Battery For Pontoon Boat

[Xplorer]

Hi guys,

 

I have an electric motor for my pontoon boat, I also have the motor mount and everything else set up. What have people been using for a battery. Most deep cycle batteries weigh between 40 and 65 pounds. My pontoon has a weight limit of 300lbs, so with me weighing 215lbs that only leaves 85 pounds for motor, gear, battery, oars etc. I was thinking about smaller atv batteries but don't think they will have enough amp/hr rating to last very long plus they are a starting battery, not really designed to be cycled dead alot.

 

Anybody have any recommendations or setups they have used in the past?

 

Thanks

Lance

 

[jack]

You could always try one of those lightweight coiled batteries, but they are very expensive. That's an awful load on a small toon boat, you may be asking for real trouble. 300 is the max capacity, not the "working load". My gut feeling is: Start over and think bigger 'toon.

j

[Nick0Danger]

Yea i would not go less than a group 24 size battery that said, i find the best value deep cycle batteries are from Costco, they are solid.

[Tungsten]

Take a small tire tube maybe 12" put it inside a duffel bag tie it up under your back rack.Fill it up with air 3-5 psi you can now put a group 31 battery on it The bag will also act as a rutter and help you steer straight.

 

Don't laugh it works.

[Pipestoneflyguy]

I'm at max weight limit in my toon (9' disco) when the batt is in - been caught in wind that resulted in 3-4 foot waves on Minnawanka and had no troubles getting back in safely - I do make the effort to adjust the boat set-up by way of shifting the frame 6 inches forward on the toons to ensure it is still centre balanced though ( I run mine through while water for fun a few times each summer so balance is important). I also set up with an open top batt box and fastec buckles so in a worse case, life or death, scenario I could dump the batt and motor if I had to.

 

All that said I didn't use the motor or batt last year as I don't really troll and to be honest rowing is just as quick and well., should help me get under that max weight anyway ha ha ha. When I get around to it I'm going to post my motor for sale here.

[Xplorer]

Thanks guys,

 

It turns out I underestimated my boats carrying capacity, it is 350lbs, so that helps a little. I am probably going to use a small spiral cell/sealed batttery(can get them through work for cheaper) and should be under 300lbs total.

 

I think that will work out ok.

 

 

[reevesr1]

I was going to recommend a diet, but looks like you dodged a bullet!

 

 

[Xplorer]

...........hahahaha

 

 

 

[jack]

Just keep in mind that "maximum load" and the "safe working load" on any pontoon is about 50-75 lbs apart. There are lots of examples of guys at max load all the time and "for no reason" there is a catastrophic failure of the frame.

j

[willvh]

I have an Outcast 10 IR and I have a 40 lb thrust prowler motor fromBPS and all I use is a Motomaster Eliminator car battery, now this will last all day long and plenty of power. I also put the motor and batt in 12 ft aluminum boats that we can sign out on Lake Bonavista and I will be back and forth and round and round on that lake a hundred times and not a prob.

I tried this setup cause some of the deep cycle marine batts can get pretty stupid in price. Give it a try works for me. Good luck.