24V vs 36V trolling motors
More push, or one less battery? Here's the trade.
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+32 lb
More thrust at 36 V
112 lb vs 80 lb (Minn Kota)
64 lb
Less battery at 24 V
Two AGMs instead of three
159 lb
Saved going lithium at 36 V
32.8 lb vs 192 lb of AGM
Side by side
| 24 V (80 lb) | 36 V (112 lb) | |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust (Minn Kota) | 80 lb | 112 lb |
| Max draw | 56 A (about 1,344 W) | 52 A (about 1,872 W) |
| Motors Redodo sizes its batteries for | 70 to 100 lb thrust | 100 to 120 lb thrust |
| Lead-acid batteries needed | 2 | 3 |
| Weight of those AGMs | 128 lb | 192 lb |
| Single lithium instead | Lithium 24V 50Ah: $299.99, 21.14 lb | Lithium 36V 50Ah: $399.99, 32.8 lb |
| Half speed on 50Ah lithium | about 2 hours | about 2 hours |
| Half speed on 100Ah lithium | about 4 hours | about 4 hours |
Thrust and max draw from Minn Kota's Endura C2 manual. Run time is amp-hours divided by amps with half speed at half the max draw (Newport's rule of thumb); calm water. Prices from Redodo and Renogy, checked October 20, 2026.
What the batteries cost
| Setup | Price* | Weight | Half speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 V: 2 x 100Ah AGM (Renogy) | $417.98 | 127.8 lb | about 2 hours |
| 24 V: Lithium 24V 50Ah (opens in a new tab) | $299.99 | 21.14 lb | about 2 hours |
| 24 V: Lithium 24V 100Ah (opens in a new tab) | $669.99 | 44.09 lb | about 4 hours |
| 36 V: 3 x 100Ah AGM (Renogy) | $626.97 | 191.7 lb | about 2 hours |
| 36 V: Lithium 36V 50Ah (opens in a new tab) | $399.99 | 32.8 lb | about 2 hours |
| 36 V: 3 x lithium 12V 100Ah (opens in a new tab) | $728.67 | 66.15 lb | about 4 hours |
*Checked October 20, 2026. AGM rows use the Renogy 12V 100Ah AGM run to half, as Renogy advises. Redodo links are sponsored.
Myths, answered
Frequently asked questions
Is a 36V trolling motor better than 24V?
It is stronger, not automatically better. Minn Kota's 112 lb, 36 V motor draws up to 52 A (about 1,872 W) against 56 A (about 1,344 W) for its 80 lb, 24 V motor, so it holds a heavy boat in wind and current far better. For boats that don't need that push, 24 V saves a battery's worth of money and weight.
Does a 36V trolling motor run longer than 24V?
On the same amp-hours, a little: the 112 lb motor's maximum draw (52 A) is slightly lower than the 80 lb motor's (56 A) because the higher voltage does more of the work. At half speed on 100 Ah of lithium, that's about 3.8 hours for 36 V against about 3.6 hours for 24 V, so 36 V gets about 15 more minutes on the water. Both round to about 4 hours. The 36 V bank also holds 50% more energy (three 12 V batteries' worth instead of two), and that extra battery is what you pay for.
Can you run a 36V trolling motor on 24V?
It will turn, but slowly and weakly, and that is not how it is designed to run. Use the voltage on the motor's label. Running a 24 V motor on 36 V can damage it.
How many batteries does a 36V trolling motor need?
Three 12 V lead-acid batteries wired in series (about 192 lb of AGM), or one 36 V lithium. Redodo's 36V 50Ah was $399.99 and weighs 32.8 lb. For all-day running you can also wire three 12V 100Ah lithium batteries in series ($728.67 for three).
Thrust needs depend on boat weight, hull, wind and current. Follow your motor maker's battery and wiring instructions. Prices change often; the dates are shown. See our disclaimer.
Sources
- Minn Kota Endura C2 owner's manual (Max Amp Draw table) — thrust and max amp draw by voltage
- Newport Vessels: calculate trolling motor runtime with a battery
- Redodo Lithium 24V 50Ah — checked October 20, 2026
- Redodo Lithium 24V 100Ah — checked October 20, 2026
- Redodo Lithium 36V 50Ah — checked October 20, 2026
- Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12V 100Ah product page
Keep going
Photo: Jackery Power Station on Unsplash (Unsplash License).