Thread: Dilemma on trolling Motor

DO'NT EVEN THINK ABOUT A 55 PLEASE.gary

Everybody is discussing boat weight vs. thrust of a trolling motor. Add the weight to the boat of the bodies you will have on the pontoon also. What is the max people you might have in the pontoon at one time? Figure the poundage of the people added as well as extra equipment like iced coolers as it will affect the pulling power of the trolling motor especially when you add the lightest wind.

We have a 20' Pontoon fishing boat. Started with a 55# thrust TM. Not enough power. Upgraded to 80# 24v Terrova. Very happy with it.

Originally Posted by deltarat

A few rolls of underground romex and a rented trencher would get you power to the dock. Beat the heck out of toting batteries.

I would if it was my property. There are a couple houses in-between mine and the lake.


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Originally Posted by FishSeeker

I keep my boat at a storage yard with no power access. I set up a 100w Solar Panel system to charge my 4 batteries - 2/Trolling Motor, 1/Crank, 1/Electronics.
I use the boat once a week on average and batteries are always fully charged from the Solar Panel. I've had this set-up 4 years and no problems.
It was an initial few hundred dollar investment, but no more hauling heavy batteries back and forth - saves on the ol' Back and Chiropractor bills,
so more money in the long run for fishing

Would love solar panels but it is a floating dock and it gets a lot of waves and rocking from skiers. Neighbor had one out and it got beat up bad.


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Originally Posted by cevans

Series 31 wet cell batteries can weigh up to 75 lbs each. 60 amp amped lithium batteries weigh 13.7 lbs each and cost 370.00 each. You can get up to 2 days continuous trolling most times unless in a heavy wind all day with a 12 or 24 volt trolling motor without charging. I get 3 days or more with my 100 amp batteries continuous trolling crankbaits with a 12 v powerdrive trolling motor without charging and most times have still 40% left in them before charging. I use Ionic Lithium batteries that have a Bluetooth phone app for monitoring my battery usage. Solar panels have continuously been discussed before,,and on bbc forum and there is no perfect workable solution in using solar panels due to expense, size of the panels you would need, wattage output, slowness of charging, and having to have continuous sunlight. Amazon.com

Do you need a special charger for the lithium batteries? Might be a good solution if I can get them at the price you said.


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[QUOTE=chippewa;[URL="tel:4098827"]4098827[/URL]]Do you need a special charger for the lithium batteries? Might be a good solution if I can get them at the price you said.

Yes, however, a lot of wet cell chargers that have a AGM setting can charge lithium batteries also. I think Amped chargers are some of the least expensive around. Some of the 3 bank and 4 bank chargers can be rather expensive. Just have to shop around. I have a ProMariner Pro Sport 20 amp 2 bank set to AGM setting that charges my Ionic Lithiums 100% and also a NOCO 10 amp single bank Lithium (only) Charger I use. You need to check with your lithium manufacturer to see what they recommend on what they would recommend when resetting a wet cell charger to AGM setting to work. However, on bbc postings,,a lot of the members are posting,,their manufacturers may not be truthful in the using of converted wet cell battery chargers to AGM setting as they all want to sell you their lithium chargers.

This is a lengthy posting,,has a lot of answered questions in it,,more biased in a way towards Ionic Batteries,,but still is 100% educational covering all aspects of Lithium usage.

Who wants lithium?

Cold weather lithium usage. Cold Weather Lithium Use. Answers a few questions.

Cold weather charging issues...this might answer some people’s questions. If a lithium Battery isn't to be charged below freezing, what happens if