You could be the proud owner of one of the best electric trolling motors in the world, but without a dependable deep cycle marine Battery for your Trolling Motor, you might as well just keep it in the box.

Introduction

Finding the best Trolling Motor Battery can be a challenge, simply because the fact there are so many on the market.  There's cheap knock offs everywhere you turn.  The challenge with all of these trolling motor batteries to choose from is to differentiate the quality trolling motor batteries from the low end or knock-off marine batteries.  And that's important, because the knock-offs are less expensive, but they'll also leave you stranded on the water.

So that's exactly why I wrote this article.  I want to help you find the best trolling motor battery for your boat.  I want to share with you the things that I've found to be that make up a good high quality trolling battery,  as well as share with you what I've found to be the best trolling motor batteries for the money.

To read reviews on the best trolling motors, take a look at my post, The Best Electric Trolling Motor For Your Canoe Or Kayak.

So lets get started....

Trolling Motor Battery Chart

Trolling Motor Battery Reviews (Top 5)

So, which is the best deep cycle marine battery for your trolling motor? Here is a list of the top deep cycle marine batteries. Press the "More Info" button to read more reviews and specifications of each battery.

1. Mighty Max ML35Trolling Motor Battery

The ML35-12 marine battery is constructed with thicker plates which allows you to discharge deeper than other deep cycle marine batteries, even in high temperatures as well as very low temperatures.  This means you get to spend more time out on the water using your trolling motor as opposed to waiting around for it to charge.

When used with a 30 lb thrust trolling motor at medium speed, you can expect to get about 3 hours of use before needing to change or recharge the battery.

Mighty Max trolling motor batteries are backed by a full 1 year hassle free warranty, which means they stand behind their product.

Features Of The Mighty Max ML35 Trolling Motor Battery: 

• 12 Volt 35 AH
• Rechargeable
• Mountable in any position
• Compact size at 7.68 x 5.16 x 7.13 inches
• 30 day refund policy and full 1 year warranty

What I Like About The Mighty Max ML35

• Affordable: It's an affordable trolling motor battery making it one of the best for under $100. 
• Long lasting: With 2+ hours of use at medium speed on a 30 lb thrust trolling motor, you'll get lots of time to be out on the water.
• Compact Size: The small size of this trolling battery makes it easily mountable in any boat, but especially in kayaks for canoes.
• 1 Year Warranty: Confidence in knowing that if the battery quits on you, you get to exchange it for a new one.

2. Optima 8016-103 D34M Marine Battery

The battery comes with 750 A cold cranking amps and 870 A marine cranking amps. When it is fully charged, its internal resistance in this marine battery is 0.0028 ohms, which in the world of  marine batteries is quite low internal resistance. 

With a higher reserve capacity, you’ll find that the Optima D34M will give you a longer shelf life and always be ready for when you need it.

This Optima battery has AGM design and Spiralcell technology which provides a strong and clean power source. Optima offers more reliability and better performance when compared to similar batteries, making it one of the best dual-purpose batteries available.

Features Of The Optima D34M Dual Purpose Battery

• 12 Volts 55Ah
• 750 A cold cranking amps and 870 A cranking amps.
• Suitable for large accessory loads.
• Dual-purpose battery. It can be used for starting and powering a boat or RV and be used to power your trolling motor.
• AGM design makes this trolling motor battery spill proof.  This makes the battery mountable in any position or angle and also eliminates the requirement for maintenance. 
• Provides constant 2 amp current for every one hour of use and it has capacity of 55 Ah and reserve capacity of 120 minutes with 25 amps discharge at 80° F.
• Stud posts are 5/16 inches.
• Fully recharged at approximately 6-12 hours of charging.
• Optimal cranking power even in harsh weather

What I Like About The Optima D34M Trolling Motor Battery

• Versatility: Since it's a dual purpose battery you can use it to start and power your boat as well as start other vehicles.
• Increased Power: This battery is capable of not only powering your electric trolling motor, but also every other electrical system on your boat.
• Size: Relatively light weight for a dual purpose battery. This one weighs in a just about 45 pounds.
• AGM technology: The AGM technology makes this battery come with a list of features that I like such as maintenance free operation, no distilled water refilling requirement and spill proof feature.
• Increased Safety: With such versatile mounting flexibility this battery can be mounted at any angle due to its perfectly sealed construction, which also prevents the battery from leaking harmful chemicals.

3. Interstate DCM 0035 Deep Cycle Marine Battery

Because the Interstate DCM 0035 is an AGM battery, maintenance is not required. The battery can be mounted in any position or angle that you need since it’s completely spill proof and leak proof. It’s alos designed to handle vibration which makes it a reliable choice for trolling motors.

The DCM0035 is the best trolling motor battery if you’re looking for a small battery for smaller applications such as your electric trolling motor. It’s an affordable battery that will deliver.

Features Of The Interstate DCM 0035 Deep Cycle Marine Battery

• Group U1 or GT9L battery, with a small form factor that makes it easy to mount in any boat or recreational vehicle.
• AGM  technology, and does not require maintenance and is safe to mount at any angle in your boat.
• At just 7.7 inches in length and 5.2 inches in width, this battery is easily transportable.
• Weighs 23 pounds making it light enough to carry.
• Designed with a  thick, rugged plastic exterior that can tolerate bumps and scratches without damaging the battery.

What I Like About The Interstate DCM 0035 Trolling Motor Battery

• AGM technology: The AGM technology makes this battery come with a list of features that I like such as maintenance free operation, no distilled water refilling requirement and spill proof feature.
• Affordable: It's an affordable trolling motor battery making it one of the best for under $100. 
• Compact Size: The small size of this trolling battery makes it easily mountable in any boat, but especially in kayaks for canoes.

4. VMAX MR127 12 Volt 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery

With the VMAX 100Ah rating, you can plan on being out on the water for a long time. The VMAX has the power you need regardless of the size of your electric trolling motor.  This Group 27 battery delivers consistent, reliable power and comes in a durable plastic enclosure to protect it from shocks and vibration.

The AGM technology makes this battery maintenance free battery and does not require to be filled with water or require any other type of maintenance. The VMAX MR127 charges very quickly, making it a convenient option if you’re looking for a battery that will need to be charged multiple times.

Features Of The VMAX MR127 Deep Cycle Marine Trolling Motor Battery

• Group 27 battery 
• Weighs about 67 pounds.
• Designed to mount inside any compatible Group 27 battery box, making it simple to mount in your boat.
• AGM (absorbent glass mat) electrolyte suspension system preventing the need of battery maintenance.
• Vibration resistant with a thick external plastic case that protects the battery from knocks, scratches and vibration damage.
• 30-day money back guarantee and 12-month exchange warranty

What I Like About The VMAX MR127 Trolling Motor Battery

• Long Life: One of the best things I like most about the VMAX MR127 trolling motor battery is how long it allows you to be out on the water fishing, as opposed to coming in for a recharge or battery exchange.   At the lowest speed setting on your trolling motor, the VMAX MR127 can last up to 12 hours.  At medium speed, you can still get more than 7 hours of trolling. And at full trolling motor speed, you could potentially get almost 2.5 hours.  Compare that to some of the smaller trolling motor batteries, and you’ll see why a lot of anglers, myself included, prefer this battery.With the VMAX 100Ah rating, you can plan on being out on the water for a long time. The VMAX has the power you need regardless of the size of your electric trolling motor.  This Group 27 battery delivers consistent, reliable power and comes in a durable plastic enclosure to protect it from shocks and vibration.

5. VMAXTANKS Vmax857 Trolling Motor Battery

This trolling motor battery is designed to be used with your 18 to 40 pound thrust electric trolling motors. With a 30 pound thrust trolling motor, at low speed, you can expect to get about 5 hours of life out of the battery.  This makes it the perfect trolling motor battery for small boats, like kayaks and even canoes.

This deep cycle marine battery is only about 25 pounds and measures approximately 7.7"w x 5"d x 6.1"h. This small size makes the battery easily transportable and mountable inside your small boat. This battery can also be mounted in any angle or position because of its sealed housing.

Features Of The VMAXTANKs Vmax 857 Trolling Motor Battery

• AGM technology: The AGM technology makes this battery come with a list of features that I like such as maintenance free operation, no distilled water refilling requirement and spill proof feature.
• 12 volts with 35 AH rating and 75 minutes reserve capacity.
• Fast recharge capability.
• resistant to extreme vibration, heat and harsh weather conditions.
• Completely sealed and nonhazardous.
• Approximately 4 to 5 hours of running time with 50% to 60% depth of discharge when used on trolling motors.
• Long service life of at least 8 to 10 years

What I Like About The VMAXTANKs Vmax 857 Trolling Motor Battery

• AGM technology: The AGM technology makes this battery come with a list of features that I like such as maintenance free operation, no distilled water refilling requirement and spill proof feature.
• Affordable: It's an affordable trolling motor battery making it one of the best for under $100. 
• Compact Size: The small size of this trolling battery makes it easily mountable in any boat, but especially in kayaks for canoes.

Why It’s Important To Use A Quality Trolling Motor Battery

A quick story about using a low quality cheap deep cycle trolling motor battery. I was about 10 years old and my Dad took my brother and I on a fishing trip in the mountains of northern Arizona.  

On our small 12 foot aluminum boat we had an electric 12 volt 3 speed trolling motor.  And to power that trolling motor was one of the crappiest, cheap knock off deep cycle marine batteries around.  

We hit the water with the fully charged trolling motor battery and made a couple rounds on the small lake.  We caught a few nice rainbows along the way. But as we were in the middle of the 3rd trip around the lake, the trolling motor battery died.  It was done. And we were on the far side of the lake.

So we were dead in the water, lures sinking to the bottom of the lake. We reeled in and paddles our way to the nearest bank, which happened to be about as far away from our car as possible.  I remember my Dad grabbing that trolling motor battery and walking back to the car, around the lake.

If you’ve ever carried a deep cycle marine battery, then you know how heavy they are.  That wasn’t a fun walk for my Dad. But man, do I remember feeling sorry for him that day.  So much so, it’s still a vivid memory in my mind.

What would have that day been like if we had one of the best, high quality deep cycle trolling motor batteries?  Well, we wouldn't have ran out of power, my Dad wouldn’t have hauled that heavy hunk of lead around the lake, and I wouldn’t have this memory to share with you. And oh, we probably would have caught more fish!

3 Things To Look For When Choosing The Best Battery For Your Trolling Motor

Like I mentioned above, deep cycle marine batteries come in a wide range of quality and dependability. So when it comes to selecting a good deep cycle battery for your trolling motor, these are the three main things that you want to pay attention to.

Design

Now days, deep cycle marine batteries are designed to be used or mounted in any position.  Which makes them safer than our grandfathers trolling motor batteries. Modern deep cycle trolling motor batteries are also designed to be maintenance free, compact and light weight.

Power System

Electric trolling motors come in 12 Volt, 24 Volt and even 36 Volt designs.  What this means is that since most deep cycle marine trolling motors are 12 Volt, you would be required to use two 12 Volt batteries to power a 24 Volt trolling motor. And three 12 Volt batteries to power a 36 Volt trolling motor.

So before buying just any kind of trolling motor battery, it's crucial that you know what kind of power your trolling motor requires to operate.

Amp Hours (Ah)

Deep cycle marine trolling motor batteries capacities are measured in amp hours.  Amp hours is the amount of energy charge in the battery that allows one ampere of current to flow for one hour. So, the Ah is the unit of measurement of the rate of current discharging from the battery.

For example, a deep cycle marine trolling motor battery that's rated 35 Ah means that battery will deliver 35 amperes at a nominal 12V over a 20 hour period.

In short, the higher the Ah rating on a deep cycle trolling motor battery, the longer the battery should last.

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​Complete Trolling Motor Battery Kit

Included In The Trolling Motor Battery Kit:

• VMAX 12V 35ah AGM Battery
• Quickbox Marine Battery Box
• Waterproof Circuit Breaker
• VMAX 12V 4-Stage Smart Charger
• 2 - 9" 100% Copper Battery Cables

Best Trolling Motor Batteries Reviewed In This Post

Conclusion

I hope the trolling motor battery reviews in this post have helped answer any questions you might have regarding finding the best deep cycle marine battery for your trolling motor. 

Trolling motor batteries can easily be one of the last things on our list when we pack for our fishing trips.  But don't find yourself stuck out on the water without any power for your trolling motor.  I'm confident that any one of the batteries reviewed in this post will work very well for you, and work as much as you need them to.

If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to send me an email, or even leave a message below.  And if you know of anyone that might benefit from this article, please feel free to share it!

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