity over a long period and thus slowly but surely propel your boat while you are out trolling for fish.
The speed of your boat should not be too fast or sporadic as your lines will get tangled. However, motors with higher thrusts will obviously produce higher speeds, so your battery will have to be able to handle this increase. Smaller thrusts produce speeds as low as 5 mph, while larger thrusts produce speeds in excess of 50 mph.
Below you will find a brief yet in-depth trolling motor battery buyer’s guide that will help you decipher between the two most popular forms of trolling motor batteries, instruct you on what you need to look for, and a comparison - strengths & weaknesses - of the best ones on the market today.
Remember, trolling requires a consistent stream of electrical output so a starter battery is not going to do the job. This is why the only two choices available for this form of fishing (trolling) will be either a dual purpose battery or a deep cycle battery.
Both batteries have the capacity to regulate electrical output and discharge an even and steady flow to the motor which is ideal for keeping the boat moving along at a steady speed so as not to disturb the multiple lines which have been cast.
The most convenient aspect of a dual purpose battery is that it functions as a starter for trolling engines as well as a supplier of consistent electrical current.
This particular battery is best if you are looking to use a single battery for all of your trolling needs. While its deep cycling capabilities are pretty good, they are not as powerful as deep cycling batteries are in this regard, but in the end, they also provide starting capabilities so you will not have to purchase two separate batteries to power your trolling motor with.
If you are looking for a battery that is going to power your trolling motor for a long time, then a deep cycling battery is going to be your best bet.
Deep cycle batteries are specifically designed for deep cycling. In other words, they are able to supply your trolling motor with more electricity over a longer period of time than dual-purpose batteries can.
You will still need to purchase a starter battery to start your trolling motor if you decide to use a deep cycle battery but in the end deep cycle batteries tend to last longer than dual-purpose batteries do in regards to powering trolling motors, so you end up saving more money over the long-term if you choose this route.
In general, you will want to use a trolling motor battery that is durable enough to handle long hours of fishing and light eno0ugh to transport it from boat to storage or storage to boat, as the case may be.
That being said, they are some other features you will want to make sure your prospective trolling motor battery contains to ensure its effectiveness during your fishing excursions.
The five features below were compiled from years of testing various kinds of trolling batteries in real-life situations.
There are really only two types of trolling batteries you will want to check out. They include lead-acid wet-cell batteries and AGM batteries.
Lead Acid Wet-Cell: These batteries are the most affordable of the two trolling motor batteries, most of them with a price tag of around $100 or so, however, they do not have that long of a lifespan (around 2 ½ years) and require a bit of maintenance.
AGM: These batteries cost more than lead-acid wet-cell batteries but last almost twice as long (4 years) and require very little maintenance over their lifespan. What is more, they carry a longer charge life than lead-acid wet-cell batteries do.
When considering which of the two types of batteries to buy, the amount of AMP hours must be considered.
AMP hours basically mean the amount of electrical charge a battery can store - the higher the number, the longer it will charge your trolling motor for.
While there is no ideal number when it comes to AMP hours, figure out how long you are planning to troll for. The longer you troll, the higher you want the battery’s AMP hours to be, that is unless you want to keep coming back on shore to recharge your trolling battery.
*** On a side note, dual-purpose batteries tend not to list the AMP hours on them, so if this feature is particularly important for you, then go with a deep cycling battery. Smaller batteries usually measure around 25-50 AMP hours, while bigger batteries can measure anywhere from 50-100 AMP hours.
As was earlier stated, AGM batteries require less maintenance and they can be used in a variety of positions without incurring any damage.
Most of the dual purpose and deep cycle trolling batteries come with a thick casing which protects them from water erosion and other harmful components found in nature. Disregard any battery that does not appear to have a strong protective covering.
While not considered a common feature when shopping for trolling batteries, how much money you are comfortable spending up front is something to consider when doing so.
Remember, that sometimes paying a little more up front will actually cost you less in the future. Case in point, consider the advantage of purchasing an AGM battery over a lead-acid wet-cell battery.
While AGM batteries cost quite a bit more than lead-acid wet-cell batteries do, they require less maintenance and also last longer which means you will not have to fix or replace the battery every year or couple of years.
This trolling battery has all the benefits of a deep cycle battery and an AGM battery combined. It has a 100 Amp hour capacity so you know you can get long use out of it and will not have to keep recharging it no matter how long your fishing expeditions are.
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This deep cycle battery has the added advantage of being able to start trolling motors and energize them for deep cycling.
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With a thick plastic exterior, the VMAX MR127 is able to handle even the heaviest vibrating trolling motors. This battery charges very quickly and is specifically designed for handling trolling motors.
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This AGM battery is best used with smaller trolling motors. It has a decent AMP hour ratio, clocking in at 35 AH, and as with almost all AGM technology requires no ongoing maintenance.
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It is always advisable to choose a high-powered deep cycle battery for your trolling motor no matter what the size. The batteries listed above include all the key features that make for an effective and efficient trolling battery.
If you want more runtime, simply choose a battery with higher AMP hours (50-100) and if you are not planning on purchasing a separate starter motor, be sure that the trolling battery you choose has dual processing capabilities (starting & deep cycling).
Once you have chosen your trolling battery and begun to use it remember to recharge it each time it runs down, regardless if you are going to use it anymore that day or not. This will help extend its lifespan.