Lets say I want to troll with my 24# trolling motor. What size battery would I need? Im not looking to spend an arm and a leg like with one of those red/blure tops. Just something I can troll through out the day, pull it out and charge it? Also, Are the walmart brand batterys any good?
Thank you
-Jay
First of all, save yourself some money in the long run and get a marine rated battery. Car batteries will have a considerably shorter life and do not appreciate being drained down and recharged very often. They will eventually give out.
Next, find out the amperage rating on your trolling motor 20 amps, 30 amps, 40 amps etc. Multiply that by 5 and you will come up with a battery rating that will just last the 5 hours that you desire.
Example: 40 amps x 5hrs = 200 amp hours
80 amps x 5hrs = 400 amp hours
If by chance you would like to have some extra juice and not try to limit yourself, then add another 20% to that figure and that should give you a safe enough buffer. If the math seems too confusing, then just multiply the aformetions sum by 7 instead of 5.
Remember that the Marine rated battery is a deep cycle battery. It will handle almost complete discharge and come back to life much better after charging.
Marine batteries cost a “Few” dollars more but are worth it in the long run. You could expect to pay @90 bucks for a decent marine battery. An equivelantly rated car or truck battery may cost about half of that but you could go through 4 or 5 car batteries to every 1 marine battery.
Please feel free to ask any questions that you may have. We are all here to share with one another.
From your friendly Moderator.[:)]
Tube,
Thanks for the info. Ill look and see what my motor is as far as amps. Its a ** Minn Kota Model 35
**Thank you
-Jay
Ok, I found out my motor pulls 17amps. So 17x5Hrs=85amps. So If I want to troll for 5hrs I would have to have a 85amp battery? Is this correct???
Thank you
-Jay
I recently was faced with the same dilemma. What size battery to get??? After looking at the batteries on the rack there wasn’t much difference in pricing between the 85amp and the 105amp. I felt that the added security (cushion) that the 105 has it was worth the extra money. I’m terribly paranoid about running out of battery in the middle of a lake.
Take care,
David
Just got back from WalMart, Got a 115amp’er.
This should be good.
Thanks for all the help and info
-Jay
So are you saying that I should put a marine battery in my truck? [:P]
[reply]
So are you saying that I should put a marine battery in my truck? 
[/reply]
Why would you do that? Is it cause you think I bought a car battery for my boat? Sorry, I Got a 115 amp MARINE battery from WalMart…Funny though,
-Jay
Hey DDR that was not the implication. A normal car or truck has an alternator to recharge a battery. While using a trolling motor, there is no such recharge action taking place.
Funny guy Rat.
Well, it would make sense to do so, wouldn’t it? [;)]
I mean, I kill car batteries all the time… or at least I used to. How well do these marine batteries hold up to the cold of winter?
Naw, has nothing to do with that. It’s based on TubeN2 saying that overall they’re better than car batteries.