Kayak trolling motor batteries
An 11 lb battery. A whole morning on the water.
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53 lb
Lighter than a 100Ah AGM
Same usable power: 11.27 lb vs 63.9 lb
7 hours
30 lb motor, slow troll
On a 12V 50Ah lithium
$215.99
For a full morning of fishing
Redodo 12V 50Ah, when we checked
Our picks
Best for most kayaks
Redodo 12V 50Ah Bluetooth
Light enough to carry in one hand, rated by Redodo for motors up to 70 lb thrust, and the phone app tells you how much is left before you turn for the launch.
- 30 lb motor: about 3 hours at half speed
- 11.27 lb
- Charging pauses below 32°F
- Bluetooth charge gauge
Best for 55 lb motors and long days
Redodo 12V 100Ah Ultra-Mini
A full 100 Ah in a small Group 22NF case at 19.8 lb, with IP65 water resistance and Bluetooth. That's about 4 hours at half speed on a 55 lb motor.
- 55 lb motor: about 8 hours at a slow troll
- 19.8 lb
- 5-year warranty
Best for cold-water and early-season trips
Bluetti B1210 12V 100Ah
A 12V 100Ah lithium with built-in self-heating and IP65, which Bluetti sells for trolling motors. It warms itself so you can charge on frosty mornings.
- 1,280 Wh
- Self-heating
- IP65
What size do I need?
| Motor | Lithium battery | Slow troll | Half speed | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 lb (30 A max) | 12V 50Ah (opens in a new tab) | about 7 hours | about 3 hours | 11.27 lb |
| 45 lb (42 A max) | 12V 50Ah (opens in a new tab) | about 5 hours | about 2.5 hours | 11.27 lb |
| 45 lb (42 A max) | 12V 100Ah (opens in a new tab) | about 10 hours | about 5 hours | 19.8 lb |
| 55 lb (50 A max) | 12V 100Ah (opens in a new tab) | about 8 hours | about 4 hours | 19.8 lb |
Max draw from Minn Kota's manual; hours are amp-hours divided by amps, with half speed at half the max draw (Newport's rule of thumb) and a slow troll at a quarter (our estimate). Calm water. Prices checked October 20, 2026.
Only running a fish finder, no motor? A small battery is enough: the Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah Mini (opens in a new tab) was $85, or see our fish finder battery guide.
Myths, answered
Rounding out the kayak
Saved some weight and money on the battery? The Piscifun Torrent Lite spinning combo (opens in a new tab) ($89.99) comes with a spare rod tip, handy when rods ride in a crate behind you.
Piscifun price checked October 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What size battery do I need for a kayak trolling motor?
For most kayaks, a 12V 50Ah lithium: it runs a 30 lb motor about 3 hours at half speed and about 7 hours at a slow troll, and weighs about 11 lb. If you run a 45 to 55 lb motor or fish long days in wind, step up to a 12V 100Ah lithium (about 20 lb in a compact case).
How long will a trolling motor battery last on a kayak?
A 45 lb motor on a 12V 50Ah lithium lasts about 2.5 hours at half speed and about 5 hours at a slow troll. On a 100Ah lithium, double it. Kayakers usually troll slowly and paddle part of the way, so a 50Ah lithium covers a typical morning or evening session.
What kind of battery is best for a kayak trolling motor?
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). A 100Ah AGM weighs 63.9 lb and gives only about 50 Ah you should use; a 12V 50Ah lithium gives the same 50 Ah at 11.27 lb. On a kayak, that weight is the difference between carrying it to the water in one trip or two, and riding level instead of nose-down.
Can I run my fish finder off the trolling motor battery?
Yes, with an inline fuse on the fish finder lead. A fish finder draws about 1 A, which barely dents a 50Ah lithium. Some anglers prefer a separate small battery so motor noise doesn't show on the sonar screen.
Where should the battery go in a kayak?
Low and near the middle, usually in the tank well or a hatch behind the seat, in a battery box or dry bag, with a fuse close to the battery. Keep weight balanced side to side, and follow your kayak and motor makers' mounting instructions.
Runtimes are calm-water estimates. Prices and specs are copied from makers' US websites on the dates shown and change often. Redodo, Bluetti and Piscifun links are sponsored; Dakota Lithium is a plain link. See our disclaimer.
Sources
- Redodo 12V 50Ah Bluetooth Battery for Trolling Motors product page — checked October 20, 2026
- Redodo 12V 100Ah Ultra-Mini Bluetooth Lithium Battery (Group 22NF) product page — checked October 20, 2026
- Bluetti LiFePO4 batteries (B1210) — checked October 20, 2026
- Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah Mini product page — checked October 20, 2026
- Redodo 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery — 4,000 cycles at full depth
- Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12V 100Ah product page
- Minn Kota Endura C2 owner's manual (Max Amp Draw table)
- Newport Vessels: calculate trolling motor runtime with a battery
Keep going
Photo: Jackery Power Station on Unsplash (Unsplash License).