Power On The Waves: The Best Trolling Motor Battery

Power On The Waves: The Best Trolling Motor Battery

Fishing is one of the oldest activities that mankind has been doing throughout history, what once began as an activity for sustenance forty thousand years ago is now one that is done for recreation. Granted, in certain parts of the world, fishing is still an activity used for sustenance or a commercial activity. For the purposes of this article, we will focus exclusively on the recreational aspect of fishing.

Before going recreationally fishing, it is very important that you ensure your fishing license is up to date, you are in season to fish, and the quota of your chosen body of water has not already been filled. These are paramount in importance if you wish to avoid any hassle or fines, and more importantly, if you care to protect the ecosystem of said body of water so future generations can also enjoy fishing there.

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Fishing​ And Trolling Motor Batteries

Recreational fishing is a very popular pastime in many areas of the world, and it is steadily increasing in popularity over time. There are many ways to fish, and some don’t even require a dedicated fishing vessel, such as angling, which can be done from the deck of any vessel stable enough to provide a fishing platform.

There are many techniques to fishing, by far the most common one the layman will think about is the angling technique, which is widely recognizable due to the use of a fishing rod, bait, and a hook. This is by no means the only fishing technique which is widely used, it is simply the most widely represented throughout many forms of media.

Trolling is another technique used for fishing in which you slowly propel your boat through the water, usually with the help of a purpose-built trolling motor, and run lines along the back of your boat, drawing along fish, almost mimicking schools of fish following your bait.

Boat with a Trolling Motor Battery

This is not to be confused with the similar-sounding technique of trawling, which consists of suspending fishing nets in the water and propelling the boat through the water in hopes of catching fish in the extended nets.

Trolling usually makes use of a specialized motor to propel the boat along at low speeds, to give the fish a chance to bite on the lines. This is integral, as a boat which is traveling too fast will outrun the fish you are trying to catch, and if you are going too slow, you are defeating the point of trolling, and may as well be angling.

An important part of your trolling setup is the battery which powers your trolling motor, without which it would not function. The vast majority of trolling motors are electric motors, as opposed to the outboard gasoline engines used for the main propulsion of certain boats. The best battery for a trolling motor is hard to find, so we are here to help you.

Our Top Recommendations

Lets take a look at​ some of the best trolling motor batteries:​

Minnkota Trolling Motor Power Center

Specifications

  • Built-in battery meter
  • Can be charged through the box
  • ​Fits group 24 and group 27 sized batteries
  • ​2 12 volt accessory plugs
  • ​2 manual circuit breakers
  • 15 amp accessory breaker
  • 60 amp motor breaker
Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center Opened

Overview

The Minnkota Trolling Motor Power Center is not a battery in of itself, but it provides a power center for smaller boats that do not have a dedicated battery compartment. It will make your life much easier, with an easily monitored battery meter built into the case, so your trolling battery won’t suddenly die on you while in use.

Your battery (which is sold separately) can also be charged without being removed from the case, which renders this battery case even more convenient and lessens the process of disassembly and diminishes the hassle of recharging your battery.

The breakers are a great touch to this battery case as they assure that you won’t have to mess around with fuses to get your battery working, like on less optimized models. One thing that we noticed is that smaller sized batteries tend to wiggle around inside the case slightly, so you may find yourself wanting to cut some styrofoam wedges in order to brace the battery inside the container.

This battery compartment will work perfectly with any reasonably-sized trolling motor battery, and it is a perfect compliment to your purchase of a battery, especially if your boat does not have a designated battery slot.

This battery center is also a versatile purchase, as it does not necessarily have to be used on a boat, and if you find yourself needing a portable battery center, it can be used for many other applications, so if the fishing season has come to an end, and you need a battery to power some devices while you are camping, this product will function for you ideally. This is nearly the best trolling motor battery case that can be found on the market.


Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center

Specifications

  • Fits group 24 and group 27 sized batteries
  • External battery ports
  • 1 USB charger
  • 1 12 volt accessory port
  • 10 amp circuit breaker
  • 60 amp circuit breaker
  • Built-in LED battery meter
  • 3 lbs in weight
Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center Side

Overview

The Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box is another product designed for small boats that do not come with a built-in battery compartment for the battery powering your trolling motor. A battery box is a necessary amenity in any boat which is lacking a compartment or slot for your battery, for simple safety reasons, and that it protects your battery from the elements.

Marine batteries are expensive and you would not want a lack of a case being the reason your battery was destroyed, after all. This model in particular is quite handy in that it features the typical accessory plugs and also a USB connector so you may charge your phone or other digital devices.

It also features a LED screen so you may monitor the charge of your battery, and connectors which do not require you to open the box to be used. It fits the same size batteries as the previous model which we reviewed, group 24 to group 27, which should be more than big enough for most trolling motors.

The circuit breakers assure the safety of your electrical components and prevents them from having an unfortunate short at an inopportune moment. This is another of the best trolling motor battery cases which you can find, and it is certainly not lacking in creature comforts, since you can charge your phone or other electronic devices on it.

As with our previous battery box, this can be used outside of fishing season too, if you require a portable source of energy, you can always repurpose this for times when you will need power on the go, such as camping trips, or even in the unfortunate event of a power outage.

A battery box will greatly improve the versatility of your deep-cycle marine battery and ensure you can use it for more than simply powering your trolling motor.


Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop

Specifications

  • 12 volts
  • 750 amps
  • 43.5 lbs in weight
  • Starts even in bad weather
  • Vibration resistant
  • 120 minutes of reserve capacity
  • Useful for both marine applications and RVs
Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Front

Overview

The Optima BlueTop D34M is one of the more reliable marine batteries that we have tested yet. It works optimally in any conditions, and is versatile enough to use for your RV in a pinch. This battery is reliable and effective for use in a marine application, since that is its intended purpose.

It features a quick recharge time and a good capacity for holding a charge, so you will not have to worry about your trolling motor running out of juice halfway through your fishing trip. The BlueTop is the best deep cycle battery you can find in its price range.

Another great aspect to this battery is its durability, with its shock-resistant construction and its strong outer case. This battery would go along well with the best trolling motor for a pontoon boat that you can find, as pontoon boats are usually ideal for trolling.

This battery is also remarkably light for the kind of charge it can hold. The battery can hold a much longer charge than many of its competitors due to Optima’s in house SpiralCell technology which uses a special spiral winding process for the lead plates in the battery to make your charge last longer and your battery recharge faster once it is depleted. This is one of the best saltwater trolling motor batteries.

If you are looking for a marine battery that can be used in a wide variety of situations, look no further, as the Optima BlueTop D34M is one of the more long-lasting batteries you can find on the market.

If you are the kind of fisherman who likes to go out on long trolling sessions, you will definitely not regret purchasing this battery as it will greatly cut down on the times you spend on shore charging your battery, as opposed to fishing, like you should be doing.

While this battery may be slightly more pricey than some of the alternatives, it certainly makes up for it in terms of quality, as it will hold a charge longer than most other batteries we have seen within its price range and it is simply durable enough to last for long periods of use without malfunction.


VMAXTANKS Vmax857 Tm AGM 12 Volt

Specifications

  • Maintenance-free battery operation
  • Tough exterior case
  • 4-9 hours of battery life when used with most models of trolling motor
  • 7.7 inches long
  • 5 inches wide
  • 6.1 inches tall
Holding VMAXTANKS Vmax857 Tm AGM 12 Volt

Overview

This battery is a compact and reliable option which works very well with boats and kayaks on the smaller end of the spectrum. The lower size and weight when compared to competition within the price range are very useful when space is at a premium, and you need a small, long-lasting battery to run your trolling motor for extended periods of time.

As stated in the specifications, the estimated battery life for this model is between 4-9 hours for motors which are rated at 40 to 18 lbs of thrust. This should be adequate for most trolling motors on smaller boats, where the small size of this battery will truly shine.

It has a decent recharge time, which is unfortunately not as fast as the BlueTop, however this model is also much more affordable than the BlueTop, topping out at about half the price, so your purchase will depend more on your intended use for your trolling motor battery.

The lower weight and small size of the battery also reduces the strain on your motor, so that also contributes to the battery’s longevity and the less frequent recharges incurred by this will indirectly lengthen the lifespan of the battery. This VMAXTANKS battery is one of the best marine batteries that you will find on the market thanks to its power and compactness.

The battery is also shock-resistant and the case is durable and resistant to the elements, however it is certainly recommended that you make use of a power control unit to protect your battery and also increase the efficiency of the power draw. This battery is an ideal companion to the best trolling motor for kayaks you can find.

As with other batteries, this one can be put to use in all sorts of miscellaneous applications, such as emergency power, powering your camping equipment, powering boating equipment that is not a trolling motor and all sorts of other applications.


Conclusion

In our search for the best trolling motor battery, we have found that the Optima D34M BlueTop is one of the best trolling motor batteries we have ever tested.

Stack of Optima Batteries

Its combination of durability, reliability, long lasting charge, and quick recharge time all come together to make this a great option for a trolling motor battery.

The only downside to this battery is that it is rather heavy, and the price point may be a little steep for some buyers.