New boat owner - not sure what battery to buy

[dtrout12]

I just bought a 14ft jon boat that came with a trailer and a 12v 55 lb thrust Minn Kota prop. No battery though. I plan on using it to take my kids fishing on the lakes and ponds around me that are electric only so it would be my sole source of propulsion. What battery would you recommend without breaking the bank. Should I get two or would one be sufficient? How heavy are they? I would be sitting in the back and obviously the heaviest person. Should I have the battery in the front? Also I read somewhere that I need a circuit breaker and a box for it?

Here is what I was looking at:

Battery:
https://www.amazon.com/VMAX-MR127-1...d=1625250615&sprefix=vmax+mr12,aps,156&sr=8-5

Circuit Breaker:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V4DTXV...wg=AhkzE&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_img

Box:
https://www.amazon.com/attwood-9067...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Any information helps. Thank you for reading.

 

[ThomW]

The battery you are looking at is pretty expensive. I don't know that you need to spend $275.00 on a battery for a trolling motor on a 14ft jon boat. It says it weight 68 lbs as a reference for you.
I have always had great luck with Interstate batteries. You are correct that you would want a deep cycle. One like this will cost you about $160...so about $100 less.

Depending on the length of your trips, one should be fine. Adding a second would also add a lot of weight to your boat and make the trolling motor work even harder. Just make sure to have oars on the boat just in case.

Battery box is fine, not 100% needed, but you would definitely want a tray or straps or something to keep it from moving around.

As far as where you want the battery, that depends on set up of boat really. Try it in the back near you and the motor, and if it seems too heavy, you can move it forward.

 

[dingbat]

Battery is crazy priced

You only need one circuit breaker. The ground can be directly to the battery.

I've successfully used these in a number of applications.

50 amp 12 & 24 Volt Resettable Inline Circuit Breaker KIT Boat Trolling Motor | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 50 amp 12 & 24 Volt Resettable Inline Circuit Breaker KIT Boat Trolling Motor at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Whether you need a "box" is determined by State regulations. Some States require the battery to be covered, others do not.

 

[mike_i]

A battery box is nice, it makes it harder to drop something across the terminals and short the battery and make exciting.

 

[mike_i]

Depending on how much you'll be driving around with the only propulsion being the trolling motor I'd have a backup just in case. You can't have too much battery power, even if your backup get me home battery is a lower amp hour reserve. The battery you're looking at is way overprice.