Best Trolling Motor Batteries For 2022 – Top 6 Models Reviewed!

A trolling motor is quite useful on a boat, since you don’t have to paddle to move the boat around. It allows you to move at different speeds which can help you catch fish. However, it’s basically useless when you don’t have a trolling motor battery.

The best trolling motor battery will let you stay and move on the water for hours, and it will power your motor and maybe even your other onboard gadgets as well. But which one is the best for you? To answer that question, we offer several excellent options for you to choose from.

Best Trolling Motor Batteries - Comparisons

6 Best Trolling Motor Batteries - Reviews

1. Optima 8016-103 D34M Marine Battery

This regular variant uses a dark gray case, and it’s different from this other version that uses a light gray case. This time, it can be used for both starting and deep cycling operations. What this means is that it is a very versatile battery.

While it is popularly used for trolling motors, it’s equally often seen as a battery for many camping sites. It can be used to power both boats and RVs that use lots of electrical accessories. This comes with a 55Ah rating, so it can last for a while.

What’s more, it’s very durable and long-lasting. The vibration resistance is terrific, as it is 15 times more resistant than a wet-cell. It can also last for a very long while since the number of recharges it can take before it fails completely is 3 times as much as the cheaper batteries.

This is an AGM battery, and it is maintenance-free. You won’t need to add distilled water to it, as it is completely encased. This encasement assures you that it is spill-proof, which means you can mount it in virtually any position. This weighs 43 pounds, which isn’t too bad considering its output.

It measures 10 by 6⅞ and it is 7 and 13/16 inches tall. It performs brilliantly. As a starting battery it offers 750 cold-cranking amps, and that means it can start your battery even if the weather is bad. It also offers 870 amps at 32 degrees F. It also offers a reserve capacity of 120 minutes.

It can discharge 25 amps for 120 minutes when used at 80 degrees F (that’s 26.7 degrees C), before the voltage goes down to 10.5 volts. It recharges quickly, and with 100 amps to recharge you only need about 35 minutes to get 90% charge capacity. That’s due to the low internal resistance.

However, you will need to use its own charger to keep it from overcharging. Also, you’ll need to follow the charging instructions to the letter if you want to take care of the battery properly.

Pros:

This is extremely durable, and it’ll last long than your typical battery. That’s because it features premium-performance, military-grade metal plates, and they’re thicker to boot. This makes it stronger, and it’s able to withstand vibrations better.

It also has a robust and long-lasting outer casing that’s made of durable and extra-tough ABS plastic. This is designed to be used for 18 to 40-pound thrust trolling motors. It’s an AGM battery meant for deep cycling operations.

It works great for 30-pound thrust trolling motors. It can run for at least 5 hours at low speeds. This is great for small boats, as it only measures 7.7 inches by 5 inches with a height of 6.1 inches. It’s also only 25 pounds in weight. 

 It’s also a green backup power alternative to generators if you want something in reserve to power your laptop at home if the power goes out. It also has enough power to run your TV and a DVD player if you’re camping. It doesn’t really need maintenance at all, and it can be positioned at any angle. 

It’s actually quite tough and it should last you for a long while. It’s portable too, as the small size and light weight is matched with a convenient handle. If you’re in need of a light and compact battery with enough power for your boat, this is it.

Pros:

First of all, it’s quite compact. It measures 7.68 by 5.16 by 7.13 inches. It’s also not that heavy at 23.15 pounds. It’s also an AGM battery that’s spill-proof and it can be used for a wide range of operating temperatures. It’ll last long, regardless of whether you’re using this for high or low temperatures.

It’s also resistant to vibration and shocks. Since it is spill-proof, you can mount it at any angle. You can use it in indoor or enclosed settings as it won’t leak at all. You don’t have to do any maintenance on it either.

Use this on a Minn Kota C2 30-pound thrust trolling motor (or any other brand in the same range, for that matter), and it will offer at least 3 hours or so of service even at middle setting. With an RC, you can coax about 45 minutes of performance before you’ll need to recharge it.

Pros:

Also Read: Best AGM Battery – High Performance Batteries for The Vehicle

Actually, Interstate Lead Acid (AGM) Battery especially designed to be compact, since it’s also meant for use in various types of medical equipment such as electric wheelchairs. It measures only 7.7 by 5.2 by 6.3 inches, and it only weighs 23.8 pounds.

For use in boats, it is exceptional. It has enough power in its compact design to provide up to 6 hours of use in a 9-ft inflatable boat. But you can use this for many other purposes. Aside from medical devices, it can also help power electrical gadgets in your RV or trailer.

This is an AGM battery, and of course it is spill-proof. You can install this at any angle you like. You don’t need a special charger for it either, as you can use your regular 12V battery charger.

Pros:

Upgrading from a 35Ah battery to this will be a pleasant surprise for you if you’re using a 30-lb thrust trolling motor. Instead of staying at the lowest sped settings, you can expect up to 4 hours of service even when you’re constantly at full speeds.

You can even get 6 hours if you keep the speed down to medium. Even after these conditions, you may find that you still have 60% of battery power left. Perhaps you’re concerned that with greater power you also have to contend with much greater size and weight that your boat cannot handle.

While it’s true that this is bigger than your typical 35Ah battery, it’s not bigger by that much. It only measures 9.02 by 5.43 by 9.13 inches. If the 9-inch height is a problem, you can set it up on its side since it is spill-proof so you can set it at any angle.

It’s also not much heavier either, so even if you have a kayak it’s not an issue. This Mighty Max weighs just 38.6 pounds, and that’s only about 14 pounds heavier than a 35Ah battery.

It still comes with the usual outstanding features that Mighty Max batteries of this type are known for. It doesn’t need maintenance and it can withstand vibrations and shocks. You can use this even in low or high temperatures.

Pros:

With its 100Ah rating, you can pretty much expect to last a very long time on the water, even if you’re using a powerful motor. It’s not just limited to your usual 30-lb thrust trolling motor. If you have a 40-pound thrust motor and you plan to go fishing, this’ll do well for you.

It can last up to 12 hours with your motor at the lowest speed setting. Put it on medium speed, and you’ll still get more than 7 hours of service. In fact, with this you can get more than 2 hours (2.4 hours, more or less) at constant full speed instead of the few measly minutes you get from a smaller battery.

If you have a 55-lb thrust motor, this will still work wonders for you. You’ll get 8½ hours at the lowest speed setting, a little over 5 hours at medium speed, and about 1 hour and 40 minutes with the sped at full throttle.

Of course, with its 100Ah rating this is a bit bigger than your usual battery. It measures 12.1 inches wide and 6.7 inches deep, with a height of 8.2 inches. It’s substantially heavy too at 68 pounds. But if your boat can take the size and weight of 2 of these connected by a 12V parallel connection. 

You can go on the water twice as long. This is an AGM battery, so it’s spill-proof, nonhazardous, and maintenance-free. It can be recharged through various means, including a vehicle alternator, a solar panel, or a wind turbine. 

You just can’t use a smaller charger for this, nor can you use a maintainer to charge it. The body is made of tough plastic, but it’s actually designed to fit in a power kit. The metal on those kits will help protect it further from any sort of damage.

Pros:

How to Buy Trolling Motor Battery

How do you pick the best trolling motor battery among all these choices? When you’re doing your online research, you will probably check the price, the reputation of the battery brand, and the customer reviews. Here are some specific factors to consider as well when you read these reviews:

There are 3 basic types of trolling motor battery to choose from:

1. Wet-Cell 

These are your basic deep cell marine batteries. They’re comparatively very affordable, and they’re durable enough to deal with repeated series of power drains and recharges. However, you’ll have to do some maintenance on them such as topping them off with water. They also don’t last too long, as you’ll need to replace them within a year or two.

2. AGM

These letters refer to Absorbed Glass Mat as it’s made with a glass plate and a substance that’s similar to gel. You won’t have to add distilled water to these batteries as they’re completely enclosed.

They also last considerably longer than their wet-cell counterparts, as they can go for 3 to 4 years. Because of all these superior features, they’re also typically twice as expensive as the wet-cell batteries.

3. Lithium-Ion

You’ve probably heard of these types of batteries for smartphones, but you also have bigger ones that can help power trolling motors. These batteries are considered the cream of the crop because they’re so durable.

If you make sure to maintain them at a temperature of under 105 degrees, they can last for a full decade. However, they’re also extremely expensive.

This refers to amp hours and it indicates the amount of amps the battery draws in an hour. Basically, it tells you how long a battery will generally last with a single charge. At slow speeds, a 35Ah battery can last about 7 hours while a 100Ah battery can go for 20 hours.

Obviously, you’re not going to go at slow speeds all the time. You may have other gadgets besides your motor which draws power, and of course you can set a series of 12V batteries for your trolling motor for more power. But the general rule remains: the higher the Ah, the longer the battery lasts for a single charge.

Lifespan

We’ve already covered this topic with the types of batteries, with wet-cell batteries not lasting for a couple of years, AGM batteries lasting twice as long as the wet-cell batteries, and with the lithium-ion lasting for a decade. But even with 2 different batteries of the same type, one can last longer than others.

Here you really need to check out customer reviews so you can get a real idea of how long a particular battery will last. Also, you should check the warranty as well. Longer warranties tend to indicate a longer lifespan.

Vibration Resistance and Durability

Fishing boats may travel over choppy waters, and the jarring vibrations may bother your battery. However, some batteries are more able to withstand these vibrations than others. There are also other features that boost durability. Some are spill-proof, while others are shock-resistant.