I have a Buster Boat by Splash marine, which is a plastic bass raider type. I have purchased a 55 lb thrust Endura Max trolling motor, after reading a lot here on the bass raider thread about which trolling motor would be best for this type of boat.

 

I plan to mostly just fish small bodies of water, and only half days mostly. But I will eventually put it in the river or fish all day somewhere.

 

What battery should I get? I am looking at Walmart, and they have group 27 for $85 and a group 29 for $99. My main concern is the size and weight.

 

Is there any reason to get the larger battery?

 

MinnKota recommends at least 100AH. That’s where I would start. As for weight batteries are heavy unless your willing to go lithium.

 

 

 

A group 27 marine deep cycle battery should be good.  The EverStart 27 deep cycle has a 109 amp hour rating.  Be sure it's a deep cycle and not a starting battery.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Lead-Acid-Marine-RV-Deep-Cycle-Battery-Group-Size-27DC-12-Volt-740-MCA/164242687?athbdg=null%26athbdg%3DL1200_L1200

If size and weight are a concern, then lithium is your best bet.  You probably won't find them at Walmart, and you'll pay a bit more up front.  But they should last around 10 years or so, so I imagine you'd pay about the same or less in the long run, depending on which lithium battery you buy.

 

One of the advantages to lithium, besides weighing about 1/3rd as much as a similarly sized lead acid, is that you can drain them to 10-20% of their max charge without doing significant damage.  Lead acid batteries don't like to be drained more than 50%.  So you can either run a lithium battery almost twice as long, or get a battery that's almost 1/2 the capacity and size, and use it the same amount.  

 

They're not great for starter batteries, but for deep cycle, they're really tough to beat these days.  You can find some 100AH lithium batteries online for around $200-300.  

Seriously, with a Bass Buster boat if the wind comes up and your battery is low it may be very difficult to get back to the launch. They just don't paddle very well and have high windage. Going with a deep cycle Lithium Ion or at least the 100AH deep cycle battery is the way to go.

FM

for smaller bodies of water and half days, I'd get a 50 AH lithium for $150 and call it a day.  It will weigh about 12 lb or so and be plenty of juice for all day.

Unless you are motoring long distances at max power or going for 8 hr days all on the troller, a 50-60 aH lithium should be fine for you. I have a 60 aH in my boat and it has been great 

I used my trolling motor for hours today and it's down to 90%.  45 lb motor on a 16' tin boat with a 50 ah lithium battery that weighs 12 lbs.  My reason for buying a lithium is I couldn't lift a 70 lb battery anymore.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yes, I know I need a deep cycle marine battery and not a starting battery.

 

I didn't even think to see what minn kota recommended, and I forgot about lithium batteries.

 

I don't have an issue moving a battery... except I'm going to launch by hand, and then have to move everything into the boat, and one of the spots I've previously launched the boat, I had to move it 100 yards. So... lighter is better in those instances.

 

Money isn't an issue between $85 and $99, but man... $200+ starts to be a horse of a different color.

Sounds like money is a serious issue if you are only looking to spend $100 and not $200.  This should be the minimum battery for what you want to do and is definitely NOT one of the best.  EverStart Maxx Lead Acid Automotive Battery, Group Size 27 12 Volt, 830 CCA - Walmart.com