Just purchased my 1st trolling motor (Minn Kota 55) for a small jon boat and would love any recommendations for best battery and battery charger and where the best place to buy is. Thanks in advance.

Stay away from Interstate and Exide, also Walmart. Be sure the battery says Deep Cycle, Not Marine Battery or Dual Purpose. Anything that does not say Deep Cycle won't hold up. Don't let a salesman tell you differently.
I've had great results with Delco Voyager.

If you want to go all day long look for Reserve Capacity. The larger the number the longer it will last. 200 or more is what I'd want with a 12 volt trolling motor. As for chargers I have used a bunch of brands and all of them did their jobs.

Thanks Bob. Where do you get your Delco Voyagers?

Thanks. Appreciate the advice.

Agree about exide, only good thing about it was it was cheep. My battery went bad before the year and I got a second one free. Let's see how long this one lasts.

Read this. Most of the batteries are exactly the same just have different labels put on them. I like Walmart batteries because if one fails there is always a store nearby.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/12402357/Searchpage/2/Main/992930/Words/Batteries/Search/true/Re:_Walmart_Batteries#Post12402357

Exide makes a deep cycle battery.

You do know that Delco's are made by Johnson Controls (JCI) just like the Interstate, Walmart (was but in some Walmarts they are EastPenn (Deka's)), and many other batteries.
Although JCI makes a good battery, I would suggest the OP go to Sams and get the Duracell. It is made by East Penn (DEKA) for apx 2/3 price of a DEKA.
John

Being made by the same company does not mean they are constructed the same. There has to be a reason some batteries only last a year. The Voyagers I had on a sailboat lasted 8 years and that was running a refrigeration system 24/7.

Kick,
I get my Voyagers at A-Line Auto Parts but there are probably other vendors that sell them.

One size fits all. Johnson Controls owns all of these and most are made in Mexico. Not many batteries are made in USA since the last lead smelter was closed down due to the tree hugger crying several years ago.
With few exceptions these batteries are all the same with a different wrapper.

Johnson Controls Inc., (US) +1-414-524-2434, 1-888-867-8462 or "http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Acura, (US) contact local Acura dealer; 1-800-383-7323; or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Advance Auto Parts, (US) contact local Advance Auto Parts store

AutoCraft [Starting]

Western Auto [Starting] contact local Advance Auto Parts or Sears

Tough One [Starting]

Alliance, (US) please see Battery Alliance or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Amara Raja Batteries Ltd. (Joint Venture with Johnson Controls), (India) +91-44-821-3270

American Hardware

Ames

Autocraft, (US) contact loacal Advance Auto Parts store or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Gold [Starting]

Titanium [Starting]

Auto-Tiele-Unger [A.T.U], (Europe) contact local A.T.U store http://www.atu.de/

Varta [Starting], please see Varta

AutoZone [Duralast], conatact local AutoZone store or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Battery Alliance, please see Battery Alliance

Blain's Farm & Fleet, (US) contact local Blain's Farm & Fleet store; 1-608-754-2821; http://www.farmandfleet.com/; 1-800-383-7323; or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Bosch, (US & Europe) 1-888-715-3616 or http://www.boschautoparts.com/

Canadian Energy

Canadian Proof

Car and Driver, (US) contact local Target store

Carrefour, (Europe) contact local Carrefour store http://www.carrefour.com/

Costco [Kirkland Signature], (US) contact local Costco store or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Champion [beginning April, 2007], (US)

Delkor, (South Korea) +82-2-529-8976 or http://www.delkor.com/

2000

Cene

Hexa

Magic Power

Puma

Royal

Shark

Yano

Delphi Automotive (formally General Motors), (US) +1-248-813-2000

ACDelco [MF Starting], (US)

Amazon [AGM Starting]

Amoco

Atlas

BlueStar, (Canada) +1-604-543-4350

Platinum

PlatinumMax

BJ's Wholesale Club, contact local BJ's Wholesale Club store

Pep Boys, contact local Pep Boys Auto Parts store or http://www.pepboys.com/

Maintenance Free DieHard Starting, (US) 1-800-383-4273, http://www.diehard.com/ or contaact local Sears store

Gold [MF Starting]

Dynavolts, (Truck)

Delco Freedom [MF Starting]

Deltek, (South Africa)

Double Eagle, (US) contact local Goodyear Auto Service store or https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/services

Dura-Power

EverStart, (US) contact local Walmart store

MAXX

Extra

Ford, contact local Ford dealer

Freedom [MF Starting]

Extra [AGM]

Plus, (Europe)

DieHard, (US) 1-800-383-4273, http://www.diehard.com/, or local Sears store

Freedom Intelli-Guard

International, (Truck)

Goodyear, (US) contact local Goodyear Auto Service store or https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/services

Kmart, contact local Kmart store or http://www.kmart.com/

Middle East Battery Company (Joint Venture with Delphi), (India)

Opel Freedom (Europe)[Starting]

O'Reilly Auto Parts, contact local O'Reilly Auto Parts store

Super Start [Starting]

Professional

Platinum [AGM]

Marine Freedom

Tough One, contact local Advance Auto Parts store

Sam's Club, (US) contact local Sam's Club store

Shell, contact local Shell service stations

Standard, (Europe)

Trak-Auto, contact local Advance Auto Parts store

Lastcell [Starting]

Permacell [Starting]

Ultracell [Starting]

TSC patrouille [Starting] (Europe)

Voyager Marine

Western Auto, (US) contact local Advance Auto Parts or Sears store

DieHard, (US) 1-800-383-4273 or http://www.diehard.com/, http://www.autobatteries.com/ or local Sears store

Gold, [Starting]

DuraLast, (US) contact local AutoZone store

Energizer, (US) contact local Sam's Club store, contact local Walmart Canada store or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Enertec Mexico (formally Joint Venture with Grupo IMSA), (Mexico) +8-329-9500, 1-800-835-4800 or http://www.enertec.com.mx/

Advantage

Am�rica [Starting]

America 500 [Starting]

Celtik Y Nationwide

Cronos [Starting]

Diener [Starting]

Duralast [Starting]

Durex [Starting]

Everlite

EverStart [Starting]

MAXX

Fulgor [Starting]

Full Power

Full Tech

GES [Enertec], (US) +1-817-589-1225

V Series [Starting], please see Interstate

LTH

Bateria Marina [Marine]

Hi-Tec [Starting]

Moto-Bateria [Powersports Starting]

Monterrey

Nationwide

Prestolite [Starting], please see Exide

Varta [Starting], please see Varta

Enertec South America (formally Joint Venture with Grupo IMSA)

Bestia Negra [Starting]

Durex [Starting]

Fulgor [Starting]

Heliar [Starting]

Taxi [Starting]

Power [Starting]

Prestolite [Starting]

Equalizer, (US) contact local O'Reilly, Pep Boys, VIP Discount Auto Center, Weatbelt, PX/BX stores or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Evercycle

Eveready, (US) contact local O'Reilly, Pep Boys, Weatbelt, Walmart Canada, or PX/BX stores

EverStart, (US) please contact local Walmart store or http://www.autobatteries.com/

High Power [Starting]

Extreme [Starting]

MAXX [Starting]

FIAMM SpA [SLA Deep Cycle], (Italy) +39-0444-709-721, http://www.fiamm.com/

AAA

Falcom series [MF Starting]

Suprema series [Truck Starting]

AKUMA a.s. [MF Starting], (Czech Republic) +420-326-721-314 or http://www.akuma.cz/

Truck series [Truck Starting]

B�ren Batterie GmbH, (Austria) +43-4228-2036-0 or http://82.193.8.14/main/main_home.asp

LKW Profi series [Truck Starting]

Polar series [MF Starting]

Cyclop series [Truck Starting]

Cyclop SP [MF Starting]

Storm [AGM Powersports Starting]

TitaniumCyclop SP [MF Starting]

Wind [Powersports Starting]

Firestone, (US) please contact local Firestone store

Globe-Union

Heliar, (South America) https://www.heliar.com.br/pt-br or please see Enertec South America

Honda, (US) contact local Honda car dealer, 1-800-383-7323 or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Hoppecke, (Germany) [Starting], +49-2961-7890 or http://www.hoppecke.de/

duplex [Starting]

duplex plus [AGM Starting]

Inspira [AGM]

Interstate, (US) 1-888-772-3600, http://www.interstatebatteries.com/ or local Interstate dealer

Kirkland Signature, (US) contact local Costco store

Kmart, (US) contact local Kmart store

LHT, (Mexico) http://www.lth.com.mx/ or please see Enertec Mexico or Enertec Grupo IMSA

Gold [Starting]

MAC Batteries, (Columbia) +57-2-691-1800 or http://www.mac.com.co/

">
Gold Plus [Starting]

Power Pac [Starting]

Madza, (US) contact local Mazda car dealer, 1-800-383-7323 or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Mitsubishi [Diamond Car Care], (US) contact local Mitsubishi car dealer, 1-800-383-7323 or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Motorcraft, (US) 1-800-392-3673, contact local Ford, Lincoln or Mercury car dealer http://www.motorcraft.com/

Tested Tough [Starting]

NAPA, (US) contact local National Auto Parts Association store

Optima [Spiral Wound AGM], (US) +1-303-340-7440; 1-888-867-8462; http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us; 1-800-383-7323; or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Amazon

BlueTop [Marine Deep Cycle]

EverStart Ultra [Starting], (US) contact local Walmart store

GNB Technologies, (US) [Starting]

Interstate, (US) [Extreme Performance, SC and AGM Series Starting, Marine and Deep Cycle], contact local Interstate dealer

OrangeTop [Starting]

RedTop [Starting]

TrollFury [Marine Deep Cycle]

YellowTop [Deep Cycle]

O'Reilly, (US) contact local O'Reilly Auto Parts store

Power Connection, (US) 1-800-645-0779; contact local Battery Allience distributor

ProStart, (US) contact local Pep Boys Auto Parts store, 1-800-737-2697 or http://www.pepboys.com/

Robert Bosch GmbH, (Germany) please see Bosch or http://www.bosch.com/

Sentry [Starting]

Tough One [Starting], (US) please see Advance Auto Parts or Sears store

TCB Corporation [ServiceCentral], (US) http:http://servicecentralauto.com/

Triathlon

TrueStart, (US) contact local Toyota dealer, 1-800-383-7323 or http://www.autobatteries.com/

Valuecraft, (US) contact local AutoZone store

Varta Automotive (formally Varta Automotive GmbH and Joint Venture with VB Autobatterie GmbH and Robert Bosch GmbH), (Europe and Asia) +49-511-97501 or http://www.http://www.varta-automotive.com/

Varta Powersports, (US), 1-800-859-8702 or http://www.vartapowersports.com/en-us

Asia Dynamic [MF Starting]

Auto-Tiele-Unger [A.T.U], (Europe) contact local A.T.U store or http://www.atu.de/

Berga, (Germany) +49-7222-1565-0 or http://www.berga-batterien.de/

Antriebs & Beleuchtungs-Block

Basic-Block

Biker-Block

LS Biker-Block [Gel Cell]

Heavy Duty-Block

Power-Block

Solar & Aktiv-Block

Super Heavy Duty-Block

Blue Dynamic [MF Starting]

DRYMOBILE [Gel Cell Deep Cycle]

Heavy Duty [Deep Cycle]

Motive [Deep Cycle]

Motorcycle LF [Powersports AGM Starting]

Motorcycle Standard [Powersports Starting]

Pkw Standard [Starting]

PRO motive [MF Deep Cycle

Start Stop Plus [AGM Starting]

Silver dynamic [MF Starting]

Simi-Traction

SOLAR [Deep Cycle]

Super Heavy Duty

ULTRA dynamic [AGM Starting]

ULTRA special [AGM Deep Cycle]

Walmart, (US) contact local Walmart store

FYI, Optima, Interstate and Walmart and Exide batteries are all made by Johnson Controls.
Deka is still the orphan MFGR and alive and well making batteries for Harley Davidson that if your are lucky will last maybe a year.

"I like Walmart batteries because if one fails there is always a store nearby."

Unfortunately the staff tested my battery like they would an automotive battery,
but a deep cycle that won't hold a charge beyond 2 hours on a low tm running speed will probably test fine. I had to threaten to go to the store manager to get one exchanged after
only 6 mos. of use. The one I got has done much better and it's over 2 years old.

Find out from a manager if they will replace a deep cycle if one doesn't hold up
regardless the so-called test they swear by.

Another test you can do is run the tm on #3 speed only and see how long it lasts.
If it slows down to near nothing in two hours, it may need replacing. I can run mine on #1 or #2 speed on and off between anchors for 6 hours of fishing, and it has still shows a % discharge on my charger of only 25% discharged. The more constant the running time, the faster the discharge.

Testing a deep cycle involves many factors. But of course always check fluid levels!

I've only had 1 walmart battery go bad. What shocked me was instead of just swapping it out, they had to refund my money then ring up the new one. That started me on a new 2 year warranty.

Bob, I don't know why some batteries last longer than others for the same person with the same care. I guess the same reason that some no matter what brand have to be replaced under the warranty. Every person that I have heard that worked for the manufacturers say that all that they do is change the labels in the machine unless they have a different case color then they have to stop to load the new cases. I use mine multiple times a week and have only had 1 fail in years so I just go for the lowest that has the highest cranking and storage.

Not sure how old the list above is, but recently East Penn (DEKA) got the contract for Sams and Walmart. They're starting in the Walmarts east of the Mississippi. They also have the contract on NAPA, BassPro, and many others. When in doubt, look and compare the cases. Things like fluid caps will usually tell you which mfg made the battery.
John