Thread: Need new trolling motor batteries

Delco Voyager. They cost a little more but last forever.

Originally Posted by PIGINTHEPIGPEN

I have to wonder how often you guys that say your TM batt are lasting 4-5 years fish. The reason I ask that is. I put my boat in the water about 70 times a year. I get 2 years out of my trolling moter battery. I have tried 3 or 4 diff brands and they all seem to need replaced after 2 years. I have an excellent on board charger that works great. I fish hard when I go. I have friends that fish a lot of green carp tourneys and they tell me they only get 1 year out of thier TM battery. Again they prefish a couple of days before the tourney and fish at least 2 tourneys a month. I guess if a guy only fishes a couple times a month. He might be able to make a TM battery last 4 or 5 years. Don't know?

You've got it about right. There are only so many fill-ups in a battery, and the more you use it, the faster you use it up. Heavy fishing can kill one in a year.

Originally Posted by CatFan

You've got it about right. There are only so many fill-ups in a battery, and the more you use it, the faster you use it up. Heavy fishing can kill one in a year.

That has always been my understanding, that any given batt has so many discharge/charge cycles and you will be replacing them. Leaving them connected works good until a storm comes along and a lightning strike takes out the charger. Other than that, charge em when you're done unless the use was so minimal that it isn't necessary. Mine last 3 yrs or so and then I notice that they draw down quicker than usual. WM batts been in my boats for quite some time, but interstates are as good. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by CatFan

You've got it about right. There are only so many fill-ups in a battery, and the more you use it, the faster you use it up. Heavy fishing can kill one in a year.

I always suspected that to be true. We have rechargeable crane remote batteries at work. I know their life is limited to the number of charge/discharge cycles not the amount of use. When I see some one got 5 years from a battery, I figure it's probably just not being used very much.

I have always used AC delcos (last 20 years) for the troll battery and have always got 5 years from them. Actually I give them away and they always get a year additional out of them. I am out at least 3 days a week if not 4. Get the best battery you can get and it will last if you take care of them. As soon as I back the boat and unhook, I hook up the charger and leave it till the next day. Then I will plug in the charger the night before I go out, after a day off. Im on the foot pedal all day and never anchor. I will be heading to sears to get the platinum's just for the faster re-charge. IM all for saving money, but I dont buy the cheapest crap out there. I would rather pay a little more now and have it last longer.

Recharge ASAP (as you are off the water). Try not to go below 70% and you can get long life out of your batteries.

How to restore and prolong lead-acid batteries – Battery University

interesting read.

Let me ask this, I have two onboard chargers, one for starting and electronics batteries and the other for TM batteries.

Is it better to leave them plugged in ALL the time or just to charge batteries and then unplug.

Both of mine are Guest on-board chargers

I always plug them in as soon as I come off the water and if I am fishing a lot I just leave them plugged in until next trip which could be next day or the next week. In the off season(deer season) I store my boat at a friends shop and they are not plugged in at all then which will be from Sept-late December