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Electric boats are becoming more and more popular and electric motors are also the future for outboard motors. Since boats with trolling motors are always operated with a battery, the energy source is of crucial importance.
In this article, you will find basic knowledge about purchasing the best trolling motor batteries, the various types of batteries for trolling motors, and other criteria to consider when you’re looking to buy a battery for your boat’s trolling motor.
Contents
Trolling Motor Battery Reviews 2022
1. Optima OPT8016-103 – Editor’s Choice
Optima’s BlueTop range is a reliable deep cycle and starting battery for marine applications. Commonly called Optimal gel batteries, they have AGM (absorbent glass mat) technology. Its unique spiralcell technology allows it to run longer and recharge faster, giving it twice the life of a conventional battery.
The Optima BlueTop battery series has been specifically designed for the nautical world, where starting power and reliability in energy delivery are very important factors to consider for your safety.
The BlueTop series, like the YellowTop, are very versatile batteries since the same battery is capable of starting the boat’s engine as well as supplying the necessary energy to onboard equipment such as the outboard motors, bow thrusters, navigation accessories, etc.
Equipped with special terminals for marine couplings, it is manufactured with the patented AGM technology in the form of the “SpiralCell” and it has a robust construction. The battery lasts up to 2 times longer than a conventional battery.
The battery is ideal for seasonal use. If stored while fully charged, it can sit unused for up to 12 months at room temperature (or below) and still start a car. The long storage stability and low spontaneous discharge make the OPTIMA® Blue Top ideal for sailing in the sea as soon as the weather is right for sailing after the winter break.
The Optima battery is 15 times more resistant to vibrations than other batteries. They are non-spill and can be placed in almost any position, vertical or horizontal.
As with all OPTIMA® batteries, the Blue Top is extremely shock-safe. It is lightweight and can be mounted almost anywhere and in any position.
On the other hand, it holds its charge for longer and recharges faster thanks to its incredibly low self-discharge rate which can mean a quicker return to the water at the start of the season.
Since it is maintenance-free, you can concentrate on the essentials on board, and its small size, lightweight, and flexibility allow it to be installed in almost any position, saving space.
Its long life (twice as long as conventional batteries) and its cycle stability up to ten times higher provide a uniform energy supply until the next recharge. Click here to see the best price.
Key features
- 750 cold-cranking amps
- Lead-acid cell composition
- Starting and deep cycle battery
- 120 minutes reserve capacity
- AGM SpiralCell
- Patented SPIRALCELL technology offers a longer life cycle
- Recharges faster
- Completely leak-free and maintenance-free
- More resistant to vibration than other batteries
- Low self-discharge rate
- Can be used in any deep cycle application
- Some users report that it doesn’t hold a charge for long
2. Universal Power Group – Best Replacement Battery
The UPG UB121000 is a sealed lead-acid battery from the Universal Power Group. The OEM replacement battery is guaranteed for an easy and precise fit and is compatible with a Minn Kota, Cobra, or Sevylor trolling motor. The battery is also integrated with the absorbent glass mat (AGM) technology and is a maintenance-free battery. So, there is no need to add acid or water now and then.
This is a 12 volt 100 amps hour battery. So, it’s your responsibility to verify that the batteries being ordered match the batteries in your unit before placing your order. You must REUSE existing wiring and parts. These products are only replacement batteries.
It’s a compact battery that measures 12.2 inches x 6.6 inches x 9.2 inches while weighing 63.93 pounds.
The rechargeable battery is designed to be mounted in whatever positions you want and it resists vibration and shock. Made for extended trolling on the water, it comes with one year warranty and can last for three to five years.
Many users like that the product includes bolts, nuts, washers, lock washers, and rubber terminal covers. It’s perfect for a 55-pound trolling motor.
Meanwhile, it’s a multipurpose battery that, asides from trolling motors, can be used for powering electric vehicles, medical mobility equipment, consumer electronics, golf carts, motorcycles, garden power tools, emergency lighting, and more. Note that this battery should not be discharged. Click here to see the best price.
Key features
- 12 volts replacement battery
- 100Ah (100000mAh) capacity
- Sealed Lead Acid battery
- AGM technology
- Spill-proof design
- There’s always full power for trolling
- Easy to install
- Good battery life
- Cannot be deeply cycled and it’s not a starting battery
- Heavy
3. Mighty Max Battery ML35-12 – Our Budget Pick
Remember that a starting battery cannot be used for trolling motors or for powering appliances. Deep cycle marine batteries are the best option here. Sold well below the $100 price level, this Mighty Max ML35 12 is a deep cycle model that is sold for less than one-sixth of the cost of other high-end batteries on the market.
It’s made for small boat trolling motors such as the Endura C2 from Minn Kota and it has a power rating of 35 amps hour. Perfectly sized for small boats, kayaks, and canoes, the battery measures 5.16″ x 7.68″ x 7.13″ and weighs just 23.25 pounds.
Some customers mentioned connecting two batteries so as to get up to 70 amps for a lower price of a single top brand battery. In spite of the battery’s affordable price, it offers a lot of benefits of AGM batteries and has zero leaks with no need for maintenance.
It requires no ventilation. You can mount it at almost all angles, so you can easily wrap it around other accessories especially when you have limited deck space.
This is a 12V 34 amps sealed lead acid rechargeable maintenance-free battery. It’s a true deep cycle battery that can be mounted in any position and can resist shock and vibration. It produces durable high performance in high and low temperatures.
The AGM technology makes the battery ideal for use in enclosed and indoor environments and it does not leak or require maintenance.
You can use this high-performance battery in a wide range of applications such as electric vehicles, golf packs, consumer electronics, gardening, motor crawlers, and gardening tools, as well as many others. Click here to see the best price.
Key features
- Sealed lead-acid cell composition
- Spill-proof battery
- T3 battery terminal
- 35 amps battery
- Made in Vietnam
- Valve-regulated and ideal for indoor and enclosed environments
- Provides electricity on demand
- Ideal for a wide range of applications
- A sturdy calcium-alloy grid ensures exceptional performance
- Could last longer
4. ExpertPower LiFePO4 – Best LiFePO4 Battery
There are several families of lithium-ion batteries on the market. Most consumers are only used to lithium batteries made out of nickel oxide, manganese oxide, and cobalt oxide, whose rated voltage is 3.7V.
However, there is a family of lithium-ion phosphate batteries on the market, with a nominal voltage of 3.2V. These batteries are commonly called LiFe (lithium-ion) or lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePO4).
This new type of lithium battery is inherently non-combustible, allowing for a slightly lower energy density. Not only are LiFePO4 batteries safer, but they also have many benefits over other batteries with lithium chemistries, especially for high-power needs.
Made for RVs, solar and marine use, and other off-grid applications, the ExpertPower LiFePO4 is a new line of sealed lead-acid batteries from ExpertPower for use in trolling motors, amongst others.
The LiFePO4 battery provides 2500 to 7000 cycles and up to 10 years of life. However, you have around 200 to 500 cycles and 3 years of life in typical batteries with lead-acid chemicals.
The LiFePO4 battery has a flat discharging curve rated above 12 volts for around 95 percent of its usage capacity, providing astronomical increases in runtime compared to just 50 percent on lead-acid.
Light in weight, it is only one-third of the weight of lead-acid, making it one of the contestable choices for RV, marine, and other off-grid use when it comes to mobility or towing.
The lithium battery has a special BMS built-in to protect it from overcharge, deep discharges, overloads, overheating, short circuits, and a low rate of excessive self-discharge ensuring up to a year of storage that is free of maintenance. Then, an integrated low-temperature cutoff prevents charging below 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Click here to see the best price.
Key features
- Lithium LiFePO4 battery
- Deep cycle battery
- 12V 100Ah
- 2500 to 7000 life cycle
- Built-in BMS
- 10-year lifetime
- Has a low-temperature cutoff
- Long life cycle
- Light in weight
- The BMS offers complete protection
- More environmentally friendly
- It’s a bit pricey
5. Zooms LiFePO4 – Longest Life Cycle
The Zooms battery is also a lithium LIFEPO4 battery with a longer shelf life. Perfect for trailing motors, the Zooms LiFePO4 batteries offer between 4000 and 8000 cycles and have a lifespan of 10 years. Meanwhile, a lead-acid battery can only survive around 200 to 500 cycles while having a lifespan of just 3 years. After using the battery for more than 2000 cycles, the monomer capacity is usually still more than 80 percent.
You can connect two or more of these LiFePO4 batteries in series or parallel for higher voltage and capacity. You can have several connections in series: up to four identical batteries and in parallel up to four identical batteries.
The LiFePO4 batteries have a specially built-in BMS that protects them from over-charging, over-discharging, over-heating, over-charging, over-current, short-circuiting, to improve the overall performance and extend service life.
The 100 amps hour LiFePO4 battery weighs only 25 lbs, which is just 1/3 of the weight of lead-acid models, so, it’s quite easier to install and move. It’s ideal for applications such as with an electric scooter, fish finder, tool trailer, or even a camper.
The battery is waterproof and has an IP65 rating, so there’s no need to worry about having it in a marine environment or indoors. Click here to see the best price.
Key features
- 8V 100Ah
- LiFePO4 deep cycle battery
- Built-in BMS
- 4000 to 8000 Life Cycles
- 10 years durability
- IP65 waterproof
- Compact, lightweight, and easy to install
- Long life cycle
- It’s less pricey than other LIFEPO4 batteries
- 5 years warranty
- Discharges a bit too fast
Buyer’s Guide
Purchasing an electric motor is inevitably accompanied by the purchase of a suitable battery if this is not already included or installed.
Of course, it should be suitable for powering a boat with an electric motor and adapted to the size and power of the motor. Below are some of the criteria to be considered before purchasing a battery for your trolling motor.
Power/Capacity
The purchase of a device such as a boat’s trolling motor battery is based first on the examination of its product sheet. Be sure to check the part that mentions the capacity of the battery. Depending on your energy needs, you will have to make different choices. If your boat is equipped with power-hungry electrical devices, it goes without saying that you will need a high-capacity battery.
Amps
As far as boat batteries are concerned, it is advisable to opt for those that have fairly large energy reserves. It will not only be used to power your boat and its components. You will need it to survive for days on the sea and should at least choose a battery with a capacity of about 200 amps an hour.
Voltage
As for the voltage, it must be in accordance with the capacity of the trolling motor. The most popular batteries generally have a voltage of around 12 volts. It is relatively sufficient to accomplish simple tasks. Consider, however, the number of equipment you want to power before making your choice.
Rate of Discharge
Most of the time, the capacity and the rate of discharge of a battery are indicated. You must pay attention to these two criteria, as they are related. The amount of energy contained in a boat battery depends on its discharge time.
Thus, the longer the discharge time, the more the battery will be able to provide a significant amount of energy. So, you should make your choice based on the gear your battery will be attached to.
Number of Cycles
This is one of the key selection criteria that are directly related to the life cycle of your battery. This is an important criterion that allows you to know the strength and resistance of the battery you have chosen. Most of the time, the life of a battery is proportional to its number of charge and discharge cycles. Depending on the type of battery you plan to choose, you will be entitled to a different range of cycles.
Lead-acid batteries (open and closed) offer a number of cycles varying between 400 and 500. For AGM batteries, their number of cycles ranges between 600 and 700. As regards gel batteries, their limit is precisely between 800 and 900. As for lithium batteries, they offer you a number of cycles that range between 2,000 and 8,000.
Type (AMG, Wet Cell Lead Acid, LiFePO4)
There are various types of marine batteries, depending on the chemical components.
Lead Batteries
These can also be broadly categorized into open and closed lead batteries.
- Unsealed Batteries: The unsealed lead battery is the most popular battery on the market. It works through the use of distilled water. Liquid flows freely in the battery and facilitates the easy flow of electrolytes but they are not often spill-proof. When buying for the first time, please be sure to strictly monitor its charging process. It must be done slowly as much as possible to avoid the risk of wear and tear.
- Sealed Batteries: Although its use is similar to that of the unsealed lead-acid battery, the sealed lead acid battery is somewhat different. This type of battery does not require the use of distilled water. It is sealed and there is no need for maintenance. Due to its somewhat high price and compared to its open cell type, it is not very popular.
Gel Battery
It is a slow-cycle boat battery filled with gel. Here, the acid is replaced by gel to provide the battery with better resistance to extreme temperatures. This battery has the particularity of maintaining all its performance, even at a high level of discharge.
AGM Battery
Known as an absorbent glass mat battery, this is a sealed battery that works perfectly even without maintenance. Its rapid recharging speed makes it essential in the battery industry.
Lithium Batteries
They are the future of slow-discharge batteries. Admittedly, they are hardly popular nowadays because of their high price. Be aware, however, that their price has come down gradually over the past decade. With its multiple features, they are on the way to replacing other types of boat batteries.
It not only has a very fast recharge time, but it does not show any loss of capacity for use after discharging or charging.
Hybrid Batteries
If you are looking for a quality battery for your boat, you have many different models to choose from. There are both AGM and gel batteries for every need. They are characterized by their stability, their high currents, and their versatility. That’s why they’re sometimes combined.
When it comes to hybrid batteries, they combine the best of two types of batteries They are generally available in two types: wet electrolyte and AGM hybrid batteries or AGM and gel hybrid batteries.
The dual batteries perform better as a starter battery. It is particularly suitable for quickly starting your engine and powering some electrical devices.
Size
In terms of size, you simply have to take into account where the battery is going to go and the dimensions of it. Whether you’re ditching an old battery or replacing an existing one, you need to get one that fits the space. Generally, the bigger the battery, the higher the performance, so if you want to upgrade it, you just have to make sure you have the necessary space for it.
Weight
Do you attach particular importance to low weight, compact housing, long discharge time, high energy capacity, and long service life? Then you have to take a lithium battery of the latest technology (LiFePO4 batteries for example). The disadvantage however is these batteries are approximately 2 to 3 times more expensive than good AGM batteries.
Large batteries are only great for large boats or systems, while they can be a drag on small vehicles or machines. So avoid something very heavy if the vehicle is small and light.
Conclusion
When it comes to marine batteries, there is one big consideration to make before looking at anything else and that is whether you are looking for a deep cycle marine battery, a marine starting battery, or want the best of both worlds by opting for a dual purpose marine battery. However, remember that a starting battery cannot be used for trolling motors or for powering appliances. Deep cycle marine models are the best trolling motor batteries.
A deep cycle battery is best if you want to power your gadgets and devices, a starting battery will be able to jump-start your engine and a dual battery is capable of doing both. When considering your options, you need to decide exactly what you need a battery for and how much storage space you have available. Having two batteries would give you more options in case one of them failed but would naturally take up more space.
Once you’ve decided what type of battery you need, there are other things to consider, such as the power you need from the battery. This depends on the number of devices you need to run or the size of motor you need to start. It is always important to check the manufacturer’s instructions before purchasing to make sure you are getting a battery that is powerful enough.
