Only getting around 4 hours out of new Terrova trolling motor while pulling cranks!!

[LowellZ]

Hello Everyone,

I am sure that I am not the first person to run into this issue and would love to hear what everyone has done in order to get around this issue.

I have a Stratos 486sf boat which is a fairly heavy boat and I recently upgraded to the new BT Terrova trolling motor from an older Powerdrive V2 both are 80lb thrust ipilot link systems however once I got my livescope system on the boat I was able to see just how many fish my Powerdrive V2 was scaring away because of noise so I upgraded to the terrova 80. Now the main difference is shaft length and I am sure that is why I am seeing a difference in runtime so I am not really upset in the sense that the newer better trolling motor is not as efficient while trolling at 1.8. What I really am looking for is what have you done to get around this so that you can troll for 8 hours?

I will tell you that I have already purchased a second set of batteries (I thought my other set was bad) so I was thinking about mounting two more batteries up front and having some sort of cutover switch so that one set is dead I can just in theory flip a switch and have the trolling motor run on the other two batteries but I am havnig a heck of a time finding a switch that does that.

All suggestions are welcome thank you ahead of time for your help!!!

Lowell

[artcarney_agr]

Interesting, I guess weight is the main issue. Almost sounds like you needed to get one with a higher thrust that uses 3 batteries instead of 2.

I have a 17 ft aluminum boat with 40 hp, with a newer 80 lb Terrova, and I've trolled as much as 10 hrs on a charge before, pulling cranks all day, and still had some to spare. I have the Walmart EverStart Marine size 29 batteries.

[artcarney_agr]

having some sort of cutover switch so that one set is dead I can just in theory flip a switch and have the trolling motor run on the other two batteries but I am havnig a heck of a time finding a switch that does that.

You will probably need two switches to make that work.

[LowellZ]

Yes I kind of have been thinking that but to be honest my holeshot is already not the best and adding another battery back there makes me cringe. I have plenty of space up front to add the two more batteries and in fact already have some dead golf cart batteries up there just for weight. I am just at a loss as to how to switch them over while on the water without adding a second plug to the dash on the bow which I guess I could do but surely someone makes a switch.

[jawjatek]

I run 2 AGM Deep cycle group 31s up front for my Terrova 80 lb 24V, cranking batt in the back. It can go 2 whole days without recharge. Probably over-kill, but I hate running out of power.

[artcarney_agr]

I am just at a loss as to how to switch them over while on the water without adding a second plug to the dash on the bow

YOU NEED TWO SWITCHES. It's not that big of deal. Put the switches in a rod locker or something where they are easy to get to. Not sure why you have to have the switches on the bow.

[sinkum]

I run 2 AGM Deep cycle group 31s up front for my Terrova 80 lb 24V, cranking batt in the back. It can go 2 whole days without recharge. Probably over-kill, but I hate running out of power.

Which ones are you using. What kind of charger do you use with them

[artcarney_agr]

[tenncrappie]

I also can go 2 days. Must be something else wrong.

[LowellZ]

I run 2 AGM Deep cycle group 31s up front for my Terrova 80 lb 24V, cranking batt in the back. It can go 2 whole days without recharge. Probably over-kill, but I hate running out of power.

Jawtek what batteries are you using I priced out evrything to put two more batteries up front and I am over 350 dollars if I am going to spend that I might as well buy better batteries and try them out