weight that is shed for an average glass bass boat is minimal
when swapping from traditional deep-cycle to lithium, which
might not equate to as much speed gain as some anglers
would hope for.
Regardless, lithium models are marketed to offer other
advantages, such as a higher voltage through the discharge
cycle (thus more trolling motor thrust throughout the entire
day), faster charging, easier charging from a fully discharged
state and more discharges over the life of a battery than is
the case with traditional deep-cycle batteries. In fact, most
lithium deep-cycles are advertised to last nearly 10 years.
There are several things to know about lithium batteries
for marine environments. First, lithium batteries are made up
of several internal cells, each containing a battery manage-
ment circuit (BMC). These circuits are, in essence, internal
computers that protect the battery against possible failures
caused by over-charging, extreme temperatures and other
variables.
Opinions differ as to the durability of these circuits in rough
marine environments, and failure could cause several prob-
lems. In addition, “lithium ion” is an umbrella term often used
for multiple types of batteries, not all of which contain proven
BMC systems, so do your research and choose a brand and
model with a good reputation in the bass boat industry if you
go this route.
Accidentally reversing polarity in a lithium battery can also
be dangerous as it results in far more extreme arcing than in
a traditional system due to lithium’s higher power output.
In addition, lithium battery manufacturers warn against
improper charging. A few companies, such as Lithium
Pros, sell chargers, and many are in the process of bring-
ing new chargers to market, but none has truly integrated
the bass boat industry. Most bass pros utilizing lithium
technology rely on standard on-board chargers without
incident, but Minn Kota’s official statement on the subject
is “to contact the lithium battery manufacturers for charg-
ing guidelines,” and lithium battery manufacturers readily
admit that utilizing standard chargers can shorten battery
Lithium batteries offer a number of advantages over traditional batteries,
but they cost quite a bit more, too.
life. Lithium marine batteries must always be charged at
temperatures above freezing, and chargers must maintain
proper ground throughout the cycle.
Finally, lithium batteries are far more expensive than tra-
ditional models, often costing thousands of dollars. Though,
in some cases, one battery can replace two or three flooded
lead-acid batteries for a long period of time, which makes
them worthy of consideration from a financial standpoint.
Overall, the verdict is still out on lithium batteries in the
bass boat world. Even so, this is a rapidly changing field, and
lithium batteries are growing in popularity for various applica-
tions. Lithium battery manufacturers are confident that, in
time, their products will be as reliable and safe – or safer – than
traditional choices.
WHAT HAPPENS IF
BATTERIES FREEZE?
“Winterization” might be a
foreign term to bassers in
Florida, but it’s common lan-
guage in the North. With boats
often stored in freezing condi-
tions, precautions must be
taken. If possible, maintain bat-
teries on a self-regulating charg-
er in a heated area.
A fully charged battery is safe
down to temperatures around
30 degrees below zero, but a
discharged battery might freeze
at temps around 32 degrees.
This is because electrolyte ions
are not in the fluid in a dead
battery, making the fluid more
likely to freeze. Once the fluid
freezes, the connective material
of the plates can crack, render-
ing the battery useless. ■
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FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017