I installed a trolling motor on my pontoon boat today. I have it all hooked up and ready to use this weekend but I have a couple questions I know you can help me with.
First is charging the 2 deep cycle batteries. Do I need a 2 bank charger or a 3 bank charger. My cranking motor is not a deep cycle. So I have 3 batteries on board. I do have battery tenders for my other equipment like tractors, lawn mowers and atvs but they are just tenders and I use them plugged in all over the shop for winter storage. But they all have single batteries.
Second, how long will the batteries last on this motor? It is a Minn Kota Terrova with 80# thrust. I've never owned one before and I'm looking for a big ball park guess as to how much I can run it before craps out.
Thank you in advance for any help you give.
Trolling motor / battery charge question
Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner
Trolling motor / battery charge question
Charlie and Patty
24' Tracker Party Barge
Full Enclosure
60hp Mercury
Minn Kota Terrova 80# Ipilot
2004 F-250 Quad Cab 6.0
24' Tracker Party Barge
Full Enclosure
60hp Mercury
Minn Kota Terrova 80# Ipilot
2004 F-250 Quad Cab 6.0
Re: Trolling motor / battery charge question
I'm sure others will weigh in on this, but first of all, if you have two trolling batteries you need a two-bank charger. You don't want to hook up the cranking battery to the charger. It's not a deep cycle battery and unless you have issues with the regulator on the motor, your cranking battery should be able to hold a charge good enough to start the motor for a good long time, say at least a month or more.
Depending on where you live, trolling batteries normally last about two to three seasons. Here in central Missouri where we can get some cold winters I find myself replacing the trolling batteries about every two years or so. I leave all my batteries in the boat(s) and charge the trolling batteries about once a month in the winter and put a tender on the cranking batteries.
I get about 5 years out of a cranking battery and then go ahead and replace it just because I don't want to get caught out on the water and not be able to start.
Depending on where you live, trolling batteries normally last about two to three seasons. Here in central Missouri where we can get some cold winters I find myself replacing the trolling batteries about every two years or so. I leave all my batteries in the boat(s) and charge the trolling batteries about once a month in the winter and put a tender on the cranking batteries.
I get about 5 years out of a cranking battery and then go ahead and replace it just because I don't want to get caught out on the water and not be able to start.
2011 Bennington 2575RCW w/ ESP
F225 Yamaha
F225 Yamaha
Re: Trolling motor / battery charge question
Are you asking how long you an run the trolling motor off the battery's or how long do they last? On our Bass boat they have lasted 4 years and longer, we have a 3 bank on board charger that's plugged in every time it comes out of the water. We can fish for 2 days off the 2 battery's, before they start running down in our boat. I have a 12v trolling motor and 1 battery for it on pontoon and it will let us fish for 2 full days too if it's not real windy. I charge it after weekend of fishing with a separate charger. Enjoy your new toy, have catch the big one!
2005 Tuscany TS2286FC by Sweetwater
22 ft, 90 hp 4s Yamaha
Lorance 332c GPS/Fishfinder
Minnkota copilot Trolling motor
3 battery's, tandem axle trailer pulled by 05 Dodge Quad Cab Hemi 2x2.
22 ft, 90 hp 4s Yamaha
Lorance 332c GPS/Fishfinder
Minnkota copilot Trolling motor
3 battery's, tandem axle trailer pulled by 05 Dodge Quad Cab Hemi 2x2.
Re: Trolling motor / battery charge question
Bassn386, that makes sense. I was thinking along that line but just wasn't sure.
Oldmn19, Yes I was referring to run time of the batteries and that helps me.
Seeing as how I never ran owned a trolling motor, I just didn't know what to expect.
I bought this from Gander Mountain and there were two youngins that waited on me and they knew less then I knew so getting answers from them was not going to happen.
Thank you guys.
Oldmn19, Yes I was referring to run time of the batteries and that helps me.
Seeing as how I never ran owned a trolling motor, I just didn't know what to expect.
I bought this from Gander Mountain and there were two youngins that waited on me and they knew less then I knew so getting answers from them was not going to happen.
Thank you guys.
Charlie and Patty
24' Tracker Party Barge
Full Enclosure
60hp Mercury
Minn Kota Terrova 80# Ipilot
2004 F-250 Quad Cab 6.0
24' Tracker Party Barge
Full Enclosure
60hp Mercury
Minn Kota Terrova 80# Ipilot
2004 F-250 Quad Cab 6.0