Trolling motor battery?

[skeeterboy]

went out this weekend for about 4 hours or so and used the trolling motor only. Wasnt windy or anything i didnt need to use full power. The motor went dead and the gauge said the battery was empty. Dont know if the battery is bad, but since it is only a year old i wouldnt think so. Next thought is the motor is going bad since i think it is the original minnkota 28lb.Another thought is that the battery charger is not charging all the way. <br /><br />Thanks and let me know if you all have any suggestions.

 

[JB]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

Howdy, Skeeterboy.<br /><br />Recharge the battery and check its state of charge with a hydrometer. A voltmeter will not give an accurate reading of state of charge.<br /><br />What did your guage say about battery condition when you started?<br /><br />It is entirely possible that you started with only about half of a full charge.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

Im going to charge the battery and pull it out and get it tested to see if it is the battery. then i can eliminate it from the problem. Let you know how it goes. Thanks JB

 

[rwcreigh1]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

take it to any walmart or autozone and they will test it for free.try to charge it first.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

just took the battery up to autozone haha great thinking! They said it was dead hmmm only a year old oh well at least its not a new trolling motor. Now what would be a good battery to get that might last longer than an everystart? or are all batteries pretty much the same run time?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

I use the everstart trolling motor battery. It's cheap and they replace it free within a year. Just say "won't hold a charge" and they say, "okay, here's a new one", no tests, no questions, no problems.<br /><br />It'll last longer if you always charge it right away after a fishing trip. And make sure it's got enough water. The one I have now is nearly a year old, two weeks after charging it up it still measures over 13 volts and every cell is at the top of the hydrometer. I been taking better care of this one.<br /><br />Any wetcell battery will go down quickly if you let it sit around discharged, and with insufficient water.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

hmm good way to beat the system haha. I might look into getting one of those hydrometers.. What do they run in price. <br />Thanks JT

 

[JB]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

Cheap and priceless, skeeterboy.<br /><br />By the way, "dead" is meaningless when referring to a storage battery. "Wont hold a charge" means the battery is useless.<br /><br />If it is an Everstart (Walmart) take it to them to test and/or replace AFTER you give it a full charge.<br /><br />I have found Everstart Marine batteries excellent and never wore one out.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

well i got back from wal-mart and they have the same battery and a yellow maxx battery for 10 bucks more. So now i need to make the choice, but i think the Maxx might be too big. Hopefully wal-mart will do a trade in. <br /><br />Thanks for the input!

 

[JB]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

I always used the Marine Maxx Everstart, SB. It is worth the extra $10.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

thanks JB. Is the Maxx a group 24 battery or a 27? i might have to get a new tray if its a 27 which is fine, but didnt want to have the battery and try to stick it in and have it not fit.

 

[JB]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

I think it is a 27, skeeterboy, but I could be wrong.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

well im going to go get the maxx, which im sure will work well. Thanks to everyones post i appreciate them all! This is a great forum to get this kind of help on.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

got the beast battery now i have to charge it and lift the 60lber in the boat. Going to try it this weekend! Got a 7-lber lastweekend maybe ill have some luck this outting. Thanks again!

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Trolling motor battery?

skeeterboy, glad you got a larger battery. Remember, even deep cycles are not meant to be disscharged beyond 50 percent....if your trolling motor gets slower by the end of the day...it's time to add a second battery in parallel.