How to Get the Most Run Time Out of Trolling Motor Batteries
Run time and trolling motor batteries go hand in hand with any trolling motor. The batteries are the heart of any trolling motor application, and it goes without saying that the bigger the amperage rating on the batteries, the more run time you will have. But there are other ways to increase run time for any trolling motor that have nothing to do with battery amperage at all.
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Instructions
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Hook up your batteries to a trolling motor with 6-gauge wire. Wire thinner than this, say 10-gauge wire, may work just fine, but it takes a little extra power to push the electricity through a thinner wire. That will mean less run time for any trolling motor.
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Run a variable speed trolling motor at the lowest speed possible. The lower the speed, the less electricity is being used to turn the propellers and the more run time you will have.
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Eliminate excess weight in the boat. More weight to push through the water uses more power. The less weight there is, the less power is used, the more run time you'll have.
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Clean the propeller of weeds and fishing line wrapped around the drive shaft. Weeds and wrapped line produce friction, and friction consumes more power. A clean running propeller uses less electricity and therefore, run time is increased.
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Turn off electrical appliances in the boat that are not needed. On modern boats, electronics are all the rage, from fish finders to GPS units, sonar and even video cameras. They all run off the battery, so use these devices only when necessary to conserve battery power and increase run time.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use a deep cycle marine battery for trolling motors. Automotive style batteries will work, but they are not made for deep discharge cycles, and will lose power quicker and have a much shorter lifespan.
References
- Photo Credit motor boats image by Dubravko Grakalic from Fotolia.com
