Trolling Motor Battery Question

[whitetaildave24]

I plan to buy a trolling motor for our pontoon before we start fishing this spring and it will be a 24 volt 80 lb thrust motor. Battery question is do I go with one 24 volt, two 12 volts, or does it even matter. I’ve only ever had 12 volt trolling motors in the past. I’ll eventually get an on board charger as well.

[michaelc]

Feb 24, 2024 18:41:58 GMT -5 whitetaildave24 said:

I plan to buy a trolling motor for our pontoon before we start fishing this spring and it will be a 24 volt 80 lb thrust motor. Battery question is do I go with one 24 volt, two 12 volts, or does it even matter. I’ve only ever had 12 volt trolling motors in the past. I’ll eventually get an on board charger as well.

I would go with just a single battery if it was me, but then again if you go with 2 12v batteries it will increase your odds of later on adding accessories

[jtkelly]

Feb 24, 2024 18:41:58 GMT -5 whitetaildave24 said:

I plan to buy a trolling motor for our pontoon before we start fishing this spring and it will be a 24 volt 80 lb thrust motor. Battery question is do I go with one 24 volt, two 12 volts, or does it even matter. I’ve only ever had 12 volt trolling motors in the past. I’ll eventually get an on board charger as well.

I've always had 2 12's. Give you the option to run a 12 volt accessory off them if you want. Lights, sonar... and if your starting battery goes dead it is pretty easy to jump it off one of the 12 volt trolling batteries.

[esshup]

I know they are more $$$ but look at lithium. IIRC more juice and a LOT lighter.

[duff]

2 12v batteries. I run 3 batteries. 2 just for a 24v tm. And 1 as starter and accessories like depth finder.

I have worn down the 2 batteries while trolling and glad to have a starting battery to get me back. Likewise my starting battery went bad a couple years and had to jump my ob to one of the trolling batteries.

I run the lead acid batteries. I found a used 3 bank for a good deal. It has worked wonderfully. My batteries never move and stay maintained all the time. The extra weight really isn't a factor for me. I typically run out of juice before my batteries do so the potential for extra run time isnt noticed. If I was doing all day events where charging was not feasible or out of town trips I would consider lithiums.

[greghopper]

Good read on 2 or 1 battery…

www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/two-batteries-vs-one-longevity-64132.html