Trolling Motor Battery Life

**GoneCrappieFishing** · 03-18-2011, 08:31 PM

Well folks, today I finally had to pull my trolling motor batteries out and replace them for the first time in a very long time. You hear alot of folks tell you how to make them last, but till you experience for yourself, you just may not know what really works best. I would have to say I average fishing from my boat 60 to 75 days a year or so, at least, maybe more. I had never ran the onboard chargers till about a year ago that charge on a usually 5 amp charge that auto cycles. Up until then, I used a digital charger that I had purchased from WM and I would always use the 2 amp charge setting and never had any issues ever. Have not had any issues with the onboard except I had the charger fail a few months back, but they replaced it with no charge to me except to ship back the old one.
I removed a battery tonight dated 06/2005:D and another 02/2007 that wasnt really bad yet but was starting to show signs of getting weak to soon. I would think I got good use out of my battery life. What you think and how does that compare with your experiences? Up until recently, I never ran short of tm battery while fishing ever, and I troll quite a bit while I fish. I usually fish a long day from an 18 ft fiberglass bass boat too. Will have to also say that I never leave my batteries with an out of or low charge condition either. One other thing to consider is winter storage. My boat was only stored under a cover at home till this summer, so those batteries braved the winters out in the cold. That has to be hard on them as well, I would think. Batteries was just the ole everstart ones.

**Cray** · 03-18-2011, 08:51 PM

That was good service. I have had the same experiance, had one delco truck battery last 7 years. You alreday know the secret. hook them to the charger as soon as you get home every time.

**blueball** · 03-19-2011, 07:30 PM

always have good luck with everstarts,i troll crankbaits in the summer with trolling motor running 80 to 90 percent (variable speed)and kill 2 trolling batteries in a day on my 17ft alum boat with a 12volt 55lb thrust,but troll speed is 1.5mph to 2.2mph steady ,trolling motor gets a workout

**Cane Pole** · 03-19-2011, 08:44 PM

I just got a couple of everstarts to replace 4 year old everstart deep cycles. Old batts made by Exide, new ones made by Johnson Controls. I am gonna replace my cranker battery tomorrow with everstart Yellow also Johnson Controls..

**skeetbum** · 03-20-2011, 12:56 AM

Mine went about 3 1/2 years with a WM charger with the metal boat. I had just replaced them when I bought my current boat, and took them out and put them on the TM side of this boat, so they're now 2 yrs old and doing fine. These are WM cheaper than Everstart Batteries, but as big as they had in this model. Just got a 3 bank onboard charger (from a 2)and changed the start recently. I hope I don't have to change em anytime soon. The Action Pack 105 used to be the top dog, wonder where they would fit in today's line up.

**jimp** · 03-20-2011, 06:46 AM

I just replaced my TM battery early this month. I believe I put the old one in back in 07. Have a PT 175w/ a MG 43# pro series (oem) and troll 99% of the time but not all day trips, usually just 6 hr or less each trip. I have put WM batts in both times, no issues with them. The tech told me to discharge the battery as much as possible before charging it and it would last longer when I bought the boat new in 04. There are so many opinions on how to maintain batts it is difficult to get an good idea of what to do imo. I went fishing yesterday, and didn't start the big motor until I was ready to load and go home, ran the new batt for 4 hrs on a windy day, really windy here in ETN. Did not run short on power but its a new batt. I need to check the volts and see how discharged the batt is before I hook up the charger. I dont always hook the charger up when I park the boat, I may wait until the day before I plan on going to charge it. During the winter the boat is stored in an unheated/non-insulated garage, and usually just charge the batts 1x/month. Just don't believe in leaving a charger hooked up 24/7, don't feel all that comfortable with the idea. If I get 3-4 years out of a TM batt, I'm happy for the most part. People spend high $$ on various lures, electronics, rods, yada yada yada, but gripe cause a batt only lasts 3-4 years. I just hate to change the TM batt because I have to pull the cranking batt out 1st due to the lay out of the boat.

**"G"** · 03-20-2011, 07:54 AM

Deep cycle battery manufacturers recommend re-charging within 24 hrs. of use no matter how much you have discharged them. I have a on board automatic charger and when I come in and park the boat it gets plugged in....it stays plugged in 24/7 untill I take the boat out again.....this charger is designed to be used this way. I check the water in my batteries once a month and top off with distilled water. I usually get 4 years out of my batteries....

**Tenntodd** · 03-27-2011, 04:17 PM

I agree "G". I put mine on charge as soon as I get off the lake too. I also have a nice 3 bank charger for all of the batteries that "floats" until the battery falls below a certain voltage. I do not check the water every month but it would be a great idea. When I bought my current boat the batts were 4 years old and lasted another year before I replaces them. I put a Marine Master for the cranking bat and Interstates for the TM. That has been over 2 years ago and they are holding up great. I have had the luck of not having batt issues while on the water....

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