The marine battery you choose is a critical part of your trolling motor system. Experienced anglers will tell you that a deep cycle marine battery is best since you can use it to the point of depletion and recharge it without ruining the battery.
The idea is to get a good-sized battery that offers at least 12 volts’ deep cycle and is rated at around 110 amp-hours. However, if you like going way out into the water, you might be better served by a marine battery that offers higher amp-hour ratings.
In this guide, we will look at some of the best trolling motor battery options on the market today and also look at everything you might need to know about choosing the best marine battery for trolling motor.
Note: most links in this article are Amazon.com Affiliate links, see Affiliate Disclosure, thank you.
How to Choose the Best Marine Battery for Trolling Motor
As an avid angler, you most likely want to have the best apparatus for your hobby. It has been said that fishing isn’t exactly the cheapest of hobbies, but if you make the right kind of investment at the start, it gets fairly affordable down the line.
The trick is finding the best products and investing your money in them, knowing that they will serve you well for years to come.
That being said, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of options for marine batteries for electric trolling motors in the market today. And as you would expect, they are not all created equal. As such, you need to be very careful how you pick and choose among the available options. Here are some factors you might want to consider if you invest in the best marine battery for your trolling motor.
Recharging and Reserve Capacity
The trolling battery reserve capacity is one of the most critical elements you need to consider. Marine batteries, like most deep cycle batteries, can be used to the point of depletion. The catch here is that they need to be charged almost immediately they hit that point of depletion, or you risk ruining the battery and needing a new one.
The battery’s reserve capacity rating gives you an idea of how long you can use the battery (no fast discharges) before you need to recharge it. It also shows you just how far into the lake you can go and how many days you can keep running that battery without charging it.
This factor is particularly crucial for people who love taking long fishing trips that last for days. One of the best ways to keep yourself protected is to get a marine battery that can be recharged via solar. This means you won’t have to turn back and head for land and a charging port every time you come close to depleting it.
Battery Size
This is kind of a problem when it comes to marine batteries. In essence, larger batteries often mean that they can last longer and serve you better. However, larger batteries also take up too much space on deck, which can be a bit of an issue if space is limited or you would rather use that space for other gear.
You have to decide which is more important to you: a larger battery that lasts long or the space. That being said, the battery’s amp hour rating is also quite important as it will help you determine which kind of battery is ideal for your specific boat.
Voltage
Most of the marine battery options you are going to come across are 12-volt batteries. That’s because most boats use a 12-volt battery that can power the onboard electronics and help keep the boat operational.
However, in some cases, you may find that your motor has a 24-volt rating, which means you need to get two 12 volt batteries to operate. Granted, this is quite rare, but if that’s the case, you need to keep an eye out for the battery voltage and maybe double up on your batteries if you have a 24-volt motor to run.
Durability and Maintenance
When fishing, you are going to run into some wild and choppy waters from time to time. You need a marine battery that is built for tough. One that can withstand that kind of abuse and that is durable.
You also need to buy one that is maintenance-free and allows you to enjoy your fishing without worrying about acid top-ups and such. Finally, these kinds of marine batteries can be mounted in any orientation, making them quite ideal as a trolling motor battery.
Angling should be a fun hobby. To achieve this, you need to buy the best components and apparatus. The best marine battery for your trolling motor is just a start.
Safe Installation
In order to ensure that your trolling motor battery is safely installed, it is important to use the proper wire gauge size and breakers or fuses. The wire gauge will determine the amount of current that can flow through the wire, and the breakers or fuses will protect the wire from overheating.
Using the wrong size wire or not using breakers or fuses can result in a fire. Therefore, it is important to consult trolling motor owner’s manual before attempting to install a trolling motor battery.
4 Best Marine Batteries for Trolling Motor
Here are some wonderful motor battery options worth considering:
If you are short of time we have organized our list in order of our favorite batteries. The VMAX MR127-100 12V 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery is our favorite AGM battery. We have ran this exact model and you can see it used in our Endura 30 youtube video(3:52).
1. VMAX MR127-100 12V 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery
This VMAX MR127-100 12V 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery is a highly efficient 12-volt battery with a 100-amp hour rating. It’s a 27 size battery that offers high deep cycle performance even to the most demanding of trolling motors.
It comes with a reserve capacity of 200 minutes which gives you ample time to enjoy days out on the water fishing without worrying about your battery getting depleted too soon. At just 68 pounds and featuring 12.1″L x 6.7″W x 8.46″H dimensions, the battery is reasonably sizeable but isn’t too big to become a nuisance on deck.
Furthermore, it’s a maintenance-free option which means you don’t need to add water or worry about its orientation on the boat. That makes it particularly ideal for people who have small boats that don’t offer too much space since this battery can be mounted in pretty much any convenient position.
Finally, this battery type is rechargeable, resistant to vibrations, and the kind of shocks that come with sailing on rough waters. It’s the kind of battery that will serve you well, especially because it’s compatible with most trolling motors, including Minn Kota Endura Max 55 Hand Control 12V 55lb Trolling Motor.
Pros
- Deep cycle battery
- 200 minutes’ reserve
- Maintenance-free
- Can be mounted in any position
- Resistant to vibrations and shocks
Cons
- 68 pounds might be too heavy for some boats
On another note, this battery works great and is easy to connect in series. Because it is budget-friendly it will work great to provide the power you need for a 24 volt trolling motor while keeping the costs down.
Check out the price on Amazon.com
2. Might Max Power Boat Pontoon Electric Trolling Motor Deep Cycle Battery
Whenever you are talking about marine batteries, the Mighty Max brand is never too far from your lips. This is mostly because Might Max is one of the most reliable brands in the industry. This Might Max Power Boat Pontoon Electric Trolling Motor Deep Cycle Battery is an excellent option for people who mostly do light fishing on the weekends.
It’s a 12-volt battery with a 55-ampere hour rating, which quite frankly isn’t that much since the ideal amp rating for marine batteries should be above 100 amp-hours. That, however, doesn’t mean that this batter is inferior in any way. It just means that it’s ideal for a different kind of angler that doesn’t spend too much time on the water.
The battery itself is very well contracted and is spill-proof, making it perfect for the often rough and choppy waters on rivers and even the sea. In addition, it’s a rechargeable battery that has a deep cycle discharge and recovery system, allowing you to almost deplete it before recharging.
Note: For better battery life, always make sure that it’s properly and fully recharged after depletion.
The battery is designed to withstand shocks and vibrations that come with fishing on rough waters. It’s maintenance-free and can be mounted in pretty much any position making it ideal for small boats.
Pros
- Deep cycle battery
- Easy recharge
- Shock and vibration resistant
- Spill-proof design
- High performance and long-lasting
Cons
- It has a 55-ampere hour rating which isn’t good enough for most anglers
Check out the price on Amazon.com
3. Universal Power Group 12V 100Ah
This Universal Power Group 12V 100Ah is a highly versatile battery that can be used in a wide range of scenarios, including marine and solar applications. With a 100-amp hour rating, this 12v battery is powerful enough to run your trolling motor for hours on end without needing to be recharged every two minutes.
Designed as a deep cycle, maintenance-free battery, it can take some abuse in that you can completely deplete it, recharge it and then go again. The trick is to make sure that you have properly recharged it every time it gets depleted.
The 12v battery isn’t too big or too small. With 2.17-inch x 6.61-inch x 9.16 inch dimensions and 64 pounds of weight, it’s just light enough for most types of boats.
Finally, it features a spill-proof design and is resistant to the shock and vibrations that come with fishing in choppy waters. It can be mounted in any position, making it a space saver when on deck.
Pros
- 100-amp hour rating
- Rechargeable maintenance-free battery
- Shock and vibration proof
- Light enough for most boats
Cons
- A little pricey
Check out the price on Amazon.com
4. Optima OPT8016-103 Batteries D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery
Probably the lightest battery on this list, this Optima OPT8016-103 Batteries D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery is only 43.5 pounds, much lighter than most boats can comfortably take. It’s a 12v battery that has a 55-amp hour rating. Granted, that rating is a bit lower than is ideal, but it works for people who don’t like to spend too much time on the water.
Furthermore, it has a 120-minute reserve capacity which gives you enough time to enjoy fishing on the weekends without necessarily needing to recharge it during that time. That being said, it’s always a good idea to fully recharge your marine batteries as soon as you deplete them.
This maintenance-free battery is designed to be 15 times more resistant to vibrations and shocks than your average battery, making it one of the most durable options on this list. Finally, it can be mounted in pretty much any position and works well for both marine boats and RVs just in case you want to drive your camper to those hard-to-find fishing holes.
Pros
- Deep cycle battery
- Rechargeable
- Maintenance-free
- 120 minutes reserve capacity
- Hardy and resistant to vibrations and shocks
Cons
- Only 55-amp hour rating
Check out the price on Amazon.com
Conclusion
Having a good trolling motor battery is important to running your trolling motor. We have tested some top battery choices and concluded which was our favorite.
The VMAX MR127-100 12V 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery is our favorite AGM battery for capacity and durability. We used this battery for over 5 years and it is still going strong.
