yoopermike
New member
I recently purchased a new-to-me boat and I'm wondering about the battery set up. I have always had small boats with pull start motors, 14' and under, so no need for multiple batteries. This one is set up so the bilge, livewell, nav lights, etc, all run off the starting battery and the electric trolling motor runs off of the deep cycle marine battery. Seems OK to me, just looking for second opinions. Is this how everyone else has theirs or should I run everything off of the deep cycle and just use the starting battery for the motor?
More starting power from starter battery deep cycle is for slow draw down on battery & slow recharge. Starter battery recharges from the engine alternator & tells you what is going on via the dash amp meter. Deep cell may have a display of bars or indicator lights on higher quality fishing boats or on the trolling motor itself. I think I have 3 or 4 deep cell trolling motor batteries on my Ranger 1 starter battery but not uncommon to have 2 starter batteries separated by large battery switch so you never are without elect power. Me I would jump off the trolling motor batteries if I was in a jam on the water so have my Yamaha jumpers in bag on board. I hope this helps to better understand why both batteries & uses.