Are you looking for a boat motor that doesn’t scare away the fish? Or maybe you need to control your drift as you cast your reels. Either way, trolling motors can be extremely helpful for many reasons. Trolling motors are essential for maintaining complete control over your boat’s position and being able to get that perfect catch.
Many have used lead-acid batteries with their trolling motors but run into issues with their weight, low-capacity capabilities, and the fact that they do not perform well in cold weather. Battle Born Batteries make these issues obsolete! One of our batteries weighs a third of a standard lead-acid battery. That greatly improves the overall performance and speed of your boat.
In addition to this, they can supply two to three times more power. You cannot drain a typical lead-acid battery below 50% of its capacity without significant damage. But our deep cycle LiFePO4 batteries utilize a special chemistry that allows you to use 100% of your batteries’ capacity without damaging them.
Battle Born Batteries are also capable of being charged up to five times faster than a standard lead-acid battery. So, you can spend less time waiting on your batteries to charge and spend more time doing what you love.
Want to learn more? Keep reading below!
What Is a Trolling Motor?
A trolling motor is a small, self-contained propulsion system. Typically powered by a battery, a trolling motor is not the primary source of propulsion. You can also lift it out of the water while you use your outboard motor. This prevents unwanted drag so you can glide through the water effortlessly.
Nevertheless, trolling motors have a purpose. Usually positioned at the bow, they can provide better steering control and increased maneuverability around your favorite fishing spots. They’re also much quieter than their gas-powered counterparts so that you can move stealthily through the water.
What Is the Difference Between a Trolling Motor and Outboard Motor?
So, what’s the difference between a trolling motor and an outboard motor? First and foremost, the former is usually electric, while the latter is typically gas (and sometimes motor oil). Positioned at the back of the boat, an outboard motor is your primary source of power. It gets you where you need to go and can steer your boat as well. You can also tilt your outboard motor to avoid hitting the bottom in more shallow waters.
In contrast, trolling motors are supplemental. They typically only reach speeds of around 5 mph and are used for trolling (hence the name), keeping position, better maneuverability, and quietly moving from one spot to another.
Types of Trolling Motors
There are several different types of trolling motors, and the best one for you will depend on how you want to use it. For example, if you plan on using your trolling motor for actual trolling, you might want to pick a transom mounted motor. However, if you want better steering control, you may opt for a bow-mounted trolling motor. Keep reading to learn more.
Bow-Mounted
Bow-mounted trolling motors are one of the most popular options for Anglers, and ironically, people rarely use them for their intended purpose. The thrust is on the boat’s bow, which provides excellent positioning for pointing your boat in one spot.
Because they’re pretty slow (5 mph at most), bow-mounted trolling motors aren’t the best for going more than 100 yards; nevertheless, they’re fantastic if you want to slowly explore a shoreline or control the drift of your boat.
Transom Mounted
Want a trolling motor that’s actually good for trolling? Transom motors will be your best bet. They’re mounted onto the boat’s transom and are great for keeping a steady, slow pace through the water as you fish. Because of how they’re mounted, an electric transom motor might be the only propulsion you need – especially if you’re in a smaller vessel such as a Jon boat or dinghy.
Hand Steer
Hand steer trolling motors are similar to outboard engines because they’re typically at the back of the boat, and you manually steer them.
Also known as “tiller steer” models, you can simply turn the tiller clockwise to increase speed and counterclockwise to slow down. To steer, use the rule of opposites: turn the tiller right to turn left and left to turn right.
Foot Pedal Steer
Are you a bass fisherman or -woman? If so, a foot pedal steer option might be best. They let you propel and steer your boat hands-free as you cast your line.
Certain brands of foot pedals will operate slightly differently from one another, but generally, you maneuver your boat with your foot. For example, some have buttons on the left and right of the pedal to control steering. And like a car, the harder you press the pedal, the faster your boat will go.
Remote Controlled
The most modern, high-tech trolling motors are remote-controlled. The controllers usually come with a lanyard that hangs around your neck, so you can control the speed and steering at the touch of a button. Often, these trolling motors come with other features, such as GPS, autopilot functions, and even virtual anchoring.
The Benefits of a Trolling Motor
Trolling motors provide many advantages, especially when you’re heading out to cast your reel. Number one, they’re quiet and environmentally friendly, which makes them great for trolling, of course. You can focus on putting your bait in the proper position rather than rowing your boat. Trolling motors are also fantastic if you need to quietly maneuver through fishing hotspots.
Trying to stay in one place while there’s an annoying drift or wind gust? They’re also helpful when you want to keep your position without setting down an anchor. And lastly, they’re a great backup motor if you’re in a pickle. Outboard engine fails? You’ll have another way to get back to shore. (Yes, it might take you a while, but at least you’ll get there!)
The Disadvantages of a Trolling Motor
The main disadvantage of a trolling motor is that you’ll rely on battery power. This means keeping your batteries maintained and charged correctly, as well as possibly having to load and remove the batteries every time you use your boat to charge and store it (unless, of course, you have a way of charging it in the boat).
Another negative is that they’re slow and don’t have much power. Want to get somewhere fast? Not with your trolling motor. Its purposes lie outside of the realms of speed.
Lastly, if you’ve ever lugged around lead-acid deep-cycle batteries, you know how heavy they can be. So, while trolling motors are usually light, their batteries will add weight to your boat. However, this can be remedied by switching to much lighter and more powerful lithium-ion batteries.
Do I Need a Separate Battery for a Trolling Motor?
My boat already has a battery–do I need a separate one for my trolling motor? The short answer is: Yes, unless you want to get stuck sitting in the middle of a lake.
If you use your starter battery for your trolling motor, you’ll most likely drain the battery quickly, and you won’t be able to start the outboard motor when you need to. Therefore, it’s best to reserve the starter battery for electronics and its main purpose–starting your primary engine.
What Type of Battery Do I Need?
There are several options for powering your trolling motor. The three most common types of batteries are lead-acid wet-cell, AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) deep-cycle batteries, and lithium batteries. Flooded lea-acid and AGM batteries have been used for decades, and both provide power over a lengthy period. Manufacturers designed them for more frequent charging, so that can be inconvenient while you’re on the water.
Additionally, you can’t discharge a lead-acid battery below 50% without damaging it. So, if you’re on the water longer than expected and your charge dips below 50% on your way back, your battery will suffer irreparable damage. A few instances of that, and you’ll have to replace the battery.
More recently, our lithium-ion batteries have grown in popularity for trolling motors. Compared to traditional deep-cycle batteries, lithium batteries have a longer run time, an extended lifespan, and they weigh less–what could be more important when you’re floating on the water?
Plus, you can completely discharge a Battle Born lithium-ion battery without causing damage. So, as long as you have a charge, you can keep on trolling!
Therefore, many anglers are switching to lithium-ion batteries for their trolling motors. Along with the benefits we’ve already listed, they also end up being cheaper because they last longer and require no maintenance. So you can spend the day wrestling with the fish and not with your battery!
How Long Will the Battery Last While the Trolling Motor Is in Use?
So, how long can you plan to be out on the water? The answer to this question entirely depends on your batteries’ amp-hours. A battery’s amp-hour rating is similar to a car’s gas tank–it tells you how much power you have in your battery, and thus, how long you can use it.
Additionally, the type of battery you use will influence the trolling motor’s run time. A Battle Born lithium-ion battery will put out full power the entire time you’re using it.
Conversely, a lead-acid battery starts to lose power as it gets closer to the 50% mark. If poor use or charging damaged the battery in the past, the power output decreases even faster. So, the amp-hour rating on your lead-acid battery might not be entirely accurate.
For any battery, a simple formula to convert amp-hours to actual hours is amp rating / amp-hour = hrs of use. For example, if your battery has 100 amp-hours, and you’re pulling 5 amps from your battery, your usage length will be 20 hours (100 amp hrs / 5 amps = 20 hrs).
If you’re using a Battle Born lithium-ion battery that stays strong for a full 20 hours straight, you can catch a lot of fish in that time!
Trolling Motor FAQs
Why choose Battle Born?
Last 10 Times Longer than Lead Acid
Even after 3000 – 5000 life cycles Battle Born Batteries retain 75 – 80% of their original capacity. For most users, it will take 10 to 15 years to reach this amount of life cycles.
2 to 3 times more power
Our batteries will supply you with two to three times the power in the same physical space of a lead acid battery.
Charge 5 Times Faster
With a high charge rate of half of your total bank and short absorption times, your batteries will charge in a fraction of the time of a lead acid. This faster charge rate allows you to use your generator less which means less fuel consumption, less noise, and less pollution.
High Discharging Capabilities
Our 100 Ah batteries provide a continuous 100 amps of power, surge of up to 200 amps for 30 seconds and even higher loads for a ½ second.
Efficient and High Performance
Our batteries have virtually no internal resistance and will not heat up or swell when charging or discharging. We also have a real power rating so whether you’re using 1 amp for 100 hours or 100 amps for one hour, you will receive the full amount of power your batteries are rated for. With a very flat discharge curve, power remains much more consistent with Battle Born Batteries even at a low state of charge.
Environmentally Safe and Non-Toxic
One lead acid battery can contaminate acres of municipal waste, but Battle Born Batteries are not toxic and are made with the safest lithium chemistry on the market. This allows you to place them anywhere in your rig whether it’s under a bed, a dinette, or even a small enclosed area without the fear of our batteries “off gassing” like lead acid.
Lighter
Our batteries are ½ to ⅔ the weight of a standard lead acid battery with more deliverable power.
Maintenance Free
Battle Born Batteries have a built-in management system to help protect you and your investment in the batteries in any strenuous situations such as high/low temperatures, high/low voltages, current surges, and short circuits. They also can be placed in your system with zero maintenance, so you no longer have to worry about adding water to your batteries or cleaning corroded terminals. Our batteries also have a very slow self-discharge rate so they can be left in storage for over a year without requiring you to hook them up to a trickle charger.
Customer Service
We employ a team of USA-based experts at Battle Born Batteries to help with your customer service, sales and technical needs. Our industry-leading team utilizes clear communication via phone and email, along with product knowledge and problem-solving skills to assist with any questions you may have along the way. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your batteries, a complete power system or anything in between our team can provide the expertise needed to guide you through a lithium conversion. Feel free to contact our team at (855) 292-2831 or [email protected].
10-Year Warranty
We believe in our batteries and we want you to believe in them too. That’s why we ship every battery out with a 10-year warranty. If you have a problem, we want to fix it as quickly as possible so you can go on your next adventure!
Excellent Solar Systems
Battle Born Batteries allow you to take full advantage of solar by creating fast charging and fully sustainable power systems with a variety of applications.
Will my current charger work with your batteries?
To determine whether your devices are compatible with BB batteries, take a look at the manual for each component and look at the specifications. If the specs in the manual match up with the Charging voltage: 14.2-14.6 V and the Float voltage: 13.6 V or lower, they are compatible with our batteries.
If you can adjust settings (such as a custom profile) on your devices to various charging and float voltages, then simply change the settings to match ours.
You are also more than welcome to give us a call at (855) 292-2831 or contact us at [email protected].
Do I need a shutoff switch for your batteries?
Battery switches or “master disconnect” switches are a common item in RV or marine systems and used to cut all power from a battery bank and connected loads.
These devices are very versatile and can be used in any circuit when performing maintenance or an emergency shut down. Very often you will see placement of these switches between inverter(s) and a bank of batteries.
Below are some of the most common styles:
Single on/off
3 position – used to shut off or switch from one bank of batteries to a second
4 position – used to shut off, switch from one bank to a second or combine the two
How do I know what size cables to use with my system?
When considering cable sizing there are a few factors to consider.
First, what is the size of the load you are powering with the battery bank?
Second, how far away from the battery is the load? You can do voltage drop calculations to see if you need to step up your cable size.
Here is an easy reference chart:
As a rule of thumb, you can use these numbers as a guideline.
-4 AWG wire approximate max rating is 157 amps DC
-1/0 AWT wire approximate max rating is 291 amps DC
-4/0 AWT wire approximate max rating is 456 amps DC
Can I use my Minn Kota charger with Battle Born Batteries?
Minn Kota multi bank chargers are very popular with anglers and are known for reliability and ease of use. These chargers work great with your Battle Born Batteries.
Although these models don’t have a specific lithium setting, they work well in the AGM mode for “pc” and “D” models. In addition, you can leave these chargers plugged in for long periods as the float voltage is about 13.6 volts and will not harm our batteries.
If you would like to review any other model of chargers for your trolling motor setup, please do not hesitate to send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (855) 292-2831.
Can I use your batteries in cold cranking applications?
Our battery is designed as a deep cycle storage battery and doesn’t offer the cold cranking amps most applications require for starting.
Multiple batteries connected in parallel can be used in an emergency situation, but prolonged use in starting applications can result in a diminished capacity or damage to the battery’s management system.
The continuous discharge rate of our batteries is 100 amps, 200 amps for 30 seconds and higher loads for ½ second. Cold cranking applications typically exceed 200 amps which will cause our batteries to shut off.
How much do your batteries weigh?
Battle Born Batteries are 1/5th the weight of a traditional lead acid battery when matching the same usable capacity. This can result in a significant reduction in gross vehicle weight, not to mention being easier to load, install or move if necessary.
BB10012 and BBGC2 (12 volt 100 Ah) – 31 pounds
BB5012 (12 volt 50 Ah) – 17 pounds
BB5024 (24 volt 50 Ah) – 31 pounds
Are your batteries waterproof?
Battle Born Batteries are sealed and can handle being in a moist environment. Our batteries, just like any electric device, should not be submerged in water.
Upon request and as an upgrade to our standard battery, we will add a waterproof seal, giving added protection from moisture and more extreme marine environments.
How long will your 100 Ah batteries last on the water?
How long your batteries last depends on the size of your thrust. Take the max amp hours of your battery bank and divide them by the max amp draw.
max amp hours / max amp draw = total hours
Each application is different, but here is a guide to help you determine how long our batteries will last on the water at max draw.
How long do Battle Born Batteries last?
Are there any temperature restrictions on Battle Born Batteries?
Battle Born Batteries protect themselves from charging in cold temperatures and won’t accept a charge once the internal cell temperature drops to 24°F. At this point they will continue to discharge even down to -4°F. At this temperature we recommend no longer pulling power to avoid damaging the batteries.
Insulated battery boxes, heating blankets, and placing your battery bank inside your RV will help keep the temperature stable. On the high end of temperature range, the batteries will shut down once 135°F is reached.
What is the maximum amperage I can charge my batteries at?
Our batteries allow a charge rate of 50 amps for each 100 Ah battery. For more than one battery, you can simply take the entire Ah of the bank and cut the number in half.
For example, three 100 Ah Battle Born Batteries total 300 Ah. Cut this number in half and you have your maximum recommended charge rate of 150 amps.
What does "drop-in replacement" actually mean?
Our batteries are drop-in replacements for typical lead acid batteries. This means that our batteries are designed to fit like a normal Group 27, 31 and GC2 battery in your bank.
This, however, does not mean our batteries are plug and play. Our batteries still may require specific components and programming to run your application.
To figure out if your components will work with our batteries, give us a call at (855) 292-2831 or send us an email at [email protected].
Are your batteries designed to handle vibration?
Our batteries are assembled and constructed with the highest quality components available. They are designed to withstand vibration and keep working for thousands of cycles.
You will need to check your connections from time to time (as with any kind of battery) to make sure they maintain good contact from cable to battery.
Check out our Customer’s Systems!
Battle Born Systems
About Darius Arberry
Even though Darius lives in the desert known as Las Vegas, he still manages to practice his passion of angling. Darius’s set up in his 2019 Ranger model 520L has improved his fishing quality and the longevity of his time on the water.
System Components
- 3 – 100 Ah Battle Born 12 V LiFePO4 batteries
- 1 – Minn Kota 460PC on AGM setting
About Chris Zaldain
Chris Zaldain, professional bass angler, is now a part of the Battle Born family! Chris has fished various tours but currently kills it on the Bassmaster Elite.
He has experienced 100% trolling power all day long, reduced weight and an increase in speed due to his lithium batteries!
System Components
- 3 – 100 Ah Battle Born 12 V LiFePO4 batteries
- 1 – Minn Kota MK460PC on the AGM setting