Made a newb mistake today.

Since it was cold this morning, i told my dad we would sleep in and get breakfast at a local cafe before going to lake wateree. So i woke him up at 630am, made some coffee and off to the cafe at 7pm, and made it to wateree by 9am. Needless to say it was alittle more windy than i anticipated, rod eyelets were freezing up, and had both anchors down and spotlock on to keep boat still. Fished the first spot for 3 hours as we froze our hands getting setup and wanted to wait till it warmed before moving. We caught 4 crappie between 11-13". We tightlned for another 45 min to check out one spot before making trip up the lake a ways. While doing so, the front depth finder kept turning off, after rebooting a coup,e times, my console depthfinder turned off, i then had the oh no moment, dead starter battery. Turn the key, yep dead battery. Try to fire kicker, nope no juice and no pull start. Luckily we were across from the landing and used minnkota to get back that took awhile. Luckily we didnt shoot up the lake like i planned as at that time the motor wouldve fire up. I usually charge the starter battery every other trip and still have juice. So will monitor battery and see if battery is going from cold weather. The crappie went back into the lake and that was our day. I did charge the deep cells for the trolling motor but not the starter.

I had the same thing happened to me recently and ran the TM back to boat ramp a mile away. I put jumper cables in boat now and replaced the starter battery.
Hope your next trip the weather is nicer and the bite plentiful.



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What would you give for jumper cabels?:biggrin

Jumper cables, you can jump off your trolling motor batteries.


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Attachment 288324If trolling batteries are anywhere close to cranking battery, take starter cables loose from cranking battery at home and see if they will reach trolling battery. 9 chances out of 10 you have enough cable to hook to trolling battery.

Attached picture is a set up I built. One end to cranking battery other end to trolling battery. Anderson plug in middle. Unhook and tape up, on the water just plug two together, instant jump start.

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Originally Posted by Redge

Jumper cables, you can jump off your trolling motor batteries.


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the kicker is my jumper cables were in my truck at the landing lol. I guess the 150 uses more juice than my 115.

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Originally Posted by Cray

If trolling batteries are anywhere close to cranking battery, take starter cables loose from cranking battery at home and see if they will reach trolling battery. 9 chances out of 10 you have enough cable to hook to trolling battery.

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unfortunestely they wont, the starter battery in the back compartment, the tm batteries are under the front center rod compartment. Going to keep jumper cables which will reach, not in my truck.

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Originally Posted by micorps

unfortunestely they wont, the starter battery in the back compartment, the tm batteries are under the front center rod compartment. Going to keep jumper cables which will reach, not in my truck.

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You can make up that jumper system I showed any length you need to and hopefully route it back where you need it.

I had similar problems two weeks ago. Wound up having to buy 2 batteries, one for cranking and one of the two trolling batteries. Sometimes it costs to play.:dono

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Originally Posted by Cray

You can make up that jumper system I showed any length you need to and hopefully route it back where you need it.

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That is a great idear thank you

I checked my boat out this morning, my crank battery was dead, totally. Not looking good - we will see.

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Originally Posted by micorps

That is a great idear thank you

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I ordered my Anderson plugs off eBay. May find them local. I used 6 gauge wire which is plenty sufficient. Just make sure decide on wire first then purchase plug to match wire. Then install plug close to easiest battery to get to.

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Originally Posted by Cray

I ordered my Anderson plugs off eBay. May find them local. I used 6 gauge wire which is plenty sufficient. Just make sure decide on wire first then purchase plug to match wire. Then install plug close to easiest battery to get to.

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will do thank you.

I was told by my dealer not to jump off my big motor with the trolling motor batteries unless I had them isolated, it would fry the cpu

What brand of cranking battery does everyone use here? How about your TM battery?

Tim, Christmas of 2016 Ace Hardware had their compact jump start devices on sale. I bought some for my son's and two grandkids who are away at college. Recently one of my son's needed to jump an old car he still has in garage. He pulled out the jump start which hasn't been charged since Christmas of 2016 and it fired the car right up. I also keep one in my car and put in boat when I launch. Mine is very compact, about size of car owners manual or an old time country Bible. It is much easier to store and use than jumper cables and it will recharge of the engine alternator in no time.
You can catch them on sale for half price(~$50) and it is a great investment.

Course none of that matters if you forget to put the drain plug in. :banghead

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Originally Posted by quikcarl61

I was told by my dealer not to jump off my big motor with the trolling motor batteries unless I had them isolated, it would fry the cpu

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The good thing about the jumper setup I showed is it makes a direct connection between 2 batteries. No arching. Just turn key off, hook two plugs together, let sit for couple of minutes to let voltage stabilize and motor just see's straight 12 volts with no surge.

I hate you had trouble while fishing with your dad. I keep jumper cables in my boat and I have had to use them a couple times. Sounds like you need a new battery. I hope to try wateree Tuesday if the old champion cranks. I haven't run it in a couple months so hopefully I can check it out tomorrow. I am going to sort rods tomorrow and see what I have left and will get with you on the rods you wanted.

I think we’ve all been there before! I have a three bank onboard charger that charges the cranking battery along with the trolling motor batteries. I also keep a Powerall jump start kit in the boat for emergencies. It will also charge your phone or tablet. Glad to hear that you and your dad were able to get back in safely, especially during this dangerous time of year.

Wrap a string around the fly wheel and give her a pull. Not as easy on the bigger motors but before I had separate batteries for electronics I would have to pull start a 90hp after long days.

Hate to hear about the dead starter battery. Glad you were able to get back to the landing safely. We've all been there before!!


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I bought a portable jump starter off of Amazon a while back. Its about the size of a book and I keep it on my boat, even though I can crank my motor off of my TM battery if I needed to. My wife said it's overkill, but then I asked her if she knew how to use a paddle. I think I paid around $45 for that jump pack.