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On the water, the battery that runs the trolling motor is a deep cycle battery, and the question of deep cycle battery vs trolling motor battery comes down to the job the battery does, not a separate chemistry. A trolling motor battery is a deep cycle battery matched to a trolling motor: built for steady draw over hours, not a short burst to start an engine. The four listings in this guide show the split in practice: two lithium trolling motor batteries, a sealed lead acid deep cycle battery, and a second sealed lead acid battery listed by title alone.
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The quick answer: deep cycle battery vs trolling motor battery
A trolling motor battery is a deep cycle battery. The difference is the job, not the chemistry: a deep cycle battery gives steady power over hours, and a trolling motor battery is a deep cycle battery matched to a trolling motor’s thrust and draw. A starting battery is the type to avoid here, and both lithium listings in this guide say they cannot be used as a starter battery. Match the amp-hour figure and the thrust range to the motor, and match the battery’s size to the tray.
The gear
The gear below runs from the strongest stated spec set to the thinnest: a 100Ah lithium battery, a 50Ah lithium battery, a 35Ah sealed lead acid battery, and a second 35Ah sealed lead acid battery listed by title alone.
The RVLithTime 12V 100Ah Group 24 battery is the strongest stated spec set here: 12.8V and 100Ah with 1280Wh, a 100A BMS, a maximum load of 1280W, and a maximum continuous charge and discharge current of 100A. It states 4000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge, 6000+ cycles at 80%, and up to 15000+ cycles at 60%, with a 10 year lifespan and a 2 Years Warranty. It measures 10.2 by 6.65 by 8.39 inches at 20.89 pounds, suits 30 to 70 lbs thrust trolling motors, and is not suitable for starter batteries or golf cart batteries. It can build a 51.2V 400Ah (20.48kWh) bank in a 4P4S connection, per the listing. It handles the trolling motor itself and the house loads around it, with the 100A BMS as its protection.
The Cymoye 12V 50Ah lithium trolling motor battery states 12.8V and 50Ah with a 50A BMS, 640W output power, a 10-year service life, and a 1 year warranty. It suits 30 to 55 lbs thrust trolling motors and cannot be used as a starter battery. Its title states 5000+ cycles while its bullets state 4000+ cycles, so use the lower figure. It handles a smaller trolling motor setup, with the 50A BMS guarding against overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, overvoltage, overload and short circuit.
The Mighty Max ML35-12 is a 12V 35Ah sealed lead acid deep cycle battery that lists Minn Kota and Sevylor trolling motors among its replacements, along with a 33Ah, 34Ah and 36Ah range. The spec table lists 7.5 by 7.75 by 5.0 inches, while the bullets list a different set of dimensions, so treat the size as unclear, and the spec table weight figure of 1 pounds cannot describe this battery. The listing is for the battery and screws only, with no wire harness or mounting accessories, and its warranty is only that a manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service, with no term stated. It handles a small trolling motor or a light deep cycle job where a sealed lead acid battery fits.
The Interstate Batteries 12V 35Ah SLA AGM Deep Cycle Battery is listed by title alone, with no bullets or spec table, so it states no cycles, BMS, warranty, weight or size. It handles the same deep cycle job as the Mighty Max on paper, but the listing gives nothing to compare, so it sits last here.
Match the thrust range to the motor
Trolling motor thrust is the figure the listings use to match a battery to a motor: the Cymoye suits 30 to 55 lbs thrust trolling motors, and the RVLithTime suits 30 to 70 lbs thrust. The Mighty Max names Minn Kota and Sevylor trolling motors in its compatibility list, and the Interstate listing names no motor. Match the thrust range, then the amp-hour figure, because a battery that suits the motor but runs out of amp-hours still leaves the boat short. See the gel vs AGM battery for trolling motor comparison for another chemistry split.
Read the cycle figures the way the listings state them
Cycle figures only compare when the depth of discharge matches. The RVLithTime states 4000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge, 6000+ cycles at 80%, and up to 15000+ cycles at 60%, so its title figure of 15000 cycles is the 60% figure. The Cymoye title states 5000+ cycles while its bullets state 4000+ cycles, so use the lower figure. The Mighty Max and Interstate listings state no cycle figure at all. The Cymoye listing also compares lead-acid batteries at 200 to 500 cycles with a 3 year service life, against its own 10-year service life.
| Battery | Capacity | Cycles stated | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVLithTime 12V 100Ah Group 24 | 12.8V, 100Ah, 1280Wh | 4000 at 100% depth of discharge | 2 Years |
| Cymoye 12V 50Ah | 12.8V, 50Ah | 4000+ (bullets) | 1 year |
| Mighty Max ML35-12 | 12V, 35Ah | Not stated | Not stated |
| Interstate 12V 35Ah SLA AGM | 12V, 35Ah | Not stated | Not stated |
Check the BMS and the warranty
The two lithium listings state a BMS: the RVLithTime has a 100A BMS and the Cymoye a 50A BMS, each guarding against overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent and short circuit. The RVLithTime warranty is 2 Years and the Cymoye warranty is 1 year. The Mighty Max listing states no BMS and no warranty term, only that a manufacturer’s warranty can be requested from customer service. The Interstate listing states no warranty at all. A BMS and a stated warranty term are the two lines where the lithium listings pull ahead. See the LiFePO4 vs lead acid battery for RV guide for the chemistry trade-offs.
Watch the weight and the size
Weight and size decide whether the battery fits the tray and the boat. The RVLithTime is 20.89 pounds at 10.2 by 6.65 by 8.39 inches in a Group 24 case, and its listing claims it is 35% smaller than a 12V 100Ah group 24 battery and 80% lighter than a 12V 100Ah group 31 lead acid battery. The Cymoye is 40.0 pounds at 5.5 by 9.0 by 8.3 inches, and its listing says its weight is 1/3 of an equivalent lead acid battery. The Mighty Max size is unclear between its bullets and its spec table, and the Interstate listing states no size at all.
What the listings leave unclear
Every listing here leaves something unclear. The Cymoye title and bullets disagree on cycles, 5000+ against 4000+. The RVLithTime title figure of 15000 cycles only applies at 60% depth of discharge. The Mighty Max dimensions differ between its bullets and its spec table, and its weight figure does not fit the battery. The Interstate listing is a title alone. Only the RVLithTime listing names a charger, recommending a 14.6V 20A charger.
FAQ: power away from the grid
Is a trolling motor battery a deep cycle battery?
Yes. A trolling motor battery is a deep cycle battery matched to a trolling motor. The listings here are deep cycle batteries and trolling motor batteries, and the lithium listings state they are not starter batteries.
Can I use one of these batteries to start an engine?
No, not the lithium listings here. The Cymoye listing says it cannot be used as a starter battery, and the RVLithTime listing says it is not suitable for starter batteries or golf cart batteries.
How many cycles do the lithium batteries state?
The Cymoye states 4000+ cycles in its bullets against 5000+ in its title, so use 4000+. The RVLithTime states 4000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge, 6000+ at 80%, and up to 15000+ at 60%.
Which battery here has the longest stated warranty?
The RVLithTime, at 2 Years, then the Cymoye at 1 year. The Mighty Max listing gives no warranty term, and the Interstate listing states none.
Related solar guides
See every Batteries and Charging guide. For trolling motor setups, see the trolling motor battery guide and the RV battery vs marine battery comparison, and for weekends away, the RV battery for weekend camping.
