How to Choose the Perfect Lithium Battery and Trolling Motor Sizes
For every water adventurer out there, the power that steers your journey matters just as much as the journey itself. This power results from the perfect pairing of your trolling motor and its accompanying battery. Lithium trolling batteries, owing to their remarkable advantages, have emerged as the preferred option for most boaters. However, the task of deciding upon the ideal lithium battery size and trolling motor size can be challenging. This guide is designed to help you make these strategic decisions and take your boating experience to new heights.
Deciphering the Trolling Motor Size Chart
Before examining the correlation between boat weight, trolling motor sizes, and corresponding lithium batteries, it's crucial to understand how trolling motor sizes are denoted. The size of a trolling motor is typically indicated by its thrust, which, in turn, is a measure of how much power the motor employs to move the boat through the water.
Why Lithium Batteries?
From extending runtime and lifetime to offering a quicker recharge, lithium batteries, specifically Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (LiFePO₄), have elevated the realm of trolling motor batteries. Here's a look at what makes them stand out from their lead-acid counterparts.
Choosing the Ideal Lithium Battery Size
Selecting the correct battery size demands an understanding of the motor's power consumption, desired runtime, and adequate speed. Now, let's delve into two examples to clarify this statement further:
Example 1: Leisure Boating with Medium-sized Boat
Consider a medium-sized boat weighing around 3000 lbs used for leisure boating. Based on the weight, the required trolling motor thrust would approximately be 60lb. For a 10-hour run time, the ideal lithium battery would be 200 Ah.
Example 2: Angling Expeditions with Small Boat
Consider a small boat for fishing weighing around 1500lbs. This boat would require a trolling motor with a thrust of approximately 30lb. For a 5-hour runtime, an ideal lithium battery would be 150 Ah.
Chart Comparison: Matching Motor to Battery
| Boat Weight (lbs) | Trolling Motor Thrust (lbs) | Required Battery Voltage | Required Battery Capacity (Ah) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 (Large) | 80-100 | 36V | 200 |
| 3000 (Medium) | 50-80 | 24V | 150 |
| 1500 (Small) | 30-50 | 12V | 75 |
Conclusion
Choosing the correct sizes of lithium batteries and trolling motors dramatically enchances your boating expeditions. This guide serves as your compass in making these crucial decisions, steering you towards unforgettable adventures in the aquatic world.
