Are you in need of a trolling motor battery? Deep cycle batteries are required for a trolling motor to be able to properly function. They aren’t like the typical short cycle batteries that you’ll see on cars and trucks that power up the motors and run a vehicle’s features and equipment. These beasts are designed to give an optimum level of performance with a constant discharge rate over a long period of time. That’s why finding the best trolling motor battery is so important.
Table of Contents
Here Is the Best Chart For Trolling Motor Batteries
Batteries might seem all alike, especially since they serve the same functions, but some just seem to work better than others. With this chart, you’ll be able to compare and contrast the features and advantages of each battery to be able to select the perfect option.
What Are the Advantages of the Best Trolling Motor Batteries?
One of the biggest advantages that comes with a trolling motor battery is that they are completely rechargeable. What distinguishes the good from the best in this area is how long they are able to hold their charge. If you’re having to charge your battery after every session of use, the cost savings you’ll have experienced at first will be eaten up by the long-term energy charges you’ll be paying.
The best trolling motors also have a certain resistance to vibration. Vibrating trolling motors are the #1 problem these face because it causes the plates that are within the batteries to shift around a bit. When the plates shift, the battery becomes damaged, and the best case scenario is that it won’t hold as large of a charge as it previously did. The worst case scenario is that you’ll need a new battery. This happens because the plates in the battery are thicker than in fast start batteries. Deep cycle marine batteries require high temperatures and the fast cycle batteries will overheat in no time at all in a deep cycle application.
The best trolling motor batteries also have a spill-proof design that prevents any acids from escaping, even when exposed to somewhat harsh conditions. Because the best batteries are spill-proof, they can be mounted in virtually any position on the boat. This is especially important if you need to have a multiple battery hook-up because of the size of your motor. A 24-volt motor, for example, will typically need to have a second trolling motor battery for consistent results.
What Are Some Common Problems With Trolling Motor Batteries?
Trolling motor batteries face the same problems that other rechargeable batteries have when it comes to standby time. They tend to lose their charge in increments as they sit unused. The best trolling motor batteries are going to limit the amount of discharge that occurs because of this process so that it is ready to go when you are without needing a secondary charge.
Because of how some of the batteries are designed, it isn’t uncommon for people to sometimes mistake a car battery or other short life option with the trolling motor battery. That’s bad news if it happens because the short-term battery just doesn’t have the juice for a trolling motor on its own. That’s why sometimes you’ll see folks out on the water with 3 or 4 car batteries hooked up to their trolling motor. Mistaking the battery can cause both the motor and battery to burn out.
How Can I Find the Best Trolling Motor Battery?
The first step is to take a look at the reviews we’ve offered right here. This is information that isn’t necessarily unbiased, but is accurate. The Salty Dog only likes to use the best products, so there is a certain personal component to each review. That experience, however, comes from a unique user perspective and can give everyone a glimpse of how well a battery is really going to perform.
Looking at the specific benefits of each major brand is also important. Optima trolling motor batteries, for example, offer spiral cell technology that makes them extremely resistant to vibration damage that may occur. Minn Kota offers a number of great trolling motor battery accessories, such as digital battery readers and battery power centers that help to store and transport your batteries safely. Each person will see specific advantages based on their own perspectives.
You’ll also have a final decision to make: do you want to use a wet-cell battery or a gel cell battery? Gel cells typically cost about double what wet-cell batteries do, but the gel batteries don’t have the same problems with the buildup of sulfur. The cells are also completely sealed so that there isn’t any worries should the battery get tipped over by a heavy wave and the chances of an explosion occurring are greatly reduced as well.
What Are the Prices of the Best Trolling Motor Batteries?
The price of trolling motor batteries today is surprisingly affordable; especially considering how many times the average battery can be recharged. If you’re looking for an all in one station, you can pick up a 12v battery today for small boat applications for under $60 on websites like Amazon right now. Some batteries are even cheaper than this, but they have a higher risk of leaking. Premium batteries can be above $100, but they have prolonged life spans compared to their cheaper counterparts and will eventually pay for themselves.
Here Are the Salty Dog’s Favorite Trolling Motor Batteries
MinnKota Trolling Motor Power Center
One of the best values on the market today is this all-in-one power center. The trolling motor battery is perfect for the small boat transom and offers safer access to the battery terminals through the transportation case. There’s a built-in battery meter that will let users know how soon they’ll need to start charging up their battery and it fits into groups 24 and 27 for battery size. You get a pair of 12v accessory plugs and there are manual reset breakers included as well. It’s easily one of the best trolling motor batteries available right now.
Click here to look at prices on Amazon and get an awesome deal.
12V 100Ah Battery for Trolling Motors
To be clear, this battery isn’t actually produced by Minn Kota. It’s a generic brand battery that is offered by UPG that works with a number of different trolling motors. It’s a 12v 100 Ah battery that is sealed tightly and offers a no-spill experience. It is a lead acid battery, however, and the design itself may be prone to a little vibration damage if it is being used on larger boats. There is the possibility of charging the battery on a standard charger, however, and it has a 5/16-stud connection to help get it connected to your application with ease.
Click here to look at prices on Amazon and get an awesome deal.
VMAX857 AGM Battery 35AH Marine RV Deep Cycle Battery
If you’re looking for a virtually maintenance free trolling motor battery, then this offering from VMAX could fit the bill as your best trolling motor battery. There’s no need to add water or check on the gravity of the electrolyte in the battery over the course of its life. The average battery is going to last at least 5 years, with some of them surviving 8 years of consistent use. Although some other batteries might be a little stronger than this one, you’ll still receive up to 9 hours of run time on a 40 pound trolling motor.
Click here to look at prices on Amazon and get an awesome deal.
Optima D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery
Often reviewed as one of the best trolling motor batteries that has ever been made, it’s easy to see why so many love this battery. It offers a reserve capacity of 120 minutes so that there is a constant, consistent performance when it is needed. This battery has 15x greater resistance to vibration than any other battery on the market today and it’s strong enough that it will give you the starting power you need, even if you happen to be out in difficult weather. Install this battery anywhere and enjoy the fast recharge times.
Click here to look at prices on Amazon and get an awesome deal.
Vmaxtanks MR107 Marine Deep Cycle Battery
This is the heavy-duty battery you need for some massive motor power. It has a float service life span of up to 10 years and the secret to this battery’s success is the electrolyte suspension system that gives it a great overall performance. There’s no need to maintain this battery except for regularly charging it when you need to do so. Most users are going to get about 7-10 hours of life on a single charge with this battery, which fits into the Group 24 type. It may weigh 60 pounds, but is still versatile enough to give even 14 footer the power it needs.
Click here to look at prices on Amazon and get an awesome deal.
When you’ve got a great trolling motor battery, then you’ve got an effective way to move about on the water. Protect yourself, protect your investment, and give yourself a tremendous amount of value by using these reviews to select the best trolling motor battery for your needs. When you do, you may not need to purchase another battery for the next decade.
