batteries

[JollyRoger]

what brand of batteries are best? what about Optima for trolling motor use?

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

I've had great luck with Exide Nautilus. They are inexpensive as well. With an onboard charger I got 6 seasons out of the trolling batteries.

[tulikow]

Jolly Roger,
The Optima batteries have worked great for trolling from my experience.

[CabinBoy]

I'll plug Interstate. I can run 2 strong days on my 24v system with no problem. Probably your best bang for your buck!

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fish smarter, not harder

[Northlander]

Interstate for me but Nautilas also were good for the $.

[Animal]

I've used just about all brands and I recommend the Exide.

[Fish Head]

I heard that is is not good to have your trolling motor hooked up to the same battery as your fish locator. Currently I have a starter battery for the engine and everything else hooked up to a deep cycle. This year I am going to rig it up differently somehow. Is it ok to hook up your fish locator to the engine starter battery? Any ideas?

[Guest]

I'd leave the engine battery to its own.

Exide's are my choice--you can get them at bumper-to-bumper auto, NC-27's...

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Chells

[trollingforeyes]

Fish Head. My last 3 boats came from the factory wired with everything on the cranking battery. They only had the trolling motor on the trolling motor batteries. The boats were 1 Cajun and 2 Rangers. No problems with any of them. So gopher it if you want.

[walleyehawk]

When in doubt, check the electronics manual....

I also hook my electronics to the starter battery. I had a trolling motor overheat this summer and the plastic cable melted and started to spark. Could have trashed out my electronics if I had them on the same battery and the fuse failed.

[sandman469ss]

9 out of 10 women prefer Trojan batteries. You can get them at batteries plus. I went through 2 Nautilus batteries in a Ranger in one season, I wouldn't go back.
Rangers come wired with only the trolling motor on the deep cycle battery circuit. A starting or dual purpose marine battery is not a true deep cycle no matter what they claim. The reason they use a starting battery on the other side is it provides more initial punch for starting than a deep cycle, then drops off.

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Takin it easy! & if it’s easy, I’ll take it twice!

[elkhunter]

How do you get six years? I don't seem to get more than three. I usually trickle charge the batteries, and try to keep them charged over the winter. I also have had the problem of my main wire overheating and melting. Anyone know what might cause that?
Thanks for any help.
Dale