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Lithium batteries for your boat may be the way to go

By CAPT. GEORGE TUNISON - | Sep 23, 2022

Capt. George Tunison

If you’re a boater, buying, installing, charging and maintaining batteries is unfortunately part of your world. A recent article about battery technology caught my eye and should be of interest to all boaters. Most modern bay boats usually sport 3-4 batteries or more used for cranking power and to run accessories like trolling motors, pumps, electronics, etc.

Most of us currently deal with extra heavy, lead-acid batteries or more expensive glass mat technology batteries, all having a somewhat limited life span before they die. A typical group 27 lead-acid battery weighs in at 60 pounds or more. Install 3 and weight wise it’s like having an extra person on the boat. If you have a 36-volt trolling motor deep cycle system plus the cranking battery for the engine, you’re going to need 4, which now bumps you up to nearly 250 pounds!

Time to go lithium! Lithium deep cycle batteries, or LiFePO4 batteries, offer huge advantages over conventional deep cycle batteries such as 10 times longer life and important weight savings. A lithium battery provides up to 4,000 charging cycles compared to a 400 charging cycle, lead-acid model. Instead of your 60-pound backbreaker, a comparable amp lithium battery will weigh around 25 pounds, not only saving weight, but also saving fuel.

Better yet, companies are offering single lithium batteries in 12v, 36v, and 48v models which means, a 36v trolling motor system with a cranking battery can now be set up with just two instead of four batteries under the console. One manufacturer offers a single, deep cycle 36v lithium battery weighing only 32 pounds, replacing three 12v lead acids weighing a hefty 180 pounds!

Another unique feature is a lithium battery puts out its full charge rating till it simply quits and needs recharging, compared to a lead-acid unit that spins your trolling motor slower and slower as it discharges during the course of the day.

If you’ve been suffering the battery buying and maintenance blues for years like I have, especially with multiple boats, this technology sounds like a dream come true but before running out to buy new batteries you had better sit and look at the down side, the first being cost. Lithium batteries are expensive. A 12 volt model could cost 900 bucks or more compared to a $300+ for an AGM unit or $120 for a standard lead-acid model. Lithiums are for deep cycle applications only and require special lithium chargers to maintain them and cannot be wired in with the engine starting circuit.

Is it worth it? Considering the increased battery life, continuous output plus the amazing weight and space savings, I would definitely say yes. I’m saving up!

Typically many Charlotte Harbor late summer tarpon are often found around the deeper middle harbor 20-foot areas but this year there’s been lots of reports in 3 to 6-foot zone along the edges of the harbor, especially the east wall.

There’s lots of small snook around the mangrove edges with many big females still hanging out on near-shore structure mixed with plentiful snapper near and off-shore. Never overlook the passes for big snook and larger reds this time of year.

It is almost red October and the redfish are already schooling and definitely biting in many areas like Bull Bay and along both walls of Charlotte Harbor. From north Matlacha up to Pirate Harbor they are on the move. I like picking an early morning incoming tide looking for tailing reds to cast to outside the bushes on the low water flats then following them in as the water rises under the sticks using dead bait to lure them out to play.

If you don’t spot tailing fish then make random long casts with spoons and top-water plugs covering water till you find customers. Once under the sticks, feed them your ladyfish chunks then sit and wait.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. Contact him at 239-282-9434 or captgeorget3@aol.com.