trolling motor batteries

[mark m]

Hi,
I recently purchased a 55lb thrust trolling motor which draws 50amps/hour, and purchased a Optima D34 battery which has 120min/25amp. I was told that the battery could run for 60 min at 100% output. Do people buy two or three batteries and bank them together to fish all day? I'm not planning to buy an outboard right now.

Thanks
Mark M

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Jay,

What boat is this on?

If you don't run it on the highest setting all the time it should last a long time.

[mark m]

Hi,
I called Minn Kota and spoke with their tech support person. She said the battery should be at least 100 amp/hour which calculates to about 1.7 hrs at 100% (100amp/hr *0.85/50amp/hr draw). The 55lb Maxxum thrust uses 50amp/hour at full output. However, the maximizer on this model only kicks in at 75% or less output; so it would be best to run the motor less than 75% to maximize the life of the battery.

The D34 optima battery is only 55amp/hr battery.

I returned the optima battery and got a 175 amp/hr wet cell battery.

Thanks
Mark M