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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

"donquijote1954" wrote in message
...

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

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

That has romance written all over it.

On Dec 17, 2:24 pm, "the Moderator"
wrote:
"donquijote1954" wrote in message

...



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

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

That has romance written all over it.

I should drink champagne, huh?

I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.


Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com

On Dec 19, 11:26 am, Mike Romain wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.

Thank you much. How about this...

"Battery - 12V AGM, Group U-1, 32Ah, 8.3"L x 5.1"W x 7.25"H, 24lbs"

For "Minn Kota Riptide 12v 40 thrust." I don't need more than 3 hours.

Then getting the charger is kind of complicated too. I read not to get
the one from the Auto Parts.

Jeeeeez, yet another expense for the motor...

http://www.trollingmotorparts.com/in...c/MKR%2D19.htm

I guess I need it, huh?