Battery for trolling motor question...

[mpg2yahoo]

I'm thinking of getting a trolling motor for the PA for BTB trips. Usually the trips are < 15 miles out so total miles probably would be 30 or less for the day.

Have been reading what batteries others are using and was wondering if anyone has used a Lithium Phosphate battery from Battery Tender?

http://www.amazon.com/Lithium-Phosphate ... 373&sr=1-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Amazon has a 12v 35ah one for about $225 that supposedly weights 3.75 pounds, so I could get two and bring under 10 pounds to the kayak for batteries and whatever the trolling motor weights for the Minn Kota C2 30#.

Anyone knows anything about Battery Tender and if they are any good? Any better options?

Just doing my research before I buy anything so I go as light and with the most run time possible.

Don't mind spending a little bit more, but plenty sure don't want to get into an Evolve Torqueedo

[MarshMikee]

Haven't used that one, but can offer this advice.

The battery you posted has only a 35 AmpHr capacity. Typical trolling motor has over 100 AmpHr capacity. By definition, it is only going to last a third as long as a regular battery. Yes, it is smaller and lighter, but battery technology is still..... primitive. AmpHrs cost weight and space, at least until they have a micro fuel cell to replace them.

On a more practical level, trying to get 30 miles out of a battery, might be really pushing it. If that is the real goal, consider getting a small johnboat with a 30-40HP motor, and going mothership with it. Plus, you can bring and extra cooler, ice, drinks, food etc. 30 miles, is one looooonngg trip in a yak, you will spend more time in transit than fishing. At 20 mph, a reasonable jon-boat speed, that one way trip is going to take you almost an hour, about 45 minutes, to cover 15 miles. Unless you are good, real good, you won't do that in the dark at that speed. So, you are losing the best part of the day, and evening in transit. And the yak can't even go half as fast, so much longer time.

Not trying to cast cold water on your idea, but there are some physical limitations to consider.

Edit - missed the BTB part.

[capt carl]

I have been fishing a 30lb trolling motor for 4 years .I go to walmart and buy a cheep deep cl battery the last me 2 to3 years and I have nevery run one all the way down and fished 12 hr and have gone maybe 20 miles.the weight is nothing for the PA.most of mine was in a outback but now in a PA12

[texnomad]

Nominal top speed in displacement mode for the PA either 12 or 14 foot is about 4.5 mph. 15 miles will take you over three hours of continuous run time. A 35 amp hour battery would totally discharged in less than an hour and a half with a 30# thrust motor. Total discharge to 0 volts will normally ruin a battery. But before that the motor will likely be ruined by under voltage trouble.

[Tombo]

Go look at Academy for a gel cell battery. I got one for my skiff. Its not small, but its sealed and has a larger reserve capacity than regular lead acid. Look at a group 24 size battery.
On a similar note, northtex on our site has a trolling motor and battery on his kayak for fishing offshore.

[Deuce]

Bassyak suggest power-tec batteries. i have one on my xfactor that I've been using for over 5 yrs now. Although I only go about once a month it has served me well. i've run it for over 8 hr before but it was on and off. highly reccomended.

http://midstatebattery.com/Power-Tec.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have one of the group number 24 batteries, will have to check when I get home.


My buudy picked up a optima blue top for his trolling motor and ended up burning out the neg. wire at the switch while fishing. I guess it was overloaded and ended his day fishing real fast. Almost burnt a hole in his yak. You don't want that to happen btb.

[MarshMikee]

My buudy picked up a optima blue top for his trolling motor and ended up burning out the neg. wire at the switch while fishing. I guess it was overloaded and ended his day fishing real fast. Almost burnt a hole in his yak. You don't want that to happen btb.

ON that note - it is a very good idea to have a plug connector for the battery to TM wires. If something gets over amped, a quick twist and the circuit is broken. Otherwise, no breaker, no fuse, no plug equals a lot of heat in a place it might not be good. You can use one of the twist lock connectors or just a pair of heavy male/female plugs, the kind with the insulation over the outside.

[Snipershrk]

I would highly recommend a battery optimizer as well.

[capt carl]

one of thing that I have done was to cut off most of the trolling motors wiring,and replaced it with a much larger gage I got home depo.I put new copper tips on that I got at the auto supply.small wire equal large resistance,and the battery clips will rust in no time at all

[richg99]

I've used similar 35 amp hour batteries with trolling motors on my yaks. But, I never go very far and rarely use it continuously.

I had your situation, I'd look around for a 2.2 or 3 hp 2 cycle outboard. They weigh less than a trolling motor and a battery. They will give you the power and the speed you need. Mounting it will be an interesting challenge.

I have one in the garage that I'd let you try (I want to keep it) but I won't be back until mid-October. richg99

[mpg2yahoo]

Thanks Rich! I went wild and got me a Mercury 3.3hp outboard from a fellow TKFer.

Since I'm newb on outboard engines, where is a good place to take this puppy for a tuneup around Clear Lake?

Now I need to design a transom mount for this puppy using the handle bar and the back of the PA.

Have a lot to do before I'm operational with this project but I will kick a$$ out there when I'm done.

New questions with this setup:

1. The motor throttle has a level. Obviously I'm not going to be able to reach the back, but have seen cables connected to them in other YouTube videos. What does that cable thingy called so I can get one online?

2. The motor gas tank is close to the size of a weed wacker. Is it possible to connect a portable gas tank to extend range? Obviously also it will be hard to get all the way back to refill, so I need that extra tank to make sure I get 30 miles out of it.

Thanks for the help.

[richg99]

Re cable...just go to any auto parts store and get a Choke Cable. You will have configure simevbrackets. You will figure it out.

Best mechanic I know (20 years)is in Atoscocita at a Mercury dealer. I'll get the name and be back.

[richg99]

Bowden marine. Ask for Steve. Tell him Rich Gross sent you. He will help you fugure out everything. Worth the trip. Not far off of beltway 8.

richg99

[richg99]

Oh, yes. Better check to be sure that TX pwd will OK your boat for a 3 hp motor. I know NuCanoes are rated for 2.5 but have never heard of a pa being rated at all.
richg99

[mpg2yahoo]

Oh, yes. Better check to be sure that TX pwd will OK your boat for a 3 hp motor. I know NuCanoes are rated for 2.5 but have never heard of a pa being rated at all.
richg99

That is a very good question. I don't think a PA is design or even rated to use an outboard, but I have seen 2-3 YouTube videos of PA's using a Suzuki 3.5 hp outboard. Heck I have seen some banana X kayak running a 3.5 hp outboard that probably doesn't even compare to a PA in stability and load capacity, but that doesn't mean it would be blessed by the Mr. Government here in TX.

[richg99]

Rather than a transom mount, you might consider a side-mount.

FAR easier to get to all controls; easier to pull start; considering the size/weight of the PA, you shouldn't have any troubles with leaning to the side.

You can use your present rudder controls as-is. Just set the motor straight ahead, and steer with your rudder.

You can have it mounted and on its way in an hour or so, compared to trying to figure out how to pull start; shift gears etc. way in the back by the transom.

Wish I was there to help. richg99

p.s. There are tons of videos and articles showing how people have been using side-mounted motors on canoes going back a 100 years.

[richg99]

Here are a few videos....

Since YouTube became popular after canoeing was at its height....and kayaking has taken over...there are probably far more written articles on motoring with a canoe, than there are videos. Rich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wgZlgm8UIU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWC_pNODzY4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTW40ugkPZ4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0z45YolOcc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mpg2yahoo]

This sounds like a good idea:

http://blog.naver.com/epilogos/220286640993" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[richg99]

Very slick set-up. Wish my Korean was better. Ha Ha. There's a zillion ways to skin the cat.

On my Gheene, the first owner extended most of the controls forward. I added another foot to make it easier for me. richg99

[SurfMonkey]

I would not be running a trolling motor without a resettable circuit breaker, probably 50 AMP....

[mpg2yahoo]

Re cable...just go to any auto parts store and get a Choke Cable. You will have configure simevbrackets. You will figure it out.

Found this guy has all the information I need to modify the Mercury 3.3HP.

For the throttle control he is using a bike gear shift cable (Shimano SL-TY22 Tourney SIS)



And even modified the engine to have a kill switch next to the handle using a Sea-Dog 420486 Magneto kill switch.




Seems the most difficult part will be to put the home-made transom on the PA and even that doesn't look that bad.

Just left the Mercury 3.3hp on the shop to do a tune up and will be getting all this stuff to alter the motor for kayak use.

Hopefully in the next month or so I should be running around on a motorized PA and should be able to get to Greens Lake or Swan Lake which was quite a steep task before.

[richg99]

Super! Please keep all of that since I may need some of it when I start messing around with the 2.2 Merc that I have. richg99

[richg99]

Here you go....richg99

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnubsg3FRq0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mpg2yahoo]

Well the project is progressing slowly but at least I finished the outboard base.

Now I have to clean the carburetor, get a new gas cutoff valve, and change oil to start the engine. Then the next engineering task starts to make a throttle control and kill switch that is next to my rudder controls.

Have not checked if the prop is deep enough to to the water line but looking at the rudder I think it would be deep enough.

[mpg2yahoo]

Getting closer to complete the outboard project on my Hobie PA. Was able to start the motor and took it to a boat ramp to check the propeller was under water.

I sat on the cockpit to control the rudder being the heavier man and Nhan sat on the tankwell to control the throttle, start/stop the motor. We did like a 500 yard run and probably 10 knots with 500 pounds on the kayak between the two and the motor.

Realized I can't count on the rudder to steer the kayak because it simply doesn't want to turn with it and I have to install the long aluminum pole to move the outboard left/right. Only thing left is to extend the throttle control and kill switch closer to where the rudder control is located on the Hobie PA and register this puppy and away we run!!!

Here are some shots of Storm Bill and how it flooded Kemah that I did not published before....







Boats could float to the front of the houses that morning...