1. Is anyone using lithium for their starting battery? If so what size and brand?

2. Anyone use the Dakota Lithium?


I am running an aluminum boat and I would like to shed some weight on the rear.

this is the only lithium I know of that is rated as a start battery.

I put 3 of the 50ah in mine for trolling motor and this will be next but just wiped out savings with a new lower unit.

https://drewcraft.com/product/125ah-12v-ionic-lithium-battery/

oh, drewcraft will answer any emails pretty quick.

sartin marine also carries the ionic now, noticed when getting my lower unit replaced.

I went with lithium’s for troll motor but decide until the manufactures warranty specifically stated lithiums were ok for use I would stay with AGM.
New motor so didn’t want to have to challenge them if something did go wrong.

I’m running an Ionic 125a for my SHO 250 with 2 Helix 12’s, a Helix 10, and a Garmin 1222 with livescope. Puts the X2 I had to shame. Also have 3 Ionic 50’s for my Ultrex.

Researched lithium’s for almost a year before getting them. Dakota was on my short list but negative customer service reviews were way too common from them and quickly scratched them. They also used to falsely claim they were made in the USA. So misleading to say the least

Your new merc will not get along with it unless something has change mercury has even sent out a service bulletin about lithium batteries

Totally untrue. Same goes for the myth that your warranty will be voided. Heck even WRM group (Ranger Triton Nitro) offer them as a factory option

Ok let me re phrase , I also have a newer mercury both it and my previous pro XS 2 stroke would not run a lithium cranking battery and Rockwall Marine said that mercury said they are not recommended and that there was a TSB to that effect. I said nothing about warranty.

You can fact check me if you like but my own personal experience with my own boat and motor clearly contradicts what you are decreeing as false.

What lithium battery were you using? The wrong one can make all the difference in the world. I personally know 3 people with Mercs using lithiums. 2 with Ionics and 1 who just bought a brand new Nitro that came factory rigged with a ReLion.
I’ll also add that none of the outboard manufacturers recommend lithium because there are too many variables. Bit like I said earlier, the correct battery from a reputable manufacturer will make all the difference.

Tried Amped and Dakota both then went AGM

Well there’s part of the problem. Amped doesn’t offer a battery with a BMS designed as a cranking battery, they even say so on their website. As for Dakota, no experience but easier to find more negative than positive about their company.

Thanks for the input. Seems the Ionics are the way to go.

Feel 100% solid about your decision there. I have had the 125AH Ionic for a couple of years (I do run a 250 SHO and not a Merc) and it is an afterthought at this point. Two HDS 12s, Helix 12 running Mega 360 and Live, both livewells on manual recirc all day without moving spots with the SHO on Saturday and the battery was at 68% before I started it to make the run to weigh-in. I made a point to check the Bluetooth App because that situation does not happen often. Pretty sure I wasted my money getting the emergency jump start installed when I bought the battery.

I went with three 100 AH Relion for the trolling motor and an X2 for the cranking, I had also heard about people having trouble with a lithium cranker, did not want any problems so went with the safe choice, if my X2 ever goes bad I will then probably get a lithium, the only negative I can see with the X2 is the weight, other than that it is a beast.

This is Dakota's new duel purpose battery. Check it out.



DL+ 12V 135AH DUAL PURPOSE 1000CCA STARTER BATTERY PLUS DEEP CYCLE PERFORMANCE