Trolling Motor battery charging

Hey Guy, I just bought a trolling motor (my first one), a Minn Kota Rip tide wireless control. When I read the manual it said to be sure to use a proper battery charger or you could shorten life of the battery, but didn't say what kind of charger to use. It did list some chargers you could buy from Minn Kota. Is this important, or are they just trying to sell a charger. I have an automotive charger. What is your opinion or experience on charging trolling batteries? Also, does anyone have a Rip Tide SP and how do you like it? Thanks guys. I also got a Lorance Elite Ti Depth Finder. Any opinion on that. I have been trying to fish for 2 or 3 years without a trolling motor or good depth finder, and it was like spitting in the wind. I just could not afford to equip my boat. Hope fishing will be better when I learn to use this stuff now. Thanks in advance for any opinions or advice. Also, not asking for your honey holes, but what depth have you been fishing with best success.

Baitboy

On board charger works best.

On board charges are defiantly the way to go. Just plug it in we
Hen you get home, check the water every month or so. Boat is ready to fish every time.

I use a digital onboard charger......you need one with at least 10 amps per bank.....i have used several ....the minnkota is what i have now and yes my batterys do last longer....all three are 6 years old now. I plug my boat in and do not un plug it untill i go fishing....when i get back i plug it up as soon as i park the boat. I check water in batteries once a year.

Depends on the battery/batteries being used, as not all batteries are the same. It has more to do with the type of battery, than the equipment running off the battery. Purchase a battery charger that's made to charge the type of battery you're going to be using. That's why the manual didn't specify which charger to use.

Automotive battery chargers are "bulk chargers" and may have no restraint or control on how much charge is being delivered while turned on. They can damage a deep cycle battery, and may be inappropriate for use on a AGM or Gel-cell battery. Overcharging the battery, or boiling out the fluid, can be dangerous.

A onboard charger is the most convenient & easiest to use, if you have room to mount it. (and the boat is within range of an electrical outlet)

I have Everstart series 29 wet cell batteries for my trolling motor, and charge them with a Minn-Kota MK-220 (2 bank @ 10amps/bank). This is an old model, as the newer model (MK-220D) is digitally controlled.

Make sure your trolling motor is unplugged while you are charging battery. I have rip tide on key west does a great job in the salt. We troll for flounder in the same manner as we crappie fish.

I have a riptide SP and love it! Learn how to use the cruise control for easy longline trolling. Also, I love the anchor setting when tightlining for winter time crappie. Find the bait fish with your new Lowrance, set the anchor and sit back and fish. I went to Jordan this past Sunday and fish were in 38 fow, suspended at about 26'.

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Originally Posted by Countryboy N.C.

On board charger works best.

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Thanks Country Boy

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Originally Posted by "G"

I use a digital onboard charger......you need one with at least 10 amps per bank.....i have used several ....the minnkota is what i have now and yes my batterys do last longer....all three are 6 years old now. I plug my boat in and do not un plug it untill i go fishing....when i get back i plug it up as soon as i park the boat. I check water in batteries once a year.

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Thanks, most appreciated

Thanks. Good Fishin.

Baitboy

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Originally Posted by Chad Maness

I have a riptide SP and love it! Learn how to use the cruise control for easy longline trolling. Also, I love the anchor setting when tightlining for winter time crappie. Find the bait fish with your new Lowrance, set the anchor and sit back and fish. I went to Jordan this past Sunday and fish were in 38 fow, suspended at about 26'.

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Thanks for the info. Baitboy

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Originally Posted by capps cousin

Make sure your trolling motor is unplugged while you are charging battery.

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Just bought an older boat and the previous owner didn't do this^^^^^^^^. Burnt everything up.

I wonder if the guy with the burnt up trolling motor had a fuse inline to the motor? That should keep anything bad ....I hope

The Ranger TM plug with the crossover was the fuse.rotflFinally everything is good to go, I hope.