If you have a fish finder, trolling motor or any kind of electronics on your kayak, buying a lithium battery is worth the investment. It costs more than a lead-acid battery but the benefits far outweighs the cost.
- Lightweight
- Smaller
- Faster Recharges
- More recharges than Lead-Acid batteries
- Requires a lithium battery charger
- Only get LiFePO4 lithium batteries
Why Buy A Lithium Battery?
Whether you have a trolling motor, fish finder, LED lights or any other kayak electronics we recommend using lithium batteries over typical lead acid batteries.
Lithium batteries are lighter and will last longer. They are easier to load and unload and give you more installation options. Lithium batteries provide more AH (amp hours) in the same space. You no longer need to buy 7AH batteries that only last a few hours, you can now get 10AH or more that will last all day without having to deal with the weight.
Buy only US brands and only buy LiFePO4 lithium (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries. A good LiFePO battery can have 2000+ charge cycles or more. Its the cheap brand which are a greater fire risk but any battery on your kayak increases the chance of fire.
If you are still refusing to use a lithium battery for your fishing kayak, take the time to talk to people who have one. They will change your mind.
Choosing a Lithium Battery for your kayak
Popular brands today include Amped Outdoors, FPV-POWER and Dakota Lithium. All three brands are good choices but the real question is how many Amp Hours (AH) you need.
The AHs you need will depend on what you want to power.
- If you are running a fish finder: 10ah -20ah
- If you are running a fish finder plus livewell: minimum 20ah
- If you are running a trolling motor with a DC Motor Speed Controller: 50ah and higher
Recommended Lithium Batteries
This FPV-Power battery will provide hours of use for your fish finder, lights and other electronics. Another good choice is the Dakota Lithium 18AH.
Recommended for Trolling Motors: Dakota Lithiums 54 AH battery will provide enough power for most trolling motor requirements. A digital controller is a must-have. We don’t recommend using this battery for non-digital trolling motors. If you need a lot of power, this 100AH lithium battery will last you all day and then some.
What is a BMS?
Every lithium battery has a BMS or Battery Management System. The BMS is an electronic control which manages real-time control of each battery cell, communicates with external devices, manages SOC calculation, measures temperature and voltage, etc..
If your lithium battery stops recharging or runs out of power a lot faster than it did when new, the BMS may have gone bad and the battery can be repaired rather than thrown away. Contact your lithium battery manufacturer and let them know what the problem is. They should provide instructions on replacing or repairing your battery.
Lithium Batteries for Kayaks Videos
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