Any trolling enthusiast will tell you how essential it is to have a trustworthy trolling motor. Your chances of having a great catch depend squarely on your boat’s ability to pull your lines through the water at a steady pace. So if anything happens to your motor, you will have no choice but to sail to the shore.
It is because of the importance of a reliable motor that many people have asked, how long does a trolling motor battery last? If you are also looking for an answer to that question, you have come to the right place because, in this article, we are going to answer that and many other related questions.
How Long Dies A Trolling Battery Last?
Without any further delays, let’s dive into the topic of how long does a trolling motor battery lasts on different types of vessels.
How Long Does A Marine Battery Last On A Trolling Motor?
When it comes to a marine battery on a trolling motor, the runtime will depend on the Amp-hour of the battery.
For instance, a 50AH battery on a 55lb thrust motor can run continuously at high speed for up to an hour.
But this does not take into consideration environmental factors such as speed of the wind and water as well as boat size and the load.
In terms of a life-cycle, a marine battery can last even six years as long as you take good care of it and charge it properly depending on use frequency. You need to ensure that your battery does not get ruined by your unhealthy charging routine. #
One thing you will like the most about marine batteries is that they can discharge over long hours without losing power. Additionally, deep cycle batteries are also designed for regular recharge.
How Long Does The Battery Last On A Minn Kota Trolling Motor
First of all, the Minn Kota motor can run with just about any kind of deep cycle marine-grade 12V battery.
These batteries have a standard and widely adopted rating period of about 20 hours, meaning that the battery will discharge up to 10.5 volts within a period of 20 hours while taking into account the total amp hours it supplies.
This isn’t that bad, but we should mention that these numbers are applicable in ideal conditions, and also don’t take into account things like how old the battery is, not fully charged, or damaged.
How Long Will A Trolling Motor Battery Last On A Kayak?
If you own a kayak, it is imperative to know how many hours your trolling motor will last on the water on a single charge.
Knowing this allows you to estimate how long you can spend on waters before you can start a journey to shore.
The last thing you want is to miss a catch just because your trolling motor battery is flat. The only thing worse than that is getting stuck in the middle of nowhere on the water because your battery has run flat.
How long a trolling motor battery will last on your kayak depends on a number of factors, such as quality of the battery, age, and capacity among others.
A good trolling motor battery should have a 100 amp-hour capacity as well as a reserve charge of up to two hours.
How To Extend Trolling Motor Battery Life
Even if your battery runs out before you reach the shore, you can easily change your trolling motor battery while on the water. But to avoid some of the mishaps, you can extend the life of the battery to make it last longer and perform reliably.
There are a couple of things you can do to elongate the run time of your battery, including:
Buying a larger motor
This may seem counter-intuitive, but buying a larger trolling motor can help extend the battery life, because it will offer the same thrust compared to smaller motors but with less amp draw, leading to longer run times. So if you need some seriously long hours on the battery of your small boat, consider buying a 36v or 24v motor.
Avoid fully depleting the battery
This trick applies to almost all batteries and not just trolling motor batteries. It is not a good idea to allow your battery to run flat completely, because doing this regularly without a doubt reduce significantly the life of your battery. So whenever it is possible, try to always recharge your batteries before they run completely dry.
Thankfully, most boats have battery life indicators that help owners monitor their battery life as well as curb the probability of running out of power unexpectedly miles away from shore.
Off-season maintenance
Leaving your battery uncharged for longer periods during the off-season is bad for the battery’s life. Therefore, consider using a battery trickle or tender charger that keeps a small quantity of current running through the battery. Or you can simply recharge your batteries every month or make sure it doesn’t sit empty.
Either way, avoiding leaving your battery uncharged or completely flat for months will increase the lifespan of the battery.
Consider variable speed motors
If you want to increase the lifespan of your trolling motor battery, consider getting a variable speed motor instead of a fixed speed motor. This is because the former can lead to significantly elongated run times.
But variable motors don’t come cheap and can set you back at least $100 more compared to fixed-speed motors.
However, variable motors are significantly energy-efficient, particularly at a slower pace. Additionally, they are also more convenient since they allow trollers to dial in the speed to the exact setting they want instead of having to choose from pre-set speed settings.
How many years do trolling motor batteries last?
The answer to this question comes down to the type of battery. For example, lead-acid wet cell types tend to last up to 3 years although they may require some essential maintenance practices. Lithium batteries on the other hand can last even ten times as long as lead-acid wet cell batteries.
Best Long Lasting Battery For Trolling Motor
You want a long-lasting trolling motor battery to avoid getting stranded on the water because your battery is empty. A long-lasting battery also ensures you enjoy your boating experience for hours without interruptions.
If you are looking for a durable battery for your trolling motor, consider getting one of these two:
Universal Power Group 12V 100Ah
This rechargeable battery can be attached in any position and comes with a 1-year warranty. Its features include:
- Spill-proof
- SLA/AGM maintenance-free
- Universal power group
Interstate Batteries 12V 55Ah
This model is ideal for small boats and kayaks and comes with the following features:
- Maintenance-free
- Universal fit
- AGM and VRLA technology
How Often Should I Charge My Trolling Motor Battery?
The rule of thumb is charging the battery every time you run it. Note that you should not allow your battery to drain completely. Charging it every time you run your boat means you will not have to worry about low battery because the battery will always be charged when you return to shore.
FAQS
Yes, this way you will never run out of power or worry about the charge when you venture into the water.
You can overcharge or undercharge your trolling motor battery. Either way, it can shorten its lifespan.
Consider slow charging a deep cycle battery to prevent overheating as well as allowing it to fully charge.
We recommend you trickle charge your deep cycle battery to keep it in a top-notch condition as well as extend its lifespan.
You will tell if your battery is fully charged when its current reaches up to 10 amps with a charging voltage of 2.45v per cell.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! We hope that you have learned something from our post concerning how long does a trolling motor battery lasts. You can calculate your trolling motor battery’s run time so that you can know how long you can spend on the water before returning to shore. To do this, just take the battery’s amp-hour and divide by amp draw.
