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Posts: 1061
Location: Medford, WI | Hey everybody, I knew some of these questions have been asked/answered already; but when I searched them, most of the topics were several years old. Nothing may have changed, but it's worth asking. Here's my situation:
I just got a boat (Tuffy Esox LTD) and am looking to purchase a battery for my MinnKota 12V, 55lb Powerdrive trolling motor. I want to get a battery that will last multiple days as I take a lot of camping/fishing trips with no way to charge mid-trip. The battery will be used hard (12-15 hours of fishing a day). Sooo....I have a few questions about batteries:
I'm thinking about going with a gel battery - how much longer than a regular lead/acid battery will a gel last in terms of time before having to recharge?
When it comes to recharging, do I need to get a special charger?
Is charging time about the same as lead/acid?
Any other info you're willing to share, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions. I'm new to this whole buying everything for your own boat deal, so it really helps to have people to ask.
Thanks, Jake Bucki
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Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | Jake congrats on the new rig.
The way you fish i would suggest buying 2 batteries and always having a spare. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Jake,
I think you are asking way too much out of any battery (irrespective of type) to go multiple 12-15 hour days on a single charge. Under flat calm conditions, running slow (no more than 3 on the sliding Power Drive foot pedal scale) I'm doing good to get slightly less than 2 days out of a charge (probably more like 8 hour days). I have the exact same motor on a 16.5 foot boat.
S. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | i agree w/ Sorno...a 12 v system going hard for 3 days without charging? not a chance....even 2 batteries that is asking too much...I have Trojan AGM's..no special charger needed....all depends on what you want to spend..guys that have regular flooded cells have had good luck.. Optima/Trojan are good batteries...
i'd suggest running the motor w/ 2 in parallel and keeping 2 spares in your truck if you plan to get 3 full/hard days between charging...cheapest route is regular flooded cell batteries...
Edited by BNelson 5/19/2010 2:30 PM
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Bit of Old School....One of my first boats was a Alumacraft 16' Mod V Jon boat. I decked the whole thing almost in wood. I ran two 12 vlt batts wired in series, (pos to pos) Both batts were new, change one out change both. I would go into the north coutry and fish hard some days never starting the tiller motor even. I would get 3 days before I had to pop out of the woods and find a place to charge. I wore those batteries down to tears a couple times but for the most part the two held up well. The gels supposedly last longer per charge. But the life cycle is not any better so add the additional cost into your study. |
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Location: Ontario | Take a look at Odyssey batteries but it's not cheap 
http://www.odysseybattery.com/marinespecs.html
Edited by lifeisfun 5/19/2010 5:44 PM
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Posts: 582
| you are asking alot as mentioned by others, but at the very least i would go with 2 batteries in parallel making 12 volts. I had 2 walmart batteries like this with my 12v TM, and the system would last a few days when i was conscious of when i used the TM or not. |
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Posts: 1756
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | jakejusa - 5/19/2010 4:32 PM
Bit of Old School....One of my first boats was a Alumacraft 16' Mod V Jon boat. I decked the whole thing almost in wood. I ran two 12 vlt batts wired in series, (pos to pos) Both batts were new, change one out change both. I would go into the north coutry and fish hard some days never starting the tiller motor even. I would get 3 days before I had to pop out of the woods and find a place to charge. I wore those batteries down to tears a couple times but for the most part the two held up well. The gels supposedly last longer per charge. But the life cycle is not any better so add the additional cost into your study.
Not trying to be nitpicky but pos to pos is parallel. Pos to neg is series. Series will give you a 24V setup and not 12. Parallel will yield 12 volts still. Just trying to prevent damage to a TM is all. |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | I just use my honda generator. Works great and keeps the bears away |
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Posts: 15
Location: East Central WI | I don't think you could get that much run time out of any battery, gel, or lead acid. You could carry a second, I do like the generator idea too. I have a buddy that has a small solar panel in his boat hooked to his batteries, it is about 12"x18" or so, and he says it does enough to make a difference. I've seen them in Cabelas and other shops, I think they are around $70 or so. |
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Gel Batteries