Best Trolling Motor Battery For Kayaks – ULTIMATE Buyer’s Guide

Trying to choose the best trolling motor battery may seem like a bit of a challenge. How do you choose the best trolling motor batteries for the best performance?

In a rush? This one from Optima is our #1 choice.

We understand that it can all be a little confusing, especially if you’re new to buying marine batteries. We’ve put together some information on the types of trolling motor batteries out there and what to look for when you buy the best trolling motor battery.

Top 11 Best Trolling Motor Batteries For Kayaks Reviewed

1: Optima 8016-103 D34M BlueTop 55 ah Marine Battery (best overall)

This is a 12V (750 cold cranking amps) battery that is basically maintenance free, making it the best trolling motor battery and best deep cycle battery for trolling motor use. This Optima battery boasts being capable of having up to 3 times more battery charges than other marine batteries.

Designed to cope with extended periods of inactivity (up to two years) but it might not work with all types of chargers, which may cause a dead trolling motor battery. However, there’s usually a one year warranty on these top rated trolling motor batteries.

It can be mounted in virtually any position, which could be a good feature when it comes to mounting it on your kayak, compared to other batteries. It weighs 43.5 pounds and measures 10 inches by 7 inches by just under 8 inches.

This deep cycle marine battery will work well in colder conditions (has optimal starting power even in bad weather like a cranking battery) and benefits from having a reserve of 120 minutes, meaning it can run at 25 amps for 120 minutes before it will reduce its amp usage to a minimum level, which is a significant amount.

Deep cycle marine batteries like this Optima battery also have good resistance against shock and vibration so it can be the best trolling motor battery for fishing trips and best deep cycle battery out there.

Pros

• Can hold up to 3x more charges
• Mount in any position
• Ideal for harsh weather conditions

Cons

• May not work with all types of chargers

2: Interstate Batteries 35 ah AGM Battery

This can be an ideal trolling motor battery for small spaces. The battery’s size is compact, measuring just 7.68 by 5.16 by 6.14 inches and it weighs just 23.1 pounds, so this Interstate battery isn’t going to add too much weight to your load – it’s less than half the weight of some.

Ideal as a deep cycle trolling motor battery, it has a long life cycle and deep discharge usage, making it one of the best trolling motor batteries for a fishing trip. It also has the benefit of being mountable at any angle, so you have a bit of freedom as to how you position it on your boat for long lasting performance.

The Interstate battery is a non-spillable sealed lead acid AGM battery and a runner-up in the best trolling motor battery for a kayak. This is a great battery for trolling motor use with good overall power for a smaller trolling motor or deep cycle mobility product.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Compact
• Multiple angle mounting options

Cons

• Not ideal for larger boats

3: Mighty Max Battery (55Ah) For Electric Trolling Motor

This is a high quality durable 12V deep cycle battery that will deliver 55 amp hours and has a calcium alloy grid for low maintenance and superior performance, with resistance to shock and vibration. This is the best trolling motor battery Might Max offer, as it is well suited to all conditions, including both high and low temperatures, giving it a longer life. But it is a budget trolling motor battery.

This Mighty Max battery can be mounted in any position, so you’re free to attach it wherever suits you best and because of its sealed style it’s totally maintenance free.

Despite it being a professional grade quality product and an affordable option, this deep cycle trolling motor battery is not the lightest battery for trolling motor use. Be aware that no wire harness or mounting screws come with the product, unlike some other deep cycle marine batteries.

Pros

• Maintenance free operation
• Multiple mounting positions
• Ideal for extreme temperatures
• Affordable option

Cons

• Mounting hardware not included
• Heavy

4: VMAX MR127 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Maintenance Free Battery

This MR127 packs a lot of power, as a 12V 100ah battery. This could be a good choice if you’re looking for enough power and a longer life for a few hours on the water.

This deep cycle battery has maintenance free operation with heavy duty grids that are thicker internally with strong internal cell connections for sustained power and extended battery life. It has a fast recharge rate, with strong vibration resistance, making it one of the best trolling motor batteries on the market today with internal resistance for longer periods and several hours of fishing.

It’s heavier than other deep cycle batteries, weighing 68 pounds, and it’s also a little larger than some other AGM batteries, measuring 12.1 by 6.7 by 8.2 inches. Fits Group size 27 box for marine batteries. This low maintenance, larger battery may restrict space for fishing gear so it’s not the best trolling motor battery for small kayaks and may suit serious anglers on a larger boat.

Pros

• High power trolling motor battery
• Great vibration resistance
• Ideal for heavy kayaks

Cons

• Heavier than other batteries

5: WindyNation 12V 100 Amp-Hour Deep Cycle VRLA Battery

The WindyNation is a long life 12V AGM battery with 100 amp hours that’s a solid performer, offering deep cycle performance for trolling motor use, frequent recharging, as well as sustained performance and long service life. Ideal as a trolling motor battery with VRLA technology.

It weighs 63.5 pounds and a little larger than some other models (13-inches long), so think about the space you need for the rest of your fishing gear. For kayaking, you may want a lighter battery than this but it could be a good battery to suit the power needs of small bass boats and it has a built in handle for convenience.

This deep cycle battery is heavy duty and features a high reserve capacity of 240 minutes. However, it’s a bigger battery so may not be the best trolling motor battery for kayaking, as you may find that it’s too big and heavy.

Pros

• 240 minute reserve maximum capacity
• Ideal as trolling motor batteries
• Durable deep cycle battery
• Good battery life

Cons

• Large
• Heavy

6: Optima 8006-006 34M BlueTop Marine Starting Battery

This 12 volt Optima Blue Top 50 amp hour battery has strong deep cycle performance for marine use, and is one of the top spiral cell batteries for heavy duty use.

It works well in cold temperatures and has a reserve capacity of 100 minutes, improving the battery’s performance and battery’s amp hour rating, letting you catch more fish.

You can mount it in any position, as it’s a spill-proof battery and requires no maintenance, meaning low operating costs. It utilizes AGM technology, has a longer life span and its amp hour rating means it has adequate power your trolling motor.

This is a powerful and tough battery with a long service life that has strong vibration resistance, deep cycle capabilities, and spiral cell technology. It measures 10 by 6.88 by 7.81 inches and weighs 38.4 pounds. It can also be used for both starting and deep cycle, even in harsh conditions, as you’d expect from the best trolling motor battery for cold weather, unlike other spiral cell batteries.

Pros

• Good vibration resistance
• Great as marine batteries
• 100 minute reserve capacity

Cons

• Not the most compact

7: ExpertPower EXP12180-2 Standard RBC7 Replacement Rechargeable SLA Battery

These can be some of the best trolling motor batteries if you’re looking to power a 24 volt trolling motor, as there are two 12 volt batteries that can be connected together in a series for more power. The trolling motor batteries are both sealed AGM technology types, so they can be positioned at different angles on your boat.

These trolling motor batteries both have 18 ah and could be a good choice if you’re looking to have a spare battery on hand or want to alternate between the two if you’re on the water for a significant length of time.

However, you may find that each one has a low battery load so one may not last long if powering multiple electronics. You may need multiple batteries for other appliances.

These maintenance free trolling motor batteries each measure 7.1 by 3.1 by 6.6 inches and weigh 24 pounds. This can be the best trolling motor battery in terms of great value for most anglers and an ideal addition to your fishing set as both batteries have the same voltage.

Pros

• Two 12V marine batteries
• Compact trolling motor batteries
• Ideal for 24V motors
• Lightweight batteries

Cons

• Low 18 ah battery performance

8: VMAXTANKS Vmax857 Marine Deep Cycle Hi Battery

This 12V deep cycle marine battery is extra durable against shock and vibration, with its heavy duty Vmax plates inside its AGM design. This also helps to boost performance for extended periods, giving it resistance and longevity when used frequently and being subjected to constant charging and recharging as a trolling motor battery.

This Vmax battery can be a good maintenance-free choice for small boats and it has the ability to be mounted in any position, which could make it the best trolling motor battery to install on a kayak. It’s compatible with a Vmax charge tank.

This 35 amp hour battery is also relatively compact, measuring 7.7 inches in length, 5 inches wide and 6.1 inches in height, making it ideal for use on a smaller vessel.

Pros

• Compact kayak trolling motor battery
• Vibration resistant AGM battery
• Great for small boats and kayaks
• Bad weather mountable

Cons

• Not ideal for all-day use

9: Renogy Deep Cycle Hybrid Gel 100Ah Battery

This Renogy Deep Cycle Hybrid Gel battery is a 12V battery with a 100 amp hour rating that can be an ideal trolling motor battery if you’re looking to power a 12 volt trolling motor for a longer period. However, this will depend on the amperage draw of your trolling motor and whether you want to move at top speed.

This quality battery is not as compact as other deep cycle batteries, measuring 12.9 inches long and 6.8 inches deep, with a depth of 8.7 inches It’s also a little heavier than some others, weighing in at just under 64 pounds so may not be the best trolling motor battery for everyone.

This hybrid gel battery features a fully sealed leak-proof design and benefits from having corrosion resistant grids to give a long lifespan.

Pros

• 100 ah deep cycle marine battery
• Ideal for all-day fishing
• Corrosion-resistant grids

Cons

• Heavy

10: Odyssey 34M-PC1500ST-M Trolling Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery

This Odyssey Trolling Motor Rechargeable Battery is a 12V AGM battery. It delivers 68 amp hours and features a sealed design for heavy duty use, with corrosion resistant brass terminals.

The trolling motor battery weighs 49.5 pounds and measures 10.9 by 6.8 by 8 inches. A good feature of the Odyssey battery is the vibration resistance.

Another good feature of dual purpose batteries is that they can be used both as a starting battery, like a car battery, and to power your onboard electronics. However, you may not want to use the same battery to do both things at once, as a dual purpose battery will drain faster. But it could be the best trolling motor battery in terms of versatility.

Pros

• For trolling motors and electronics
• Corrosion resistant
• Vibration resistant

Cons

• Not the lightest

11: MinnKota Trolling Motor Power Center (Storage Unit Only)

If you have a small boat or a kayak with a transom mounted trolling motor, this could be a good option for you, as it is effectively giving you somewhere secure to store your battery to minimize shock and vibration.

However, the power center is not a battery itself, it is only a case but it has a carry handle for outdoor life.

Designed for small boats that don’t have a battery compartment, this power center will hold marine batteries or deep cycle batteries and let you have easy access to the terminals, so you can connect your trolling motor and battery charger without having to open the box.

It also benefits from having a battery meter built into it, so you know how much power you have left. It has two manual circuit breakers; a 15 amps and 60 amps.

Designed to fit group size 24 and 27 batteries.

Pros

• Storage for trolling motor batteries
• Built-in battery meter
• Manual circuit breakers
• Ideal for marine batteries

Cons

• Trolling motor batteries not included

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Types Of Kayak Trolling Motor Battery

There are various types of power sources out there but the most common ones used in trolling motors on fishing boats are wet-cell, Absorbed Glass Mat and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. These will often be deep cycle batteries to withstand the frequent recharging which can make the best trolling motor batteries.

So we will take a look at each of these types and how they deliver a steady power output to your trolling motor, essentially all doing the same thing differently.

Wet-Cell Batteries

Lead acid wet-cell batteries are probably the most affordable type of battery for a trolling motor and is probably what your car battery is. This is a traditional battery type that uses liquid acid in its construction. This is why they are referred to as lead acid wet cell and sometimes flooded cell.

Most batteries are designed to withstand charging and draining frequently and are often traditionally used as car batteries, for that reason.

This makes them a popular choice for trolling motors because of the frequent usage and recharging. They are also able to stand up to being overcharged. A budget trolling motor battery is often this battery type.

The downside of lead acid wet cell batteries is that they may require more maintenance, due to the battery acid and may require you to add distilled water. Another negative aspect of these types is that they are not sealed and can potentially leak battery acid. They also use more lead plates which are fairly heavy.

Lead acid batteries are also susceptible to corrosion, due to leakage and other factors, which can have an effect on the performance and can damage it completely. This is another reason why they require more maintenance and can be time consuming, especially if you’re about to head out on the water when you discover it.

The vibrations that are sustained when you’re out on the water can cause further leakages and damage and potentially cause corrosive sulfuric acid to leak over you and your boat. A lead acid battery will also require a well ventilated compartment due to it releasing hydrogen gas. A lot of people may prefer an AGM type for this reason.

What’s that? A jet trolling motor?!

AGM Batteries

AGM stands for Absorbed Glass Mat, which refers to their construction using fiberglass matting.

These batteries are completely sealed, meaning they won’t leak sulfuric acid and they don’t require ventilated cases, as the gases are safely contained within its construction, often with an electrolyte suspension system. Some of the best marine batteries are usually AGM because of the reliable power and reliable performance.

Having an enclosed case usually means you can install them in a variety of positions, which makes an AGM battery easier to fit onto boats or kayaks with limited space or mounting options. The non-hazardous sealed construction can also help prevent shock.

They charge faster, so less waiting time, and last almost twice as long as a wet-cell battery, and they tend to pack more power into a smaller area, making them space-saving and lightweight, which can be ideal for smaller boats and kayaks, or for fishing for long durations.

The advantages of AGM batteries are that they require no maintenance and they work well as deep cycle batteries for trolling motors because of their ability to stand up to the demands of frequent charging and recharging.

Deep cycle means the cycle of them being constantly used, drained and recharged, for a main power source, compared to a float cycle, which is most often used on generators or when the batteries are used as a backup power supply and not the main source of power.

Another advantage is that they’re heavy duty, work well in cold temperatures and have good resistance against vibration, which makes them a popular choice for trolling motor batteries because of their durability. This can make them a more reliable battery than other battery types and can be dual purpose.

AGM batteries don’t, however, like heat, as this can damage them, and additionally they are also susceptible to being overcharged; but depending on the type of charger used, this can usually be avoided.

Another downside of glass mat agm batteries is that they can cost quite a bit more than a wet-cell battery but the advantages usually outweigh this disadvantage.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

If you don’t want as much weight in your boat then a lithium battery will certainly do that. They are much lighter than wet-cell or AGM batteries, but they are also more expensive. However, they can be ideal as a trolling motor battery, even if they’re on the pricier side.

These are relatively new batteries to the trolling motor market today but are increasing in popularity because of their good battery performance and they don’t usually require maintenance. But they come at a higher cost.

You may already be familiar with lithium-ion batteries, as they’re most commonly used in smartphones, laptops and other gadgets. Lithium batteries charge fast and generally last a long time for their higher price, provided you don’t let them overheat. Lithium batteries can make a very lightweight trolling motor battery and don’t lose power until they’re completely empty.

Lithium batteries are most frequently used by anglers who are involved in tournaments, as the lighter weight means you can increase your speed and the fast charging time means you can fish without delays with less chance of a dead trolling motor battery. A Li-ion battery is a very compact battery so could be worth the higher price if you don’t want the shortest lifespan.

Trolling Motor Batteries: Size, Charging And Power

When you’re choosing a trolling motor battery, one of the most important things you should take into account is its ampere hours – commonly abbreviated to amp or Ah. This can help you find the right battery.

In order to work out how many amps you need from your battery you need to know how many amps your trolling motor needs, for example, the current it requires to power it.

You should also keep in mind that batteries will come in 12 volts. Most trolling motors are usually 12V, especially those used on smaller vessels, such as a kayak, so you will usually find one 12V battery is sufficient.

However, if you have a 24V trolling motor, you will need two 12V batteries and for a 36V motor you will need three. On the other hand, you may find that some Li-ion ones will have a higher voltage, meaning you may only need one for a 36V motor.

Another thing to factor in is that if you do require two batteries, you need to make sure that they’re both the same type. For example, if one is a wet-cell, the other will also need to be a wet-cell. You shouldn’t mix a wet-cell with an AGM or AGM with Li-ion.

It’s also good to note that both batteries should be of equal charge and the same age. Mixing an old battery with a new one could lessen the lifespan of your new one, as it can drag it down to its pace.

Video: Solar Powered Trolling Motors

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Trolling Battery FAQs

What Is A “Battery Reserve Capacity”?

This can be the same as amp hours but using different units. The battery reserve capacity is generally how many minutes it can operate at 25 amps before the voltage drops below 10.5 volts (from 12V).

How Do You Charge A Trolling Motor Battery?

You can use a battery charger to charge your trolling motor battery. There are various types, including on board and portable chargers. The charger can be connected to the terminals using the cables attached to the charger of the trolling batteries.

What Happens If The Battery Gets Wet? Should I Protect It?

If your battery gets wet, it’s not usually a problem as long as you dry the terminals right away to prevent corrosion. Saltwater can be more corrosive than freshwater. You can add a layer of protection to your battery by storing it inside a battery box. This can help to protect it from rain and spray for added safety.

How Often Should A Trolling Motor Battery Be Charged?

Ideally, you should fully charge your AGM trolling motor battery after each use. It can also be recommended not to let your battery drop below 50%, as this can affect its lifespan and overall performance. Note that old batteries with a low deep discharge recover rate may require more watering and a higher amperage to get to the end of its charging cycle.

Why Are Deep Cycle Batteries Best For Trolling Motors?

Deep cycle battery technology is designed to handle the frequent charging and discharging that a trolling motor requires, similar to car batteries. It is also designed to deliver smaller amounts of current for greater length of time.

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Conclusion

Now that you’ve read this article you should have a better grasp on the types of trolling motor batteries that are available. So hopefully you will be able to work out the best trolling motor battery for your specific requirements.

The Optima 8016-103 D34M is the best, in our opinion.

Choosing a power source for your best trolling motor doesn’t have to be difficult. As long as you know the voltage of your trolling motor and the power that you’ll need for your boat then you should be able to make a good choice.

Just remember to keep in mind that if you’re in a kayak, battery size is important to keep your load as compact and lightweight as possible.

Also, by adding weight to your kayak or boat with a heavy battery it will also mean the motor will be pulling more weight, which could affect both your speed and the amount of hours you get from one charge.

So when you’re making the choice for the best batteries, make sure your power source meets the needs of both your motor and your boat but don’t forget to factor in the length of time you want to spend on the water, the frequency of your trips and how you plan to charge it.

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Do you use a trolling motor? Which one do you have?