Pontoon boats come in many different shapes and sizes. But, whether you have a large multi-passenger pontoon or a small single-seater, chances are you’ll need at least one battery to power your motors and electronics.
So, what are some of the best marine batteries for pontoon boats? What are their best features and functions? And, most importantly, what types of pontoon boats are they ideal for?
Keep reading!
This article will look at some popular pontoon boat batteries and the qualities to look for when choosing which one is right for you.
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Pontoon Marine Battery Reviews
1. Optima D34M Starting and Deep Cycle Battery
- 12-Volt, 750 Cold Cranking Amps, Size: 10 inches x 6 7/8 inches x 7 13/16 inches tall, Weight: 43.5 pounds, Dual SAE & 5/16 inches Stainless Steel Stud Posts. 55 Ah C20 capacity
- Optimal starting power even in bad weather
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This battery comes from the well-known brand Optima. It is a mid-sized marine battery with multiple functions and uses. This battery can literally do it all.
This 12V battery functions as both a starting and deep cycle battery–it provides 870 marine cranking amps, an amp hour rating of 55, and a reserve capacity of 120 minutes.
It can be used both to start your engine and provide a continuous power flow, so you can use it for almost anything on your pontoon.
The battery is roughly 10 by 7 by 8 inches and weighs 43.5 pounds, so it might not be the best choice for small, one-person pontoons. What’s more, if your small pontoon is powered only by a trolling motor, you will only need a deep cycle battery–the starting battery is unnecessary.
On the other hand, if you have a larger, multiple-passenger pontoon, especially one with an outboard motor, this may just be the battery for you. It can be used to start your engine, power your lights, or run any other electronics you may have on board.
This is an AGM battery that can be mounted in any position and is made to withstand even more shocks and vibrations than the average marine battery. Its tough design gives it the potential to last much longer than other marine batteries.
Some of this battery’s key features include a quicker-than-average recharge time, higher reserve capacity, and spiral-cell technology, which allows this battery to last longer and avoid wear and tear while maintaining its maintenance-free status.
Some customers state that the battery seems heavy for its size, while others state that it seems a bit expensive for what it is. That said, many other customers agree that it is a high-quality and dependable battery that is worth what you pay for it.
What we like
- This battery is both a starting and a deep cycle battery.
- It is maintenance-free and can be mounted in any position.
- Spiral cell technology helps this battery to last longer.
What we don’t like
- This battery is a bit heavy for its size.
2. Mighty Max Deep Cycle Battery
- ML55-12 SLA is a 12V 55AH Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) rechargeable maintenance free battery - UL Certified
- Dimensions: 9.06 inches x 5.43 inches x 8.98 inches. Listing is for the Battery and Screws only. No wire harness or mounting accessories included
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This battery comes from another well-known brand, Mighty Max, which produces good-quality batteries at an affordable price.
This 12V, 55-Ah deep cycle battery is classified as sealed lead acid. It is maintenance-free and can be mounted in any position on your boat. It weighs about 38.5 pounds and its dimensions are roughly 9 by 5 by 9 inches.
Unlike the Optima battery above, this one cannot be used for starting engines–it is purely a deep cycle battery. That said, it works well for powering trolling motors on smaller pontoon boats and can be used for all your electrical accessories on larger boats.
This battery comes with a 30-day refund policy and a 1-year warranty. It is well-equipped to handle a lot of shocks and vibrations, and it is designed to recover fully from deep discharges again and again.
Some of this battery’s key features include its wide temperature range, which allows it to function at its best, regardless of environmental factors; and its calcium-alloy grid, which gives it long service life.
Like the Optima above, this battery is a little heavier than some customers expected, and it doesn’t come with any built-in carrying handles.
What we like
- This battery is maintenance-free and can be mounted in any position.
- This battery is exceptionally durable for the price.
- It comes with a 1-year warranty.
What we don’t like
- This battery is relatively heavy and has no carrying handle.
3. CHINS LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
- 【Deep Cycle Battery】: CHINS LiFePO4 battery provides 2000+ cycles compared to 300~500 cycles in lead acid battery. The service life of LiFePO4 batteries is 8 to 10 times than the standard...
- 【Lithium Iron Technology】: CHINS deep cycle lithium-ion battery has higher energy density, more stable performance and greater power. LiFepo4 battery will not burn when overcharged,...
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This battery from the CHINS brand comes in many different size options and amp hour ratings so you can choose the one that works best for your pontoon. It is a lithium battery, so no matter what size you choose, you can expect it to be exceptionally lightweight.
This deep cycle marine battery comes in both 12V and 24V options, with amp hour ratings ranging from 50 to 400. The 50-Ah battery has dimensions of roughly 8 by 6 by 7 inches, and it weighs just under 14 pounds.
This is an exceptional battery for small, 1-passenger pontoon boats where battery weight can make all the difference. If your small pontoon is powered by a trolling motor, this battery can keep you going for hours without adding a significant amount of weight to your load.
This battery can go for well over 2,000 charge-discharge cycles, nearly 10 times the amount you would expect to get from a sealed lead-acid battery. It has a maximum discharge depth of 100 percent, meaning you can discharge it all the way before having to recharge it again.
Some of the battery’s key features include its built-in battery management system, which prevents over- and under-charging, short-circuiting, and other electrical damage; and a built-in high-temperature cutoff to prevent it from charging at dangerously high temperatures.
Some customers have pointed out that this battery doesn’t come with a low-temperature cutoff, so if charging this battery in cold weather, you may need to monitor it more closely.
What we like
- This battery is exceptionally lightweight.
- The battery can last for over 2,000 charge-discharge cycles.
- It has a built-in battery management system.
What we don’t like
- There is no low-temperature cutoff feature.
4. VMAX857 Deep Cycle Battery
- Dimensions: L=7.7 inch W=5 inch H=6.1 inch
- Heavy Duty Grids: VMAX heavy duty lead tin alloys provide an extra margin of performance and service life in either float or cyclic applications, even after repeated over discharges.
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This battery is another high-quality AGM option that comes from the VMAX brand. This deep-cycle battery is made specifically for marine use.
This 12V battery has an amp-hour rating of 35, is roughly 7 by 5 by 8 inches in diameter, and weighs about 25 pounds. This makes it a good size for small pontoons powered by trolling motors, but it also works well for powering electrical accessories on larger pontoons.
These batteries are designed with military-grade plates, making them highly durable and dependable. The plates are thicker as well, making them harder to break and giving the battery an excellent ability to resist shocks and vibrations.
Some of this battery’s key features include its 6-cell construction, which aids in durability, and its convenient built-in carrying handle.
Some customers state that VMAX’s customer service could use improvement, as they can be difficult to get in touch with and slow to respond.
What we like
- This is a small, lightweight AGM battery.
- It has a military-grade design.
- It is specifically made for marine applications.
What we don’t like
- VMAX customer service needs improvement.
5. Casil Deep Cycle Battery
- 12v trolling motor battery Casil CA12500 electric boat motor battery 12 Volt 50 Amp Sealed Lead Acid Hi-Capacity Rechargeable Battery for minn kota trolling motor battery
- 12 volt deep cycle marine battery Compact Dimensions: 8.98 in x 5.43 in x 8.19 inch: Designed to fit seamlessly in most trolling battery marine applications without sacrificing performance.
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This battery comes from the brand Casil and is another good sealed lead acid option. It is very similar to the Mighty Max battery reviewed above, but it is a little less expensive, making it an excellent budget battery.
The 12V, 50-Ah deep cycle battery has dimensions of roughly 9 by 5 by 8 inches, and it weighs about 32 pounds, making it a little lighter than the Mighty Max battery.
With its slightly lower weight, this battery could be used on small personal pontoon boats as well as larger, multi-passenger pontoons. It will power trolling motors, fishfinders, electric lighting systems, and other accessories on your boat.
This is an excellent battery for anyone looking for a budget option, regardless of the size of your pontoon.
Some of this battery’s key features include its maintenance-free design, which allows you to mount it in any position without having to worry about spills or damage; and its wide operating temperature range, which allows it to operate in a wide variety of weather conditions.
This battery also comes with a 1-year warranty.
Though this battery is a good budget option, keep in mind that it may not be as durable or last as long as more expensive batteries. That said, this battery provides excellent value for money.
What we like
- This battery is fairly lightweight.
- It is inexpensive and provides great value for the money.
- It comes with a 1-year warranty.
What we don’t like
- This battery is not as long-lasting or durable as some of the other batteries on this list.
Pontoon Marine Battery Buyer’s Guide
In the above section, we looked at some of the most popular marine batteries for pontoon boats. But unless you have a bunch of pontoon boats, you’re not going to want one of each. Chances are, you now have to narrow it down from five options to the one that’s best for you.
How do you do that?
Let’s talk about some of the factors you will want to consider when deciding which pontoon battery to buy.
Size and Weight
Pontoon boats come in a variety of sizes. Some are large enough to comfortably hold an entire group of friends or family members; others have just one seat for a single passenger.
Generally speaking, the smaller the boat, the more consideration you’ll need to give to battery size. A small, lightweight pontoon boat may be thrown off-balance by a heavy battery, and if its dimensions are too large, it may not even fit on the boat.
If you have one of these personal-size pontoon boats, you’ll want to choose a small, lightweight battery. You may think choosing one with a lower amp hour rating won’t provide enough power, but it should be plenty to power your trolling motor for the amount of time you’ll be on the water.
If you have a larger pontoon boat, battery size won’t matter as much, even if you need to have multiple batteries on your boat. In these cases, you may want a starting battery for your engine and multiple large deep cycle batteries to power your electrical accessories.
Think about what you’ll be using your batteries for, and select the proper size and weight accordingly.
Amp Hours
Amp-hour rating gives you an idea of how long a given battery will last before it needs recharging. A 50-Ah battery has a maximum output of 50 amps over one hour, 25 amps over two hours, etc.
Batteries with higher amp-hour ratings will last longer than those with lower ratings when under the same load.
So, if you have a lot of electrical accessories drawing from one battery, you will want a battery with a higher amp-hour rating. If your battery is only powering a single small to medium-sized trolling motor, it’s okay to choose a battery with a lower amp-hour rating.
Shocks and Vibrations
With any boat, you will experience some shocks and vibrations–waves slapping against the boat, the boat bobbing up and down, and any rain, wind, or impacts with hidden obstacles in the water.
Marine batteries are designed specifically to handle these impacts, so whatever battery you choose, it needs to be rated for marine use. That said, all of the batteries reviewed in this article have that rating.
Pontoon batteries may need to be extra durable, especially those used on small, single-passenger pontoons. These boats are more likely to be subjected to abuse from choppy waters, and there is no area on the boat where the battery will be more protected.
Choosing a battery that can handle an extra amount of shocks and vibrations is absolutely essential if you have one of these small boats.
Even if you have a larger pontoon boat, these also tend to move around a lot–they are relatively lightweight and may do a significant amount of bobbing around if the waters get choppy. So an extra durable battery may be a good idea for your larger pontoon boat as well.
Starting Vs. Deep Cycle
If you have a large pontoon boat, then you probably have an outboard motor or even a built-in engine. You may need a battery for starting this engine. If this is the case, you’ll need a starting battery.
On the other hand, maybe you just need a battery to supply constant power to your trolling motor or onboard lighting system. In this case, you would want a deep cycle battery.
Starting batteries have different functions than deep cycle batteries–they supply a sudden, short-lived burst of power to get the engine running, then they are continuously recharged by the alternator. They cannot supply a long, continuous stream of power.
Deep cycle batteries, on the other hand, cannot supply this initial burst of power; instead, they provide a consistent stream of lower power over a much longer period of time. They can be discharged much deeper than starting batteries without causing any damage to the battery.
The Optima battery reviewed above functions as both a starting and deep cycle battery, so it is an excellent choice no matter what your battery needs may be. All of the other batteries reviewed above are strictly deep cycle batteries.
Consider what you need from a marine battery before buying one. Remember, starting batteries are only good for starting engines; deep cycle batteries can power just about anything else on your boat.
Cost
Marine batteries are almost always going to cost more than other types of batteries because they are made especially for use around the water. That said, even marine batteries can vary widely in price depending on quality, size, and capacity.
When choosing a battery for your pontoon, you may want to spend top dollar to get the highest-quality, most dependable battery you can find. Or, you may be looking for more of a budget option that will get the job done without breaking the bank.
Whatever your needs or desires regarding a battery’s price, a good rule of thumb is to choose neither the cheapest nor the most expensive. The batteries reviewed in this article come in a range of prices, and it’s best to review each one to see what you get for the price.
If possible, don’t settle for less, but understand that expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. Consider the price when choosing your battery, but try not to let it be your most important consideration. The key is to get the best battery for the best value, regardless of the price.
Conclusion
Our recommendation for the best pontoon boat marine battery is the Optima D34M because it can be used both as a starting and deep cycle battery. That said, if you’re looking for more of a budget option and all you need is a deep cycle battery, then the Casil battery has you covered.
Last update on 2024-07-27 at 00:37 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sarah Hood has been writing for Anchor Travel since 2021. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, singing, and spending time in the great outdoors.