Are you wondering how long your trolling motor should last?
Note that this can mean two things. You may be asking about the lifespan of your trolling motor. You may also want to know how long you can expect your battery to last before it runs out of juice.
Both of these are common questions with straightforward answers. Here’s what you need to know about how long a trolling motor should last.
Table of Contents
Do Trolling Motors Wear Out?
Over time, this means that the motor has to work harder than it once did to achieve the same speeds for your boat. Eventually, it will stop working entirely.
The exact lifespan of your particular trolling motor depends on the make and model of the individual unit.
You can search for the lifespan of your trolling motor online by googling the name of the trolling motor along with the word “lifespan”. This should give you at least an estimation of how long your trolling motor should last.
When you buy a trolling motor, take note of any warranty that comes along with it. This should be an indication of the minimum amount of time that the motor should last. If it doesn’t last that long, contact the manufacturer ASAP.
| Trolling Motor | Warranty Length |
| Minn Kota Ultrex Freshwater Trolling Motors | 3 years |
| Lowrance Freshwater Trolling Motors | 3 years |
| Minn Kota Freshwater Trolling Motors (all but Ultrex) | 2 years |
| Motorguide Tour and TourPro Trolling Motors | 2 years |
How Long Can I Expect My Trolling Motor to Stay On?
There are too many factors involved in answering this question to give a blanket answer for all trolling motors. However, most trolling motors should last at least 6-8 hours under normal conditions.
Factors involved include:
- The type of trolling motor you have
- Where and how your trolling motor is mounted
- How often you’re running your trolling motor
- The speed at which you’re running your trolling motor
- The type of battery you have for your trolling motor
- The weight of your boat and gear
If you feel like your trolling motor isn’t running long enough, it’s time to bring in a professional. A boat mechanic should be able to help you get more life out of your trolling motor or replace it with one that will work better for you.
Meanwhile, here are answers to some of the questions we hear frequently about how long trolling motors should last.
How Long Will a Car Battery Last on a Trolling Motor?
There are different kinds of car batteries available, which makes this a complex question. In general, though, a car battery should power your trolling motor at low speeds for about 10 hours before it is fully discharged.
However, using your car battery on a trolling motor takes its toll on your battery. Batteries designed for trolling motors are “deep cell” batteries.
These batteries are designed to discharge small amounts of energy over long periods and are easier to recharge when their power drops below 50%.
Most car batteries, on the other hand, are designed to discharge a lot of energy all at once. They are also not designed to have their power regularly drop below 50% or to recharge well from low power.
Thus, you can use a car battery on your trolling motor, but it damages the battery and, sometimes, the motor. The amount of damage depends on how far you go, how long you use the car battery, how powerful your motor is, and other factors.
Thus, it’s impossible to say how long a car battery could run your trolling motor before the battery dies completely.
How Long Will a 24-Volt Trolling Motor Last?
Many factors go into answering this question. These include:
- The speed you’re running at
- How often your motor is on
- How large your boat is
However, a 24-volt trolling motor should last at least 8-10 hours and may last up to several days before you need new or recharged batteries. If yours is not lasting that long, it’s time to get it checked out by a professional.
Conclusion
You need your trolling motor to last long enough for each fishing trip to go smoothly and for you to feel like you are getting your money’s worth out of the motor. If it’s not lasting long enough, get some help with it today.
Before you know it, you’ll be back on the water and enjoying yourself more than ever.
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