trolling motor battery

[MN Shutterbug]

Has anyone ever tried to run a trolling motor off a 12 volt motorcycle battery. I see Cabelas has one for $20. It's only 8 amps but I wonder if it could run a motor for 20 minutes or so. I've always had a spare deep cycle battery with, but for the mini bass boat I'm going to get, I hate to spend another $85 or so for just a backup battery. It's something i'd probably never use, but would want something along for backup just in case I forget to charge the main battery and don't want to paddle.

[slammer]

It may run your motor but probably not very long. Dont think a bike battery has the capacity your troller needs.

[MN Shutterbug]

It wouldn't have to run it very long because I'd never be that far from shore. I'm only taking this rig on small lakes.

[AaronM]

If you're only on small lakes you'd be better off with a paddle.

[MN Shutterbug]

I've heard mini bass boats don't paddle too easily, and I'm not getting any younger. Those bike batteries probably don't have enough amperage. Maybe I'll just get a small car battery as a backup.

[MN Shutterbug]

I just found a mini deep cycle battery with a reserve capacity of 40 minutes. It isn't much larger than a cycle battery but should work great as a backup battery. I estimate it should run about 20 minutes at full speed with a 54# motor. The cost is a little over $50 but this is the time when batteries usually go on sale.

[Eric Wettschreck]

The biggest problem I see with using a non-deep cycle battery is the extended life of the battery itself. Meaning......Car, motorcycle, lawn mower, etc batteries are built to be charged and stay charged. Deep cycle batteries love to be charged, then used to near death, and re-charged again.

Every time you use a non-deep cycle battery you are slowly killing it. Sure it will recharge but eventually it won't. If this is a battery you want to use for more than one season I really recommend buying a deep cycle battery.

If it's for a small boat and will not be used that much you can get by with a smaller battery but it should still be deep cycle.

[MN Shutterbug]

I understand all that. I just wanted a backup, just in case. It's something I don't plan on ever using, like a flat tire. I think the mini deep cycle will fill that bill.