Do i really need a deep cycle or marine battery?

Question

I have a small 14' jonboat. I plan on fishing a small lake and using a 15hp johnson. I bought a 27lb thrust to go around the banks. Do i really need a deep cycle battery or will a regular automotive battery work? Thanks.

Answer 1

An auto battery will work for a while. Then, it will fail. There is a difference in the construction of the two batteries.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 2

You need a deep cycle battery if you plan to use your trolling motor. Auto battery are design for starting.

Answer 3

The automotive will work, sure.

The question becomes how long do you want to use the trolling motor in a day. If you are going to spend long hours with the trolling motor on you will want the deep cycle. If you are happy to be out for a short time, and then go back to recharge, use the car battery.

The biggest thing I have found, turn down the power as much as you can and still get around. You will use less juice and the battery will last longer. On my fishing boat I can empty a deep cycle battery in less than two hours on high power.

Answer 4

Because of the type and frequency of use of a battery in such a situation, a deep-cycle marine battery is preferable.  It goes through repeated deep discharges and re-charges, and that's murder on batteries.  An automobile battery is maintained at a high rate, unlike a marine battery - or batteries for riding mowers and such machines.  But put an automotive battery in service elsewhere, and the thing may not last an entire season, let alone two or three.  Deep-cycle batteries are designed precisely for frequent discharge-recharges.  Plus, you don't need a great big, heavy automotive battery.  As you surely know, a 14-footer does not have an unlimited amount of space or load capacity...the smaller, lighter marine battery is all you need.