Battery for my trolling motor: I am looking for a good battery for my kayak to run my trolling motor. I have a small minn kota trolling motor with a 30 pound thrust. I want something...

Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

I am looking for a good battery for my kayak to run my trolling motor. I have a small minn kota trolling motor with a 30 pound thrust. I want something that is going to last a long time and not weigh my kayak way down. I am thinking lithium battery is the way to go. Please give me your thoughts and opinions on what way you think I should go.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Aaron124 wrote:

I am looking for a good battery for my kayak to run my trolling motor. I have a small minN kota trolling motor with a 30 pound thrust. I want something that is going to last a long time and not weigh my kayak way down. I am thinking lithium battery is the way to go. Please give me your thoughts and opinions on what way you think I should go.

Hey brother, if you can afford it, lithium is the only way to go.
Be sure and check if you'll have to have CF# on your yak if you use a motor.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Aaron124 wrote:

I am looking for a good battery for my kayak to run my trolling motor. I have a small minN kota trolling motor with a 30 pound thrust. I want something that is going to last a long time and not weigh my kayak way down. I am thinking lithium battery is the way to go. Please give me your thoughts and opinions on what way you think I should go.

I agree with Saw, lithium is the way to go if its in your budget. Don't forget you'll need a special charger, as they charge at a different rate and voltage @full charge. If you go for it Aaron, keep us informed on how you like it.

Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

Saw. I do have a number for my yak. I have been running a trolling motor on it for a while but I have just a regular deep cycle marine battery. The thing feels like it weighs 200 LBS ( even though it doesn't) and when you add my almost 300 pounds it gets a little sketchy. Or at least it feels like it is gets a bit sketchy.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Aaron124 wrote:

Saw. I do have a number for my yak. I have been running a trolling motor on it for a while but I have just a regular deep cycle marine battery. The thing feels like it weighs 200 LBS ( even though it doesn't) and when you add my almost 300 pounds it gets a little sketchy. Or at least it feels like it is gets a bit sketchy.

It sounds like it. We have to have #s out here too if it's motorized.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I guess if you're really serious about it Lithium is the way to go. But you're looking at shucking out almost as much for the battery is you did for your yak. For a 30 a small deep cycle marine battery will get you where you want to go and back again, no problem. The biggest advantage of the lithiums, forgetting about the cost, is their weight. A good lithium battery is gonna run you around $500. You can buy a decent small marine battery for under 100.

Jeremy Loc: America

You could get Three Lead Acid Batteries and mount them for ballast strategically so can embark or dis embark without flipping it over.

Whatever you do be sure to secure batteries to Hull. If boat tips and batteries go in water it would suck to lose investment.

Chuck56 Loc: Texas

Yeah. Lithium is best way to go. Just remember “ the nicer the nice, the higher the price” ....back in my old hot rodding days we had a saying.....How fast do you want to go? How much money do you have to spend? Lol Same circumstances will apply here....

rapala54 Loc: Nappanee,IN.

I just bought a Dakota lithium battery they have awesome stuff. I got a 10ah for vexliar. Got the charger also they up graded the charger to a 10amp that was 60.00 dollars more for same as 3amp. They are suppose to last 11yrs. They have trolling batteries.

Denny G. Loc: Located in Central Michigan

I do not own one myself but I have heard about these batteries and would consider checking them out. Pricey but come with a 11 year warranty and also come with charger.

Dakota Lithium Batteries - Half the Weight - Twice the Powerdakotalithium.com

Jim C Loc: Tampa Florida

Nice response. Thank you for the information.

Thays1 Loc: Penn Valley

I've been using plain old deep cycle batteries on trolling motors for 30 yrs now. Granted lithium batteries are great but price is unconscionable. I've probably had 7 or 8 different brands of deep cycle batteries and all have been great except for the ones Walmart sells. I tried 2 of theirs and both were poor quality and didn't last. Right now I have 2 deep cycle batteries on my boat that have both been on there for over 5 yrs. The one thing I do tho is the minute I get in from fishing, I charge batteries right back up to full and maintain them there. As I stated Lithium batteries are great, but most people can't justify that kind of cost for a few fishing trips yearly.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

I highly recommend you check out the Duracell Deep Cycle AGM 35amp hr "scooter-type" battery at Batteries Plus for about $90+. I have used it in my Sea Eagle 285fpb with a 30lb Minnkota and get 4-6 hrs depending on flow/wind etc. I have 2 of them for my Livingston 12' lake boat and have never trolled long enough to run both down, even in choppy water. They are about 23 lbs each and fit perfectly in an Igloo Playmate, as they are only~6"x6"x8". The Igloo also provides a sturdy carrying case that is easily strapped down.
Best "small boat" battery I've found, without popping for the outrageously priced lithium (same size, half the weight @ 11lbs). You do need to have a charger that handles the glassmat (gel, some say)AGM type battery.
23lbs (even twice @ 46lbs to get the 70amp hr that a #24 or #27 has ) beats lugging that behemoth that weighs 70-80lbs.

Jeremy Loc: America

Do the math on AMP Hours no matter what you get. 10AH means it might run for almost an hour if the Electric Trolling Motor and any other Accessories you attach to battery or batteries are using 10Amps.

The higher the amp hour rating the longer the battery will provide ample voltage... ( in perfect situation fully charged )

Trolling Motor should have a rating for what it’s Amperage Demand is at Wide Open Throttle or Closed Circuit with rheostat.

Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO

Lithium is great if you have the budget. I use two AGM batteries. 12volt, 35ah, about 10lbs each. Easy to handle. I have a 16’ pontoon boat with 30lb thrust trolling motor mounted on the front. Plenty of run time out of one battery and the backup is there if needed. Range is over 2 miles at about 3mph for one battery. In a kayak I would easily do the same.