I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with my trolling motor. Normally how long does one's battery last on a 12 volt system. I think maybe I have to rewire or upgrade to 24 volt system. It's a 17 foot tin boat. I have changed the batteries within the last three months. Any thoughts?
I have a 14 foot G3 with a 12v 54 # thrust MG I mostly fish the river it is good for about 6 or 7 hours of fishing. By the end of the day it is on high to get around, I was using one battery. I now have 2 one for cranking other for trolling motor. I would say it is possible to have a bad battery or the trolling motor is not strong enough for the boat. On a side note I bought a brand new battery for my wife's car 2 days later it was dead and would not even take a charge so anything is possible.
I have two batteries also. One for motor and depthfinders/gps and one for trolling motor. That is why it is troubling me. I think that trolling motor is pulling too hard for the battery.
My last boat was a 16' fiberglass boat with a 54 lb 12v trolling motor and I could get 8 hrs with no problem. I never did run out of power but I did have to move my speed up throughout the day. I had to replace the battery and got the biggest battery I could find. It was a Wal-Mart battery something Marine Max a huge yellow battery. It had a 210 amp hr reserve if I remember correctly, and I noticed a big difference with this battery. My Wal-Mart does not have this battery anymore though.
Jeremy,
Next time you're on High Rock, let me know and we will measure the draw of your trolling motor, as well as the voltage delivered to the motor. That's the easiest way to sort out the issue. I had an 18.5 foot Tracker for several years, w'12 volt system.. I found a loose connection in the wiring to the TM, causing a pretty serious voltage drop (and lots of heat at that spot).. fixing that connection improved my TM performance a bunch. I had no problems running all day after that..
Richard
ChampioN/Mercury
High Rock Lake NC
Can you check it with an oems(sp?) meter and how would I do it? I just trying to figure out if to buy a new motor or parallel two batteries. I was also thinking of running in wires.
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