Going to buying an inflatable boat from Sea Eagle this coming spring (Sea Eagle 9 as a matter of fact.) Now for the problem!!!
I am thinking of purchasing a small electric motor for tooling around on the local lake. I am only planning on using it for a while at least on a local lake that is maybe 600 yards long at its longest point, and maybe 100 yards across. I am only going to be using it for nice getaways with the 11 year old for bluegill and bass. So I am not really going to be using the motor a lot. I am really just going to be using this to get me off the bank, then stop and fish!
So my question is this, with a simple 30 lbs thrust 12 Volt elec motor, for my uses, do I really need a Marine Grade Battery with a price of $100??? Or could I be getting away with using a “standard” 12 Volt battery???
I know that the deep cycle battery would give me more charge discharge cycles before having to be scrapped, but am I really needing that?
Rog, in short, yes!..The marine battery will give you many times the service of a regular battery. Agreed, it is heavier and costlier, but will last at least 50 or more cycles if properly maintained…I have achieved upwards of 150 cycles from similar batteries.
P.S., I have to ask, is a 30 lb thrust motor needed? I’d think a 17 lb. model would propel such a boat fairly well. Then you could use the smaller marine battery.
Yeah, I use a 20lb thrust motor for my 12’ alum. boat, and it works pretty well. But when the wind comes up! Well, that’s another story. I wasn’t sure if I should get the Marine battery, but it really wasn’t a lot more than the standard 12V, and it works great. I run my night running lights, and my motor with it, and it will last me 2 days worth of fishing. I think just for the fact that it will recharge more, is well worth the extra $ spent. Hope this helps.
I’ve used regular car batteries for years with no problems. Ran the trolling motor for hours fishing and setting jugs,banklines, and troutlines. Just come home and hook up to charger. The main thing keep it stored on a piece of plywood or in a battery box. Most of the ones we use to use was when we changes out the old one form the car or truck or found one with a dead cell. Later Matt
I would recommend getting a decent battery and motor. If you are on the other side of lake when the battery quits, paddling the Sea Eagle with those oars they give you is not a whole lot of fun.
As I understand it, marine batteries are designed to withstand more abuse than car batteries. Long periods of non-use, as well as deep cycle charges beat up regular car batteries. I purchased a small trolling motor for my canoe and managed to cook a regular car battery in just a few months of use.
The marine battery I replaced it with is still going strong after 4 years, including periods of 8-10 months of none use, then some hot high amp quick charges. Definatly worth it in the long run.
My marine battery was purchased at Wal-Mart, sized for 30lbs thrust and I think I paid more like $65 for it. 30 lbs thrust makes the canoe really scoot, and I can run for about 1 1/2 days of fishing on a single charge.
I used to have a 15 lbs thrust motor and it was adequate, about equal to the thrust of one person paddeling.
A deep cycle battery is just what it says “deep cycle”. Meaning it can handle heavy discharges. Don’t do this to a regular car battery because it won’t last. They are designed to be at a maintained level of charge and be charged often. Like kengore said go to walmart or a farm supply store and get the deep cycle. I have seen smaller amphour batteries for as low as $45.
I’ve owned several boats and got experience with this one. I’d also recommend the marine deep cycle battery. Interstate has a pretty good one, definitely more affordable than the Optimas. If you are really tight, you can go to a battery dealer and buy rebuilt batteries. I’ve doen it with my jonboat, and got my money’s worth. I would not do it with my bassboat however, it is a 24v system, and the downside is higher.
Sears traditionally had a good warranty on its Diehard line, but I am not sure what to tell you with their changes going on. If you check into Wally mart’s return policy on batteries, and you can get an Exide marine there with a good warranty, you can get by with it.
Reg - I know of a couple of guys who use automovite type batteries for their electric motors, but only for short use, kind of like you were describing for your use.
Basically, an automotive engine starting battery is designed to supply a high amount of current in a short amount of time, as when starting the engine. Then the alternator quickly re-charges it. The internal plates of this type battery are thin to allow more contact with the acid solution for that quick re-charging. Want to be careful completly discharging this type of battery as in running it dead. Doing so a few times will cause the battery life to shorten. But does a great job starting engines and then accepting a quick charge.
A deep cycle battery, on the other hand, is built to supply smaller amounts of current for relatively longer periods of time without being re-chaged immediately. In fact you can run them deader than a door nail and they will bouce right back with the proper re-charging. The internal plates on this battery are thick and robust to supply this continued current. They also require a longer re-charge time at a lower level of current to be fully and safely charged.
Beware what you are buying for a marine battery. The orginal marine battery was also a starting battery, the difference between it and the automotive starting battery is they have more internal support to withstand a boats pounding. It was in effect, a beefed up starting battery. Now it is possible to buy a deep cycle marine battery. Just be sure this is what your getting if this is what you want. Now some of these batteries can get into some serious money.