Thread: Need advice on main and trowling batteries

I bought an Optima Bluetop for my cranking battery and to run all of my electronics bilge pump and what not. I have a 24 V trolling motor and I use two group 29 interstate deep cycle batteries. I did have a problem with them but interstate replaced them at no charge with them being a-year-old and so far they have been good.

As far as battery chargers if you were going to charge two at one time you could get an two bank onboard battery charger and not mount in the boat if you're trolling motor is only a 12 volt. I have a Minnkota two bank on board battery charger for my trolling motor batteries and it one bank on board battery charger for my cranking battery because they are in separate locations. The onboard battery charger will charge it up fully and then go into a hibernation mode and recharge only when the battery drops to a certain level of voltage.

CK, Get the best you can afford for both applications. I got a three bank onboard charger from a CDC member that has worked great for me. I ran separate wires to each battery on my old boat. So far so good. I think they are worth the money. I come in plug it up and ready for next time.

Here is what I did on my boat, not saying it is the best but works good for me. I have a 12 volt Terrova, I run 3 group 27 everstart's. I have one dedicated to cranking, electronics and pumps. I have the other 2 hooked together for 12 volts. Great run time and can longline all day. I run a 2 bank charger. One leg hooked to cranking battery and one leg hooked to trolling batteries. Only one time has it not charged trolling batteries overnight. Some will say you have to hook it to each trolling battery but that is not correct. It will charge from one to the other through the jumper between the 2 batteries. One thing you need to do is put a battery cable sized wire between the batteries for your jumpers. Don't cheap out with smaller wire. I just buy 2 automotive battery cables from parts store that have ring eyes already installed.
This is on a 17 1/2 Wareagle stick steer with 50 hp 4. stroke.

Thanks so for. I am for one really want to keep the charger off the boat. Could get a onboard and don't install it. I heard the dry chargers last longer then on-board because of the air cooling better on dry charger. Cray if you hook one leg to main battery don't you have to take off the voltage lines to main engine to not mess up the charger on engine when charging on land? For the main engine can you use a deep cycle marine battery for it?

I guess the Wallmart marine everstart is a deep cycle you can use for cranking and the Maxx is just bigger plates? So Maxx for the 12v Minn Kota trolling motor.

if you still have the same bass tracker that i remember, you should be good with 1 battery.

personally I have not had ANY issues using refurbished batteries from the battery place in Pineville for just a fraction of the cost. I would not cut that corner though on a starting battery.

I have 2 of the marine MAXX batts (series 29) for trolling and a blue top Optima for cranking. I also have a 3 bank onboard charger. IMO the onboard charger is as nice if niot nicer than the I-pilot is. I wont ever switch back to unloading batteries and hooking up chargers again, that's for sure. If youre planning on alot of longlining I recommend you hook two batteries up in parallel (for 12 volt system) so you will never run out of juice. You can troll all day and plug the onboard charger up that night and still be ready for another full day of trolling the next day with batts at full charge again.

Originally Posted by pete

if you still have the same bass tracker that i remember, you should be good with 1 battery.

personally I have not had ANY issues using refurbished batteries from the battery place in Pineville for just a fraction of the cost. I would not cut that corner though on a starting battery.

Yea Pete good to hear from you. Yes I have the same boat. Since I will do some long-linning, straight-lining with some brush piles, I might go with one like you said. If I see one wont do my loglinning after a couple of tries I will get a second battery. This past year that old one battery did last on my longlinning. I usually only long ling for 3 to 5 hours then I hit some of Brettw's brush piles. I think I am good with that as long as I get the second battery within 6 months.