Even the most rugged angler knows that the key to a good trolling day is great equipment. And one of the pieces of equipment that’s often overlooked is the trolling motor battery. Without the best kayak trolling battery available hooked up to your motor, your day of relaxation and fun can quickly turn sour as your engine will sputter and your battery struggles to provide enough power to your boat.
Best Kayak Trolling Motor Battery Products Reviewed In This Guide
You may like to read: Fishing Kayak with Trolling Motor
What is A Kayak Trolling Motor Battery?
Trolling motors are electric engines attached on the bow, stern, or gunwales of kayaks, that allows you to fish in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, such as shallow streams or along the shoreline. They are relatively quiet, so they won’t scare away the fish.
Just like a car engine, your trolling motor also needs a source of electricity to do its thing. And that’s where trolling motor batteries come in. It provides a steady source of power, so you can keep your kayak moving at a consistent speed. It is usually relatively easy to install and lightweight, so it won’t add too much weight to your kayak.
One thing I need to point out here is that both deep cycle marine batteries and trolling batteries are the same thing. But that’s not the only potential point of confusion. If you’re interested in deciphering the mysterious numbers and abbreviations found on batteries, read on.
Best Kayak Trolling Motor Battery Buyer’s Guide
There’s a lot of terms thrown about when it comes to batteries, and going out and buying a trolling motor battery willy-nilly without understanding the intricacies of the system is a great way to end up with a battery you can’t use.
Trolling Motor Battery Designs
The first term you’ll need to learn refers to the model and design of the battery. For trolling motor batteries, the most common designs are lead acid wet-cell, AGM, and lithium.
Wet Cell
Lead acid wet-cell batteries are among the most common battery designs for trolling motor batteries. These batteries are tough, but inexpensive compared to the other two types. The downside here is that they have a lower lifespan than the other two, and that they aren’t maintenance-free, and that they’re also vulnerable to shocks and vibration. Lead acid wet-cell batteries can also spill, so be wary of this especially if you’re angling in choppy waters.
AGM Batteries
AGM stands for absorbed glass mat, and these batteries fall under the SLA, or sealed lead acid category. Like their name implies, these batteries are sealed off, meaning that they’re not only maintenance-free, but also spillproof and resistant to vibrations and shocks thanks to their outer shells. It’s not unusual for an AGM battery to last 4 years with the proper care, and thanks to the introduction of lithium batteries, AGM batteries are seeing a slow but steady price drop. However, they’re still more expensive than lead acid wet-cell batteries.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries are the new kids on the block, and anything that lead acid wet-cells and AGMs can do, lithium can do better. With perfect discharge that yields 100% battery power regardless of how charged the battery is, as well as a lightweight design and an incredible lifespan, it’s no surprise that lithium batteries are also the most expensive of the three.
Best Kayak Trolling Motor Battery: Amp Hours
Another important part of buying a trolling motor battery is learning to decipher what amp hours (or Ah) means.
What are Amp Hours in Trolling Motor Batteries?
Without delving too much into the science, amp hours are a measure of electrical output and runtime. A higher amp hour rating means that a battery will perform longer and deliver more power, while the reverse is also true.
Amp hours are important because you don’t want to end up with a battery that’s too weak for your motor. As a general rule of thumb, you should be fine with a 100Ah battery – but you should always double-check your motor to see what conditions it runs best in.
Now that I’ve hopefully demystified most of the terms surrounding batteries and given you the basic knowledge you’ll need to get a good battery, let’s get to my list of the best kayak trolling motor battery products available on the market today.
Best Kayak Trolling Motor Battery Review
Best Overall Kayak Trolling Motor Battery
VMAX MR127 12 Volt 100Ah AGM Battery
Special Features:
- Fits any group 27 battery box
- Heavy duty grids that incorporate lead tin alloy for better performance and longer life
- No silica gels or other contaminants in AGM system
Pros: Extremely durable and long-lived, compatible with almost every battery box
Cons: Short warranty period
The VMAX MR127 is a heavy-duty battery for trolling motors that’s firmly in my number one spot due to its reliability and excellent performance.
First off, this trolling motor battery is compatible with virtually every trolling motor you can get and fits in any group 27 battery box. This alone would make it a great buy, but it’s also got heavy duty grids that use lead tin alloy to boost the performance of its six cells. This battery’s AGM design also further improves its power output and ensures almost no maintenance.
While the VMAX MR127 is a powerful, long-lasting battery, do note that it has a shorter warranty period of just 12 months. If you’re feeling iffy about your VMAX’s performance, make sure you avail of the warranty before it expires.
Bottomline: A powerful AGM system, compatibility with virtually all trolling motors, and plain powerful performance are why the VMAX is one of the best generic trolling motor batteries you can get.
Best Premium Kayak Trolling Motor Battery
Optima OPT8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery
Special Features:
- Optimal starting power even in adverse weather conditions
- Mountable in any position
- 12-volt AGM design with unique 99.9% lead spiral cells for optimal performance
Pros: Spillproof, easy mounting allows battery to be repurposed as RV battery, maintenance-free design,
Cons: Pricey, popularity makes it hard to get
The Optima OPT80167-103 Marine Battery is the best premium battery for trolling motor, and it’s not hard to see why.
This battery comes with unique SpiralCell technology. This tech utilizes two 99.9% lead cells designed in a spiral fashion, which ultimately improves both longevity and performance. Apart from this, the Optima OPT80167-103 Marine Battery is also mountable in any configuration. This just means that it can pull double duty as both a trolling motor battery and as an RV battery.
Bottomline: If you want the best kayak trolling motor battery and your budget is not an issue, the Optima is the battery you want.
Best Solar Kayak Trolling Motor Battery
Universal Power Group 12v 100Ah Solar Wind AGM SLA Deep Cycle VRLA Battery
Special Features:
- SLA/AGM maintenance and spill-free design
- Resists shock and vibrations
- Has solar/wind infrastructure which allows it to be used in a solar panel/wind turbine setup
Pros: Can be mounted in multiple configurations, can be used as solar battery, consistent performance
Cons: Short warranty
The Universal Power Group 12v 100Ah Solar Wind AGM battery stands out due to its solar design – meaning that yes, you can charge it via a solar or wind panel setup. This also allows this battery to be used alongside an inverter to provide your home with clean and free solar energy if you’re not using it as a trolling motor battery.
As a battery for trolling motors, the Universal Power Group 12v 100Ah Solar Wind AGM battery provides excellent, consistent performance. Its SLA and AGM design reduces the amount of maintenance you need to do on it (if any maintenance at all) and also keeps it from spilling. The battery is also protected by a tough outer shell that’s designed to mitigate shocks and vibrations.
Just like the VMAX though, this battery has a short 1-year warranty – be sure to have your battery checked before that time is up.
Bottomline: This trolling motor batter uses both clean energy and provides great performance, which are two big check marks for me.
FAQs about the Best Kayak Trolling Motor Battery
What is the best design for a trolling motor battery?
This is a tough one, as it’s more down to personal preference. I will say that I have a preference for AGM batteries – they’re reasonably durable, last a long time with the proper care, and offer solid performance.
Can I mix battery types?
No – and never ever do this. In the best case scenario, this can lead to underperformance. While in the worst case scenario, you can get battery acid leaks.
How many years do trolling motor batteries last?
That depends on the kind of battery, but you’ll most commonly have a lifespan of 2-4 years on average.
What’s the difference between trolling motor batteries and a deep cycle marine battery?
Nothing apart from the name – they’re the same thing.
Why am I not getting all the performance time out of my battery?
A battery’s maximum run time is always determined in controlled, ideal conditions. Apart from this, there are a lot of other variables such as weather, battery condition, and battery age that can affect the actual run time of your battery.
Are there any risks involved with a trolling motor battery?
As long as the battery is handled carefully, you’ll be safe. However, you’ll want to install a trolling circuit breaker in your system. This will prolong the life of both your motor and battery and prevent power overdraw.
Is it safe to overcharge my trolling motor batteries?
While it’s technically safe, overcharging your trolling motor battery will damage it, leading to a decrease in performance.
Is it safe to undercharge my trolling motor batteries?
Undercharging is also technically safe. But this will also decrease performance due to a process called sulfation. This is when sulfate begins to accumulate on the battery’s cell.
Enjoy Your New Kayak Trolling Motor Battery
Whether it’s for a quiet day of fishing or for a new, daring adventure, your new trolling motor batteries will be a reliable companion come what may. Just remember – always treat you equipment with respect and care, and it’ll take care of you.