Input wanted on Driftboat Electric Motor Install

[iveofione]

Don’t forget you need a different charger than a regular charger

True that. But with any quantum jump comes changes and a learning curve. Think horse drawn buggies to automobiles, candles to electric lights, etc. Each new breakthrough seems to obsolete what came before and becomes the new standard until it too is improved on. The new batteries are a good example with early lithium improving on lead acid and now LiFePO4 quickly improving on early lithium technology.

The new batteries are particularly good for boats due to their light weight, long life, ability to be recharged thousands of times and especially because they produce power down to almost zero charge whereas a lead acid battery is essentially dead below 50% charge.

The cost to improvement ratio of the new stuff is just astounding. About 4 years ago I bought a 1000W power unit that cost $1,000 and took hours to charge. It is early lithium and was a huge leap over the AGM stuff I had been using and promised about 500 charges before it began to tail off to 80% capacity.

Then last year I bought a newer unit that was a 1500W LiFePO4 model that promised about 4,000 charges, weighed less and cost only $600 at the time. Charging time was cut more than in half and the entire unit was much improved.

Leap forward to 2025 and I found one of the best of the power stations at 1800W on sale for $469! It too promises thousands of recharges and does it even faster than the model I bought last year. In every respect it is superior and more user friendly than what I bought last year. The improvements made in just 3 years are amazing and to think that I can buy almost twice the power for less than 1/2 the price is even more amazing.

 

[Buzzy]

I'd be cautious with the inexpensive Chinese made Lithium's, many are the reports of their causing fires and explosions due to inferior construction, which is why they are cheap.
On the lakes my 50# MK using two lightweight 35A AGM wheelchair batteries strung together will push me for a couple of miles and usually around have 60% left when I put the charger on end of day. Weize is selling these 2 for
$135 with free delivery, any standard car charger will spin them up. Be glad to talk you through the set-up, Bob, if you want to message me, very simple.
View attachment 145642"

@SurfnFish - Help me to understand how one determines which LifePO batteries are quality versus ("inexpensive") poor quality? The batteries in your picture are foreign made. Amazon seems to offer countless brand names that mean nothing to me. Thanks.

And someone answer @Matt B's question about using the same battery for the motor and sonar.

 

[Draketake]

@SurfnFish,

Lance thanks for the offer. Ill keep that in mind if I go that route.

@Kilchis yeah I agree with the stealth mode idea. I was thinking along those lines too. If unattended, I already lock my oars up with handcuffs,. I learned how to do that here. I cant remember who posted a picture of their boat like that but if your reading this, thank you.

I am contemplating the aspect of having to get a new charger. Not super expensive but yet another add on to the Lithium change over.

Speaking of chargers, can a solar panel charger be used with the Lithium Batteries? If not thats yet another cost.

Honestly, I am also concerned with the catching fire factor. If anything can go wrong mechanically for me, it will. Just the way it is with me. Maybe I have some weird electrical discharge off my body.

@Tuna Ball thanks for that insight also. Ive got the 36 inch shaft model which Ive been told by multiple driftboat owners, who also run 36 inch shafts, that they work well. From what I can gather, 36 inch shaft is about the minimum but like I said its allegedly doable.

Again all. Thank you so much.

Bob

 

[Brian in OR.]

@SurfnFish - Help me to understand how one determines which LifePO batteries are quality versus ("inexpensive") poor quality? The batteries in your picture are foreign made. Amazon seems to offer countless brand names that mean nothing to me. Thanks.

And someone answer @Matt B's question about using the same battery for the motor and sonar.

There is quite a bit of confusion on using Lithium batteries for starting motors as the alternators in some cases are not designed to charge the batteries depending on the HP .... I got so confused when i did mine, that i just use a lead acid for starting and the lithium for the trolling .....

 

[up2nogood]

I'd be cautious with the inexpensive Chinese made Lithium's, many are the reports of their causing fires and explosions due to inferior construction, which is why they are cheap.
On the lakes my 50# MK using two lightweight 35A AGM wheelchair batteries strung together will push me for a couple of miles and usually around have 60% left when I put the charger on end of day. Weize is selling these 2 for
$135 with free delivery, any standard car charger will spin them up. Be glad to talk you through the set-up, Bob, if you want to message me, very simple.
View attachment 145642

Thats the brand I went with over two years ago off Amazon . If I remember it was the middle of road on price. I paid 329.99, it's 186.99 now for the 100AH .

 

[Tallguy]

- Help me to understand how one determines which LifePO batteries are quality versus ("inexpensive") poor quality? The batteries in your picture are foreign made. Amazon seems to offer countless brand names that mean nothing to me. Thanks.

I might look at the length of the warranty period to get an idea. The longest lithium battery warrantees are around 10-12 years I think? But not cheap. Plus just looking at reviews and searching the company name before you buy is always a good idea.

 

[up2nogood]

I might look at the length of the warranty period to get an idea. The longest lithium battery warrantees are around 10-12 years I think? But not cheap. Plus just looking at reviews and searching the company name before you buy is always a good idea.

I have no idea who makes the best ,but as said I picked the Weize brand on being somewhat the middle of the road as far as price . I am not sure what brands are not made in China , but it seems like there are not many . Weize is a 10 year warranty , and so far has been fine . 10 year warranty for my battery, and the price now being 186.99 is cheap , so not sure how someone picks one . Looking again on Amazon with over 20 pages of 100AH lithium batteries , it looked like $200 was about the going rate , yes there were some as high as $800 with bluetooth ,and other features ,that probably would not apply to our needs for trolling with a drift ,or pontoon boat . IMO good luck with picking a brand , but Weize was the first one on page one on Amazon ,if that means anything . Most likely not .

On edit , if this would help , looking at those 100AH $150 ,and under ,they are 5 year warranty ,so I would probably stick with around $200 now . As said mine two years ago was 329.99 .

 

[iveofione]

On YouTube, Will Prouse reviews many of the batteries available and in his reviews he cuts the batteries open and evaluates the contents and how they are assembled. He is a pretty thorough guy and is quick to point out an iffy product. Most reviews are just cosmetic and a regurgitation of factory specs but cutting up brand new batteries with a moto tool is a step beyond.

Another guy I trust to tell it like it is and not kiss up to a manufacturer is Professor Hobo. His tests are extensive and often over my head but I am an electrical rube. I have learned a lot from Hobo and much of it is what to look out for.

Research, research, research! I watched a video yesterday about how Americans hate to research, they prefer to just buy the most expensive product and hope that it is better because of the cost. I am the exact opposite of that, probably one of the reasons I retired early and comfortably. I like that a lot of head to head comparos are being made to help us differentiate between similar products. Sometimes they uncover a feature that I just couldn't put up with while at other times they uncover a feature set that makes the difference in whether a product will be satisfactory or not.

As an example I have been researching Chinese diesel heaters which I knew nothing about. After watching more than a dozen reviews things began to take shape and a picture emerged of what I want and don't want. I realized that they had two gotchas that I couldn't deal with: A pump that made a loud clicking sound and an exhaust that came out of the bottom instead of the side. Fortunately there are models available that resolve both of these issues but had I not done the due diligence I could have bought the wrong one and been screwed.

 

[Rob Allen]

Just remember once you put a motor on it the boat has to be registered..

 

[SurfnFish]

@SurfnFish - Help me to understand how one determines which LifePO batteries are quality versus ("inexpensive") poor quality? The batteries in your picture are foreign made. Amazon seems to offer countless brand names that mean nothing to me. Thanks.

And someone answer @Matt B's question about using the same battery for the motor and sonar.

those are AGM batteries, with a much lower thermal runaway/fire risk due to their lower energy density and more stable chemistry. Thermal runaway is the greatest risk with lithium batteries, with the more expensive well constructed ones using better materials in their construction to control it.

Why Cheap Lithium-Ion Batteries Aren’t Worth the Risk

If you’re thinking of purchasing a lithium-ion battery, a cheaper cell might save money upfront but will likely cause problems down the road.

powerhouselithium.com

 

[_WW_]

those are AGM batteries, with a much lower thermal runaway/fire risk due to their lower energy density and more stable chemistry. Thermal runaway is the greatest risk with lithium batteries, with the more expensive well constructed ones using better materials in their construction to control it.

Why Cheap Lithium-Ion Batteries Aren’t Worth the Risk

If you’re thinking of purchasing a lithium-ion battery, a cheaper cell might save money upfront but will likely cause problems down the road.

powerhouselithium.com

Lithium ion batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries are two different things.

 

[iveofione]

Lithium ion batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries are two different things.

Exactly: You shouldn't even be thinking about buying a lithium ion by now, again, due your diligence and learn the difference. It ain't that hard.

 

[up2nogood]

Exactly: You shouldn't even be thinking about buying a lithium ion by now, again, due your diligence and learn the difference. It ain't that hard.

A couple members here have commented on a brand , me include the " Weize " brand. Other than that I don't believe anyone has recommended a brand ,price or whatever . It sounds like you are pretty well educated on Lithium batteries . I can say the one I have has done well , and is moderately priced . It is a Lithium Iron Phosphate .

I actually have two Weize brand batteries , a small ATV AGM also ,both have done well . As said my Lithium will be going on its third season with my pontoon . My point ,maybe you could list some brands that you have educated yourself on to help out the OP , or other members .

 

[iveofione]

I prefer that people do their own research rather than take advice from an old man that 4 years ago didn't know an amp from a watt. Back then, at 82, I decided I wanted to learn a lot more about solar and set out to build a solar generator of my own. I bought and assembled all of the necessary pieces, inverter, battery charger, fuses, indicator lights, 110v outlet and readouts to monitor what was going on. It worked but wasn't strong enough to run anything over 600w. I had proved the concept and learned a lot in the process and then bought a 1000w unit from Jackery that was far more powerful and sophisticated.

Since then I have learned to be a lot more cautious about what I recommend. I got burned by products that I thought were good-SetPower refrigerators and Jackery power units. After great success with my original Jackery I bought the new and improved model with 1500w and was impressed with some of it's features but disappointed with it's lack of cables and adapters to use the original solar panels. Then it failed on the 4th day of a 14 day road trip and wouldn't run my refrigerator. Attempting to get my money back was an exercise in frustration and proved Jackery's customer service to be extremely questionable. They refused to refund my money and insisted that I take a replacement unit instead.

And the highly ballyhooed SetPower fridge was also a bust. It would not hold a temperature no matter what. Talking to SetPower they explained that my unit was perfectly normal to them as anything within a 14 degree range was okay. Really? To me the difference between 25 and 39 is the difference between frozen lettuce and melted ice cream. They did finally refund my money but it took a while. An hour of investigation can save months or years of regret and possibly head off the misuse of hundreds of dollars. Experience speaking here....