Deep Cycle Battery?

[Randyjr.]

I have an Endura 30/30lb. thrust trolling motor. I am trying to get past all the advertising that I am reading on the internet concerning which battery will fits my needs best. I have a 17 foot alumacraft canoe with a trickle charger. I get out about 5 - 7 times a month starting in April to October and usually am out for 4 - 6 hours at a time. Do I need a $250 battery that some are advertising? What are the options from those who have experience in this?

[Surface Tension]

I currently have a stowaway that is at least 7 years old.

Charge it after every use, keep the fluids up, keep the heat down, in other words don't stick in the sun and throw a charger on it.

Don't boil the battery, use a charger intended for deep cycles that either tapers down to nothing or shuts off.

Question, does that Endura have Maximizer? If not updating to a trolling motor with Maximizer will greatly increase battery life. More so then a $250 deep cycle battery could ever do.

Also for a canoe you might find that a true variable speed(comes with all trolling motors with Maximizer) will get that trolling speed down and offer better speed control.

[crothmeier]

My dad had a Stowaway that lasted him 8 years. Recently i've had good luck with the "Werker" brand, sold at batteries plus

[eyebjim]

I use wal mart ever start batteries. A series 24 deep cycle would be resonably light and perform as you need. You should be able to pick one up for $60. You do not need a $250 dollar battery. I have used these batteries for over ten years and if I don't screw them up myself(freezing overcharge etc) they last for many years.

[Ralph Wiggum]

And they're made by Exide.

[muskie-mike]

I have over ten years on 3 deep cycle batteries from WalMart.The ones I have were made by Johnson Controls,the new ones are not.I found a Johnson Control battery at Costco under the Kirkland brand name. The new batteries at WM are not the same size anymore and would not fit my battery box..the Kirkland has the same case size as the old Wmart..