I bought me a new EverStart deep cycle battery (the biggest walmart had) and I have a 46lb trolling motor, is it normal for me to have to recharge it after 14 hours of use? How long do you guy's last?? Mind you this TM is on my jon boat so its not working too hard, i normally run it on 3 or 4 not 5...how can I check to see if my battery is still good?

I think you are doing very well if you are getting that many hours out of a 12 volt setup.

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I'd agree that is a good life for a 12 vdc deep cycle battery. I have a battery load tester that will give you a very accurate indication of the state of charge.Rather expensive for a private individual to own exclusively unfortunately.I am not sure if they offer a consumer version.

14 hours!!! 12 volts. wow.

You should charge it after every use-important to keep it at a full charge.

Not enough info for an opinion. If you are running a 12V trolling motor off and on continuously throughout a 14 hour period on a windy day on 3/4 throttle then be happy. You can't expect much more. If you fish for 14 hours and hit the trolling motor occasionally it should have plenty left. Are you saying you have to quit fishing because the battery is going dead after 14 hours and that is a problem for you. If you are simply quitting because it's been 14 hours of fishing...no worries. Just plug it in for your next 14.

That sounds o.k. Put it on the charger every time you finish fishing.

ya I have been charging with a trickle charger on slow mode. I heard the slow charge is better? Ok just making sure I am getting good use. I do run it for those 14 hours...I know for a fact last week i went 2 days...both days not starting my motor up and fished for 7 hours each day...thanks for the input

all deep cycle batteries need to be fully charged after every every use (when possible) with at least a 10 amp charger till fully charger and can be kept on trickle charge.

I had good luck with Contenential, but wish the new car battery would make its way to trolling batteries. I'd love a 7-10 year battery in a boat, would that not be great.

I'm a little non-forgiving. I had wal-mart battery overheat and spill acid on my ABS system in my truck and it cost $1800 to fix. I will never buy another wal-mart or Sam's battery. I can't imanage the damage what an overhead battery would do to a boat and all the hassell.

Sorry Sam!

I ended up getting two interstate deep cycle and a new MK 24 volt Maxxum 70 lb variable speed trolling motor. Boat has 15 amp dual pro chargers. Now We only get maybe four hour actual trolling time at 40-50% power before batteries drop to 10 volts. Voltage drop thru wiring system is only 3%.

Have new circuit breaker on order and plan on tinning the Wires at the socket.

four hours of trolling time seems ok, im just now getting my rig ready for the water after a two year layoff from fishing, champion 186 150 Yamaha, I have 82 lb motorguide. lets see what some others say. good luck

I had a neverstart go bad on me after 5 weeks took it back they gave me another 2 weeks later it went bad costing me $1,000 in a tournament because I had to get jumped off was 4 minutes late for weigh in. I was to pizzed that day to take it back so I took it back on Monday and I didn't want another of their batteries wanted my money back. That caused quite a heated discussion with a mgr4. a guy walked up to the register with a battery and heard what was going on he asked me if these batteries were as bad as I said I said no they are worse. He set the battery he had down and walked out well I got my money back then went down the street and bought an Interstate for less money had it in the boat almost 5 years and sold the boat so I don't know how long it lasted. I would not take a neverstart if it was free and I had to use it.

Wow. A 2012 post comes alive.