Fishing Q&A

Can I use a Car battery for my small fishing boat?

I have a small 12 foot alum fishing boat with a small sonar and a 38# thrust trolling motor. I also have a 1yr old car battery (from a totalled car) available for use. I know the car battery isn't a marine battery and that there's a reason to use marine over auto batteries for boats, but I won't hurt anything by using the car battery in the boat, will I? (Other than shortening the eventual life of the car battery.)

Public Comments

1. Its about voltage. If the voltage is right then there isn't a problem. 12 Volt or maybe 6 volt. Also the hook ups may not match right.
2. use it just charge it everytime. its a good idea to have a second one.
3. It will work . for short periods of use between charges, just don't let it draw down too low. and charge often. the marine batteries are used where a lessor initial power serge is needed and a long slow power draw is used. known as deep cycle. If you only use it once a year I wouldn't spend the big bucks for the marine battery, but if used weekly get the proper battery for less problems
4. if your using it to start a motor no problem, running your trolling motor will drain it quicker than a marine battery. deep cycle means the battery puts out constant voltage longer. I'm sure the car battery will work though. but better bring some oars. good luck
5. A car battery is built primarily to aid in starting the car. This a great load for a short time. A deep cycle marine battery is built to use a small amount of energy for a long time period. You can use the car battery, but the boat will go a much shorter distance between charges and as you discharge the battery to near zero, it will shorten the life of the battery.
6. I look at this different than most. I use a car battery for my boat it is a 16' bass tracker. I use it to start the motor and run the trolling motor, bilge pump, aerators, and fish finder. I have no problem in running it all day. It will drain a car battery but it will also drain a marine battery. It will shorten the life of a car batter but it is warranty for 5 yrs. a marine battery is warranty for one year. My car battery usually last for 3 years doing this and I get a pro rated replacement which ends up in about 1/2 the cost of the battery. A car battery cost about half as much as a marine battery and I only get one year maybe 2 out of the marine battery. Now you do the math on it. So go ahead and use the car battery, just charge it up each time and enjoy.