Boat battery & charger ??

[fordtruckin]

I’ve got a 16’ lund tinner that I’m hoping to upgrade the outboard on this summer. Provided I go with an electric start, would one battery be enough to run the outboard, a 45# trolling motor and a Helix5/7? I’d prefer not to weight down the boat with multiple batteries but if needed that is an option. Would it be worth trying for one season and then reevaluating? I’ve been looking at a Minnkota charger as well and was planning on getting a 1 bank charger but now am contemplating a 2 bank just in case. I prefer to keep things simple so there’s the possibility I’ll get an outboard with a manual start as well. Those light weight lithium batteries aren’t an option for me either.

[Tannerdog]

Not sure what HP you are planning but if the motor has electric start AND a pull cord to start you should be good. If electric start is the only option, a second, isolated batter for starting is a very good idea. Could always bring along a portable booster too for emergency with one battery. Fish finders don't use much power but electric motors can drain a battery pretty quick.

[WV911]

I always had separate batteries for the motor and trolling motor.

The normal battery powered the starter and accessories (fish finder) and deep cycle batteries for the trolling motor. My trolling motor was 24V so needed 2 batteries but same theory for 12V with 1 battery.

Normal starter batteries aren't designed to be constantly drained and recharged and I don't know if deep cycles are good as a starter battery, you would have to check the required CCA.

Costco Kirkland batteries are good for the money, I never had any trouble and they are well priced.

[jungleboy]

I run an electric start 25 Yamaha on my tinner and I have been using a small utility atv battery for the last few years without incident. When you think about it the small batteries they use on an Atv runs everything.
Also a small lithium 12v battery for the fish finder.

What I am getting at is you can run small batteries that are light weight as a starter for the outboard with a larger battery for the electric trolling motor.. you get the Use of the trolling motor this way without worrying if you will have enough to start the main engine when the time comes.

[elkhunter11]

If you plan on using the trolling motor a lot, then go with a separate battery for the trolling motor. And go with a deep cycle for the trolling motor, and a starting battery for the engine and Helix. Deep cycles don't make good cranking batteries, and regular cranking motors don't like the voltage being drawn down. If you don't use the trolling motor a lot, and you really want to try one battery, go with a good quality dual purpose group 31 marine battery.

[eyeflyer]

I would definitely run two batteries. A marine starting battery for starting and sonar maybe and a marine deep cycle (series 29 or 31) for the trolling motor. Go with the two bank charger if you ever go to a 24V trolling motor you will be glad you did. If you do a lot of trolling I would also suggest upgrading to a bowmount, at least 55lb. with a 54" shaft. The control is much better on a bowmount than a transom mount unless you are going to backtroll all the time.

[fordtruckin]

I was figuring that was the way to go but as I'm new to some of this wanted to check. I was already wrong on the pounds thrust the trolling motor is. Turns out it's Minnkota Endura Max 55#. I'm hoping to get everything set over winter so I can be ready to wire everything up once the weather warms up. Hope the deep cycle battery I have is still good after the winter. I believe it's a Group24. Had it all charged up before weather turned but as it came with the boat who knows how old it is.

[fordtruckin]

Another question, If you get a 2 bank charger will it still work if you only have 1 bank hooked up? Thinking to expand in the future and buy once cry once.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Another question, If you get a 2 bank charger will it still work if you only have 1 bank hooked up? Thinking to expand in the future and buy once cry once.

You can use only one bank if you want.

[curtz]

I run separate batteries, starting battery for the motor and deep cycle for the trolling motor.

[EZM]

In a perfect set up, like others have mentioned, your electric motor should be on a separate battery, a deep cycle.

A second battery for cranking the gas engine and running your fish finder. This should be a "dual purpose" battery ideally.

A 2 bank charger will allow you to charge both up when you are back on the dock or back home.

Hopefully your main engine has both electric start and a pull start (my 9.9 Honda trolling motor has this) and it's a great idea to have that "security" just in case you run your main battery down.

I left the sonars and some interior lights on one night and ran down the main cranking battery overnight. All I had to do was pull start the 9.9, let it run for 60 seconds or so, then turn my 150hp main engine on and carried on with my day. After an hour or so, the main engine had my battery charged back up enough - but it was great knowing I had the option of a pull start, or yanking my batteries up front that were connected to the electric motor if I had to do that. Real nice and secure to have multiple ways to power up/start engines when you really need it.

Having 2 batteries in your little tinner should be a priority (as long as, and as soon as, the budget allows you to do that).

[barbless]

Originally Posted by EZM

In a perfect set up, like others have mentioned, your electric motor should be on a separate battery, a deep cycle.

A second battery for cranking the gas engine and running your fish finder. This should be a "dual purpose" battery ideally.

A 2 bank charger will allow you to charge both up when you are back on the dock or back home.

Hopefully your main engine has both electric start and a pull start (my 9.9 Honda trolling motor has this) and it's a great idea to have that "security" just in case you run your main battery down.

I left the sonars and some interior lights on one night and ran down the main cranking battery overnight. All I had to do was pull start the 9.9, let it run for 60 seconds or so, then turn my 150hp main engine on and carried on with my day. After an hour or so, the main engine had my battery charged back up enough - but it was great knowing I had the option of a pull start, or yanking my batteries up front that were connected to the electric motor if I had to do that. Real nice and secure to have multiple ways to power up/start engines when you really need it.

Having 2 batteries in your little tinner should be a priority (as long as, and as soon as, the budget allows you to do that).

X2 on this. I have a 17 ft Sylvan and have 3 batteries. One for starting the 150, one for electronics and one for a spare. Need to invest in a bank charger though. I usually use a regular charger. It's a pain but works for me. Would love to just plug and play

[Big Sky]

Multi bank chargers can get pretty expensive and a lot of them do not have a much output. I would want at least a 10 amp charger and would prefer 15 amp.

The OPs sonar does not draw a lot of current. Depending on how long the main motor gets run during the day the starter battery might not need to be topped up. The biggest concern is getting the trolling motor battery charged up overnight.

If it was me, I'd get a 15 amp single bank smart charger. When I got to shore power I'd charge the strarter battery for an hour. Then I'd put the charger on the trolling motor battery overnight.

This would be considerably cheaper than a 2 bank charger and would have the output to get the trolling motor charged up and ready to go the next day.

I would only get a 2 bank charger if I was running 2 batteries on my trolling motor.