is it safe to say that trolling motors lose strength over time?? ive been having serious trolling motor problems... mind you, im in a 15 foot duracraft with a 40...

i have a 12 volt 50 minn kota..its about 4 or 5 years old...i upgrade to a new battery every year.. it seems like i remember it yanking my boat around pretty good on setting 3 of 5... seems like now im having to use 4 waaay too much..only in dead calm can i use 3...add in a headwind or against tide i have to go 5 and if i hit the pedal too hard it will throw me out...

i havent changed my battery yet in a year, so my battery is about a year old, but its getting a good charge and will hold 6 or 7 hours of use, depending how hard i use it...

i hate the fact that im having to run on more than half speed...(4 of 5 speeds)...i would up grade to a bigger troller, but then i gotta go 24 volt, and that just seems absurd in this small of a boat...

im considering doing 2 batteries in a series, but i dont think that will help with thrust...only in length of charge, right??

its to the point that i carried a backup battery with me yesterday knowing i was gonna be in strong winds and outgoing tide all day...