Best trolling motor battery?

BtownBasser · January 05, 2011, 08:31:49 PM

I need to get a couple new ones just wanna see what all the opinions are.

DBrooke · January 05, 2011, 08:47:48 PM

I guess the 1st question is What are you looking to spend?

I'm running batteries from WalMart myself, think they're Everstart Maxx or something like that. Bought the last one 3 years ago, run it 9-10 months out of the year, sometimes 5 days a week and still going.

DougB · January 06, 2011, 05:44:59 AM

I have ran the Everstart Maxx Batteries like DBrooke. They were good batteries. Some people have been abusing the free replacement warranty on them and it was getting harder to get them replaced if you do have a real problem.
This time I bought Deka Batteries from a Local tackle shop.I have had them since April 2010 and I haven't had any problems.

Donald Garner · January 06, 2011, 06:05:28 AM

I use the Walmart Batteries.
They seem to hold up well.

airforcechief11 · January 06, 2011, 12:12:43 PM

To piggy back off this. I know this may be a stupid question. But what size deep cycle do you guys use for your trolling motor batteries. $:-\$

Baron49 · January 06, 2011, 12:14:42 PM

I get mine form Sam's Club and they have done very well and they have a good warranty. There are Sams Clubs all over so no big deal if I ever have a problem with them.

DBrooke · January 06, 2011, 01:00:28 PM

I use group 29 batteries

airforcechief11 · January 06, 2011, 01:08:43 PM

Wow Ok. Thats bigger than my cranking battery that was group 27. My prior TM batteries was group 24 but they came with the boat.

clarker2000 · January 08, 2011, 05:25:56 AM

I dont know what the best brand is but many of the batteries on the market are made by one company and distributed under various other names. There really is only a handfull of battery makers. I have used several different types over the past 20 years and the one that I have found to be my personal best is the Lifeline AGM 31 series. That being said they have become very expensive in the past few years $250 each. I purchased mine 7 years ago and as of this winter they are being replaced. Thats seven years of hard core work too. To be honest I think I could get another few trips out of them but I thought this winter would be a good time to make the switch.

Lithium batteries are on the way. Expensive, really expensive, I mean really really expensive. Rumor has it they will be one 24 volt battery that weighs less then one 12 volt battery. They also are supposed to be good for 10 years. Another big plus is there is no drop off in power like normal deep cycles. Now your conventional 12 volts power curve starts to drop off significantly after a few hours of use, the Lithiums have full power until they are dead. Rumored price tag is $2200 per 24 volt battery. That to me is just crazy but if you look at it in terms of weight saved plus fuel saved=$$$$ and then 10 years of use? Maybe its all equal. We shall see as they are set to hit the USA this year.

-Shawn- · January 08, 2011, 09:10:46 AM

I am using Group 29 everstart max's right now and they do the Job. But I wish I had my Proguides back. 4yrs of hard use and they performed flawlessly.

Walmart has been good with the warraty so far as I have had to take 3 batteries back with dead cell's and none of them made it 14months. Free replacement is Great, but is a PITA tourney day.

Quote from: airforcechief11 on January 06, 2011, 01:08:43 PM
Wow Ok. Thats bigger than my cranking battery that was group 27. My prior TM batteries was group 24 but they came with the boat.

The thing to look at when you buy a TM battery is the reserve power. The higher the group number the longer it will run your TM.

wvbassangler · January 08, 2011, 09:33:04 AM

Quote from: clarker2000 on January 08, 2011, 05:25:56 AM
I dont know what the best brand is but many of the batteries on the market are made by one company and distributed under various other names. There really is only a handfull of battery makers. I have used several different types over the past 20 years and the one that I have found to be my personal best is the Lifeline AGM 31 series. That being said they have become very expensive in the past few years $250 each. I purchased mine 7 years ago and as of this winter they are being replaced. Thats seven years of hard core work too. To be honest I think I could get another few trips out of them but I thought this winter would be a good time to make the switch.

Lithium batteries are on the way. Expensive, really expensive, I mean really really expensive. Rumor has it they will be one 24 volt battery that weighs less then one 12 volt battery. They also are supposed to be good for 10 years. Another big plus is there is no drop off in power like normal deep cycles. Now your conventional 12 volts power curve starts to drop off significantly after a few hours of use, the Lithiums have full power until they are dead. Rumored price tag is $2200 per 24 volt battery. That to me is just crazy but if you look at it in terms of weight saved plus fuel saved=$$$$ and then 10 years of use? Maybe its all equal. We shall see as they are set to hit the USA this year.

I have to agree with clarker on this one I have also used the AGM 31's and they are great clarker is correct on the new lithium batteries Discover energy is going to be the next generation battery I have seen them but the price is ten times the price of a walmart deep cycle battery here is a link check them out.
http://www.discover-energy.com/productsearch?filter0=47&filter1=**ALL**&filter2=**ALL**&filter3=

WV PT175 · January 08, 2011, 11:26:21 AM

I'm using WalMart Everstart. I have had them for several years and still holds charge well.

DanielR · January 08, 2011, 02:51:54 PM

Everstart - Interstate - DieHard - Optima

We have rarely had issues from any manufacturer. As long as you maintain the battery properly with an auto charger, it should power your motor without a hitch. Everyone has different experiences with batteries because not everyone's maintenance procedures are alike.

To get the most value, look for warranties from your retail store. Sears for example, have had 18-month warranties on their batteries in the past - that could help the pocket in case of failure.

nuke · January 22, 2011, 01:42:16 PM

I was never fond of the "Neverstart" batteries from WalMart but perhaps the bad starting battery I had from them was a fluke. I've had good luck with Delco's until recently. A lot of the guys from my former club will tell you Interstate.

But as implied above, if you don't charge them properly, it doesn't matter WHICH brand battery you buy.

wvbassangler · January 22, 2011, 06:04:13 PM

Here is some info for you guys and girls you can buy used batteries from places like exide. The batteries on the shelf has to be reworked after the shelf life expires (if they don't sell) it's like getting a new battery for a fraction of the cost of a new one. I would try to get them early because when spring rolls around there gone.

bassindude · January 22, 2011, 06:45:58 PM

Another fan of the Everstart 29 here. no problems

DBrooke · January 22, 2011, 07:48:23 PM

Quote from: bassindude on January 22, 2011, 06:45:58 PM
Another fan of the Everstart 29 here. no problems

Looked at them again last night at Wal MArt, $85 a piece now. Last one I bought was a few years ago Think I paid about $10 less than that

screwballl · February 01, 2011, 05:54:33 PM

I am watching this as I will be needing one soon for my new (to me) jon boat for whatever trolling motor I get.

edit: Walked into the new WalMart they just opened a few days ago in my town and since I generally sit in a spot for 30-60 minutes at a time and most of the ponds and lakes are small, the basic $45 battery should work fine for me. The new battery will probably cost me more than the used trolling motor.