Battery for Minn Kota C2 30 for fishing canoe

[Kape Kev]

I recently bought a Minn Kota C2 30 that I am going to use on my Esquif Mallard XL square stern canoe for fishing. I will be using it on a lake and will be using it to get there and back not for a lot of actual trolling. I'm looking for a battery recommendation. Not seeing a lot for this application. Would also appreciate thoughts on battery boxes and battery placement.

 

[RMClark]

My canoe days are way in the past, so my answer relies on dated experience.

From what I recall, weight was always a consideration with a canoe. For that reason, I'd be looking at a lithium (LiFePO4) battery. My 100AH lithium battery weighs 26 pounds. A comparable lead-acid battery would go much heavier.

If you can swing the cost, lithium is the way to go. There are budget lithiums; I have one. How much battery can you afford? I don't know that you need 100AH for a day trip in your canoe, but if you stay out overnight or a multi-day trip, then it might be important. I tend to go as big as I can with things like a battery.

The lighter lithium battery would make placement of the battery less critical. I think I would tend to put the battery in the center of the canoe to keep the canoe balanced fore and aft.

I'm not familiar with all of the battery box options.

 

[Kape Kev]

Thanks. Are you happy with your budget lithium? If you are would you mind sharing the brand?

 

[Scott Danforth]

depending on what your budget is, a good LiFePO4 or a good AGM group 27. as far as placement, if its just you in the stern of the canoe, put the battery under the foreward seat for balance. if its two people, put the battery in the center.

make sure its strapped in. canoes tip

 

[RMClark]

Thanks. Are you happy with your budget lithium? If you are would you mind sharing the brand?

Happy so far, but it hasn't quite been a year, yet.

I couldn't afford a big Dakota LiFePO4 battery so I did a lot of reading and even found some vids on YouTube about the cheaper offerings on Amazon. I bought a CHINS battery. I paid about $350 for the battery when I bought it, but the price has actually dropped since then. The CHINS has a battery management system built in with thermal protection on both cold and hot extremes. The vid that convinced me on this brand was by a YouTube creator who specializes in solar power systems. He has vids in which he "dissects" batteries. Some of the batteries were absolutely atrocious in build quality. The CHINS was very clean inside with good solder joints. That's what convinced me to take the chance.

I reinstalled the batteries from winter storage earlier this week. It will be a couple weeks before I can get out on the water for the season.

 

[airshot]

Being a canoe, I would opt for Lifepo4 battery as well. Weight can be critical in a canoe, however do follow all charging instructions to the letter !! The Lifepo4 are a big improvement in safety from just lithium batteries. A good agm group 27 would be my next choice, more weight but lower cost and the weight isn't that bad. Be sure to add some kind of fuse in your wiring..