On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:58:32 -0800 (PST), donquijote1954
wrote:

On Dec 17, 12:36 pm, VtSkier wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
What would be a good light battery for trolling motor for canoe.
Someone told me they come in motorcycle size battery. He told me to
get "gel."

Thanks!

"Gel" batteries are the same as regular lead-acid
batteries. The advantage is that they use a semi-
liquid electrolyte, are sealed and don't leak.

I need that they DON'T leak.


Car-size gel batteries can be had from electric
wheel chair suppliers. Don't know about motorcycle
size except that by being smaller they won't have
as much stored power. In other words, they won't
last as long per charge.

I see.


Are you proposing this for packing in? If so
why? Paddles are ever so much lighter and last
as long as you do.

Still paddling, but occasionally using it to extend range and make it
"more romantic."

I'll be drinking beer and singing instead of paddling.


Are you driving to a boat launch? If so, why
worry about weight. A car size battery weighs
somewhere around 40 pounds. Not unreasonable
for a canoe. Keep it toward the middle and
lashed down.

They sell boxes for it, but lash down to what? This is my canoe...

http://www.madrivercanoe.com/adventure-14

If the whole thing is too complicated and/or expensive, I may just
abandon the project. I bought the stabilizers already but I can use
those for fishing, etc.

It is quite possible, Wilderness Systems used to (may still) sell a
kayak (Pamlico) that had an electric motor installed. Look for "deep
cycle" as opposed to automotive or motorcycle batteries. The
automotive batteries call for a large drain briefly (starting) then
recharge. You want a battery designed for relatively low drain
(trolling motor) over a long period of time. They come in sizes
comparable to motorcycle batteries and also in "gel" form. You can
probably even find them at places like Wal-Mart. It is definitely
possible, lots of people have done it, the people at rec.boats.paddle
should have lots of information.
--
Galen Hekhuis
I may have mispoken