What batteries do you use for your trolling motor? What's the most bang i can get for my buck?

what battery charger do use? Keep in mind that this is for a 14ft. boat.

there are alot of batteries and chargers out there.  i use a deep cycle battery from wal-mart, that is made for trolling motor purposes.  infact it even says trolling on the battery.  i've been pleased with it.  as for a charger i would definately get one that has an automatic shut-off that way you don't over charge the battery and damage the cells.  good luck

I've been using the monster sized sears die hards for years.  220 min reserve!!

They have always outlasted whatever my partner buys.  This year they put is new Optima to shame.

Optima, great batts for car audio or anytime mounting location requires a little creativity, as far as price vs hours used,.....no value there.

Thanks, Low_Budget_Hookers!!!! I had always used those die hards in my boats but was thinking of going to the new Optima batteries for the new fishing pontoon I am leaving to pick up tomorrow morning. You saved me from making an expensive mistake. Now I will have some extra money to feed the bait monkey.

I've been using the monster sized sears die hards for years.  220 min reserve!!

I use the everstar maxx's with the same rating I think. They weigh 80 or 90 lbs each..and i have 2 wired in parallel for 12 v trolling motor, and 2 more wired in parallel for the engine start and my spot light.

I am also looking at some new batteries and went to the Optima website.  Please someone correct me if I am wrong, but hours used in a days fishing would be related to the reserve capacity.  The Optimas I looked at had around the same reserve capacities as other batteries in their classes.  It seemed to me that they were selling the lighter weight comparitively as well as the useful life of the battery (number of charging cycles).  If you go to their site check out the technical data and let me know if I am on the right track.

Don't know much about the Optima but the last time I checked they were only about 150 min reserve.  You're right, if they don't give the AH capacity, the reserve is all you have to go by, that's how long the battery will run a 25 amp load.   A good group 27/31 deep cycle will 200 - 230 min's reserve.

As a Battery, the Trojan SCS 225 is about as good as your gonna get in a lead acid batttery.  Have never tried Diehards because never cared much for their car batteries.

The big yellow Walley World Maxx's are about as cheap as your gonna get, but good luck finding something that tells what the AH or reserve capacity it to rate them against another battery.  I've never been able come up with that.   I have been running them for several years now and have always had good luck with them but since I quit tournament fishing years ago and don't fish all day anymore, I don't place the demands my batteries I once did.  For many years, if I wasn't a Trojan, it wasn't hooked to my TM.  They meet my needs last about three years, (I take care of mine) and at less than $60 each, they are cheap.  I've never had but one to fail in less than three years and with four boats (11 batteries) I've bought more than a few over the past several years.

Trojan's Trojan's Trojan's.  I will never use a different battery for my trolling motor.  On the windiest days and high speed settings they last all day.  I have camped over the entire weekend without recharging the batteries and still had power during the last hour of fishing.  Granted the life of the battery is dependent on proper battery maintenance and model/style of trolling motor.

the optima that was the same price as the 220 min reserve die hard was almost $300.

They are a great battery and the spiral cell technology really works but for the money......

LBH,

How long do your batteries last before you have to replace them?  Also. I found deep cycle 34 and 31 class Optima batteries for about 140 -150 dollars.  What kind were you looking at that cost 300?

Life of the battery is based on use and type batter.  A deep cycle battery designed to last for 400 charge cycles when it's run down to 20% and then charged, will only last about 250 cycles if run down to 10% cabacity.  At the same time if it's only run down to 75% and recharged it may last 1000 cycles.

The type battery has a lot to do with it.  Most run of the mill deep cycle TM batteries use a composite lead plate that's only intended to live 3 - 4  years.  AGM batteries should last 4 -5 years but many of the spiral wounds claim to be good for 5 - 6 years, but I've never seen one last longer than 3  in the load handler power jacks I work on.  These are used in much more extreme conditions than almost any bass could ever put them through.  I work a lot with the spiral wounds because they can be layed on their sides for a more compact unit plus they never suppose need maintenance but I have never liked them.  Very expensive to replace four of them at a pop and won't last as long as golf cart batteries in the same application.