Two evening Willard trips kayak trolling

[fish_digger]

Lithium batteries don't have gold - or lead. They have -- wait for it -- lithium.

Not only are they MUCH lighter but the charge doesn't "decay" slowly like lead/acid ones. Lithium batteries give out either full voltage, or none at all.  That's good and bad, of course; you get full power all the time, but you can get surprised when everything suddenly dies like a switch thrown.

I have been running a lithium iron 50 Amp/hr battery on kick boat for the past two years and I love it.

Cost is the only downside.

Upside:

• 17.6 lbs, replaced 60 lb AGM lead battery.
  
• Takes up half the space on the back of my Scadden craft.
  
• Charges much quicker.
  
• Can be fully discharged. Lead batteries suffer permanent damage when discharged below 50%. You need a 100 Amp/hr lead battery for the same safe run time.
  
• Even at full discharge, I will get 2-3000 charge cycles. With lead you only get about 500 if lucky.
  
• Built in short circuit protection. You can't arc weld like you can with lead.
  
• No out gassing or fluids to spill
  

The discharge curve gives you much more power right up to end. I have no problem noticing when the end is near. I can fish for 2 full days with my setup before I run dry.

Note the battery in a black bag, located just in front of my 200 hp outboard .

Photo credit: Tube Dude