WTB Battery for trolling motor

[YTHunter]

I'm using the same motor (Endura C30 30lb) for my 13ft Revo. Took a lot of test data a while back to help figure out what it would do at the the various speed settings (#1 to #5) in varying wind, chop, and current conditions.

(Note, all data below is for a 50AH deep cycle marine battery)

While your battery will run MUCH longer at the lower speeds (speed 1 => 6 hrs, speed 5 => 2 hrs), what you really need to be focused on is the RANGE.

To illustrate this point, if you run your motor at lowest speed setting (i.e. #1) into a really strong current/wind, you'll barely develop enough propulsion to overcome the current. So even though your battery will last 6 hours at this setting, you could literally make NO headway after 6 hours. In contrast, under similar conditions at the #5 speed setting, you'll probably average about 2.5 mph. So even though you battery will only last 2 hours at this setting, you'll at least overcome the current/wind and make about 5 miles forward progress.

In windless/currentless conditions, you will get approximately the same battery life time, but at speed 1 you'll do about 1.5 mph and at setting 5 you'll do about 3.8 mph. So in ideal conditions, at speed setting #1 you'll get about 9 miles (1.5mph x 6 hrs), and at speed setting 5 you'll get about 7.6 miles (3.8 mph x 2 hrs).

Long story short, I typically get about 5 to 6 miles fishing La Jolla with a 50 AH deep cycle marine battery. I tend to run it at speed setting 4 or 5 with moderate to strong currents/winds, and setting 3 in light winds/currents. I typically peddle/paddle out to the fishing grounds and fish for a while, and pull the motor out of the front hatch and use it for the ride in.

Hope this helps.