Trolling Motor Question.

I have a real small aluminum boat and I use an equally small motorguide
trolling motor. The battery I used was brand new but only lasted a couple of
years. The battery was a Marine Battery.

Am I better off just buying a regular car battery or should I stick to the
Marine battery? Frankly, I don't know the difference. When I used a regular
car battery, I think it's life lasted longer than the Marine battery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (The car battery was from a small
Toyota Tercel).

Frank

"Frank" wrote in message
. ..
I have a real small aluminum boat and I use an equally small motorguide
trolling motor. The battery I used was brand new but only lasted a couple
of years. The battery was a Marine Battery.

Am I better off just buying a regular car battery or should I stick to the
Marine battery? Frankly, I don't know the difference. When I used a
regular car battery, I think it's life lasted longer than the Marine
battery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (The car battery was from a small
Toyota Tercel).

A car starting battery was designed to be used at high demand in short
bursts, such as you do when starting a car. A marine DEEP CYCLE battery is
designed to be used with a steady demand over an extended period of time.
So the lead plates in the battery are thicker and heavier to stand up to
such use.

Getting a couple years out of a battery is fairly common. Things you can do
to extend the life of the battery are to insure that the liquid level is
topped off and that the battery is charged fully after EACH use.

There is a difference between a marine starting battery and a marine deep
cycle battery. Use only the deep cycles for trolling motors.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Couldn't have said it better. Deep Cycle is the key.

Steve @ OutdoorFrontierswrote:
"Frank" wrote in message
. ..
I have a real small aluminum boat and I use an equally small
motorguide
trolling motor. The battery I used was brand new but only lasted a
couple
of years. The battery was a Marine Battery.

Am I better off just buying a regular car battery or should I stick
to the
Marine battery? Frankly, I don't know the difference. When I used a
regular car battery, I think it's life lasted longer than the
Marine
battery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (The car battery was from a
small
Toyota Tercel).

A car starting battery was designed to be used at high demand in short

bursts, such as you do when starting a car. A marine DEEP CYCLE
battery is
designed to be used with a steady demand over an extended period of
time.
So the lead plates in the battery are thicker and heavier to stand up
to
such use.

Getting a couple years out of a battery is fairly common. Things you
can do
to extend the life of the battery are to insure that the liquid level
is
topped off and that the battery is charged fully after EACH use.

There is a difference between a marine starting battery and a marine
deep
cycle battery. Use only the deep cycles for trolling motors.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com[/quote:29c9d57aef]
Over 7,000+ Reel, Engine and Trolling Motor Schematics www.hookandsinker.com

Thanks for the tips.

Frank

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"Frank" wrote in message
. ..
I have a real small aluminum boat and I use an equally small motorguide
trolling motor. The battery I used was brand new but only lasted a couple
of years. The battery was a Marine Battery.

Am I better off just buying a regular car battery or should I stick to
the Marine battery? Frankly, I don't know the difference. When I used a
regular car battery, I think it's life lasted longer than the Marine
battery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (The car battery was from a small
Toyota Tercel).

A car starting battery was designed to be used at high demand in short
bursts, such as you do when starting a car. A marine DEEP CYCLE battery
is designed to be used with a steady demand over an extended period of
time. So the lead plates in the battery are thicker and heavier to stand
up to such use.

Getting a couple years out of a battery is fairly common. Things you can
do to extend the life of the battery are to insure that the liquid level
is topped off and that the battery is charged fully after EACH use.

There is a difference between a marine starting battery and a marine deep
cycle battery. Use only the deep cycles for trolling motors.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Frank wrote:

I have a real small aluminum boat and I use an equally small motorguide
trolling motor. The battery I used was brand new but only lasted a couple of
years. The battery was a Marine Battery.

Am I better off just buying a regular car battery or should I stick to the
Marine battery? Frankly, I don't know the difference. When I used a regular
car battery, I think it's life lasted longer than the Marine battery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (The car battery was from a small
Toyota Tercel).

Frank


Get a deep cycle battery, not just a marine battery. A deep cycle
should last longer, but most are good for maybe 200 charges - no matter
how long the time. If you fish 100 times a year, you get two years. Go
50 times a year and they might last 4 years.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

And do a trickle charge every now and then to make it hold its charge
longer over time.
Over 7,000+ Reel, Engine and Trolling Motor Schematics www.hookandsinker.com

I saw one at Walmart for $34.99 and it said 74 amp hours. I have no idea
what that means. If I spend a day on a lake, I'm only using the motor
sporatically and to get out and come back in.

All my batteries lasted the whole day. I suppose that one should too.

Thanks,
Frank



"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
. ..
Frank wrote:

I have a real small aluminum boat and I use an equally small motorguide
trolling motor. The battery I used was brand new but only lasted a couple
of years. The battery was a Marine Battery.

Am I better off just buying a regular car battery or should I stick to
the Marine battery? Frankly, I don't know the difference. When I used a
regular car battery, I think it's life lasted longer than the Marine
battery.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (The car battery was from a small
Toyota Tercel).

Frank
Get a deep cycle battery, not just a marine battery. A deep cycle should
last longer, but most are good for maybe 200 charges - no matter how long
the time. If you fish 100 times a year, you get two years. Go 50 times a
year and they might last 4 years.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Frank wrote:

I saw one at Walmart for $34.99 and it said 74 amp hours. I have no idea
what that means. If I spend a day on a lake, I'm only using the motor
sporatically and to get out and come back in.

All my batteries lasted the whole day. I suppose that one should too.

Your trolling motor should have an amp rating - how many amps it will
draw an hour. If it is 15, then you could run it about 5 hours on a 74
amp hour battery - but the motor is seldom on the whole time unless
trolling, so they will generally last much longer.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com