Looking for what you guys use. I did a search but didn't come up with the answer I was looking for.

I've got an older Motor Guide 750 on my 17' Ranger. This trolling Motor probably came with my boat new in 96'. 4-5 hours into the day my power turns to mush.

I remember a post a while back about trolling Motor batteries and how some replace every few years or so but this is now my second year in a row this has happened so it's time for something better than I've been using.

So what batteries do you have for your trolling motor?

Currently Optima but they are from 2012. I'm about to make the purchase myself but I am leaning toward getting Everlast from Walmart for about $100. Optima has done me well but they are costly $$$.

Trojans have been great for me...on my 4th year

Duralast is what I have. Bout $100 from Walmart or autozone. I think autozone price matched for me because Walmart only had one.

Deka Intimidator!

What brands have you been using?
What is your budget?

I use Interstates 29 series. About $130 apiece.

Only 1 year on batteries gets expensive and early failure is likely not your battery brand, but they are likely undersized for your use and your old inefficient trolling motor or you are under-charging.

Best would be to upgrade to a digital trolling motor which can run much farther on a battery. But thats a big investment.

If keeping the ineffiecient 5 speed, only use large reserve capacity batteries like 180 or more RC minutes each. When a battery gets below 12.1 or 12.2 volts, stop trolling and go recharge. Just over-dicharging one time drops the usable battery life significantly. If you ever are only charging overnite before resuse the next day, use at least a 10 or 15amp/bank charger. Though a charger says 100% charged, the battery may accept and benefit from significant more charging time.

Run 5 speed trolling motors when you can mostly on higher speed like #5, bumping along. Making long runs at the TM's low speed is very inefficient as the TM is wasting battery life by heating resistors in the lower unit.

Bought a BPS 175 Amp Deep Cycle, 27 series, trolling battery yesterday for $100. Heck of a sale; it's normally priced at $170. Location was San Antonio.

After researching, got the Group 27 Duracell from Sams. 200 reserve minutes @23 amps for $79.

I never have had good luck with Optimas in my boat or motorhome. We tried them in our fleet trucks at work also with poor results. I use Trojan for trolling motor and Duralast for cranking now with good results.

Upgraded cranking amps for the cranking battery with a Duralast. Second year of running Trojans on the TM. Waiting to see how the Trojans do.

Deka batteries

If you're going to run a gel Call battery then get a low volt disconnect switch to preserve the life of your batteries. In 5 years I have not changed nor needed to change out a TM battery. Once you deplete the battery below recommended specs, it's life drops considerably. Know the technology you're using and it will work way better.

My Interstate batteries are nearly 7 years old. Mind you, they spend 5 months out of the year in storage.