Ionic Lithium Batteries 1 year review- Is this the best investment I have made to my Bass Boat?

[@johnmoore3504]

I run two 100ah on my 16 foot flats boat / skiff. Trolling motor is a 80# 24v Minn Kota Riptide Fortrex. After 6-7 hours fighting the tide and wind they are only down to 70-60%. The Bluetooth app is great, finally no more guessing about charge level. These things are so light, I saved 137lbs over my 3 AGM setup (2 trolling / 1 house). Only had them 6 months but so far so good. Outboard is a 90hp Yamaha so I’m not cranking anything big.

[@jcbassfishingchannel]

I have almost the same setup you have (3-50s and 1-125). I ran 4 graphs, livescope and an Ultrex. Just fished a tournament with 10 to 15 mph winds from 7am to 3pm and came back with 60%

[@curtadams3281]

I run 2-50's for my trolling motor on my 1875 Lund Impact, on windy days, while using spot lock, I've run out of power rather quickly. I'd recommend going with the 100 amp hour batteries.... otherwise I love my Ionic batteries.

[@cmbtvet01]

I’ve been using 3 Ionic 50ah for my trolling motor for 3 years now and love them. I’ve only killed them once and that took roughly 10 hours of use fishing in fast current. I’m about to upgrade my crank/electronics battery to the Ionic 125ah but I’m debating if I should go with 2 in parallel. I’m not running near as many electronics as you are though. Just a 12” graph at the console and 7” on the bow.

[@rocketsurgeon1746]

I did the 125 and 3x50s. Like them after 6 months

[@jlbaxe]

I just got the Ionic 125ah and 50 ah for my kayak. The 50 fit in the hull under the seat, the 125ah is just for the 12v XI3. Great customer service when I called and showed up 2 days later. I recommend calling and asking for a first time buyer code for check out. I bought the 10a and 20a ionic charger for each battery, mainly because I bought the 125ah and 20a charger first then a week or 2 later bought the 50ah and 10a charger. My only complaint so far is they don’t have a handle, but the 125ah fits in the Newport Vessel battery box (with rubber feet and $65 on amazon) and that takes care of the handle issue. Now I feel like my Hobie PA14 just put on its big boy pants. No more messing with 3 little 12ah batteries and guessing their charge.

[@brucemillard8950]

Why are these batteries not more popular? Ive been running them for a lil more than 2 years...knock on wood... no issues. Just recently bought their 3 bank charger... so nice.

[@caverncityoutdoors]

No clue… probably marketing!

[@sheaffergrubbs6056]

How does the skeeter handle after the wight loss

[@spoonmansacamano5768]

Great info, thanks,! Gonna be making purchase in couple weeks. I have a 115 Suzuki, would you know if they are fine to run lithium?

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I have no experience with Suzuki. I would reach out to www.drewcraft.com. Andy has always been on point with his knowledge and expertise. I am confident he can answer any questions you have.

[@scottsasanecki4106]

Great info. I just bought a 2022 caymus cx21 and it comes with an ionic setup. My question is charging and storing in cold weather environments? I live in Connecticut. What is the process for this?

[@riverrat92]

Anyone using these in winter? I live in PA and use my boat all year as long as there is no ice on the river. I currently use my deep cycle lead acid batteries in below freezing temps. Anyone using these batteries in below freezing temps? What about charging in below freezing temps? Thanks

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I never have although Ionic makes some with built in heaters… of course we don’t need those in the south… 😆

[@ivanwayne2507]

Are you hooked to the alternator on your outboard or just relying on charging when hooked up to shore power?

[@caverncityoutdoors]

Hooked to outboard on both sho and merc… no issues

[@danielwebb5595]

That is really interesting that the 50ah are enough for the trolling motor all day. That would really make lithium more affordable. All I have ever looked at is 100ah and up and they are out of my price range. One question. Does the motor alternator charge the lithium cranking battery like it does the factory lead acid? Or do you have to disconnect it? Thanks.

[@caverncityoutdoors]

Mine charges just fine on the big motor.

[@TIMMIE1919]

I have a 1995 nitro with a mercury 150 Efi engine. Can i use the 125 battery to start my boat or not? Thanks

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I would say so. The 125ah has 900 cranking amps. It starts my 250 sho.

[@ntj030885]

I have a 16 foot bass tracker with a 12v 45lb thrust trolling motor. Do you think one 50ah would last all day? I was thinking about getting a 100ah but didn’t want to spend that much.

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I honestly couldn’t tell you sir. I think a dealer may be able to answer.

[@Evilbiscuit66]

Can you jump start a cranking battery with ur 50 Amp ionic trolling batteries. With ur jump start switch

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I honestly do not know, I have never tried. With my setup I’m running two 125ah batteries in parallel. I’ve never seen them below 70% after a full day out. I suppose depending on what motor you running and how dead the cranking batter is it may be possible. If you find out let me know! Thanks for watching the video!

[@Evilbiscuit66]

Definitely will let you know love ur content

[@fishtacklemarine]

Yep you sure can! As long as that switch is wired to send over 12v the bms is smart enough to know its sending a short bust of power for 1-3 sec

[@Evilbiscuit66]

@@fishtacklemarine thanks Have a great day

[@scotwcates]

I have a question my boat is usually 2 hours away from where I leave, I go on the weekends and usually fish. Can I put the ionic battery on the charger and leave it until the next time I fish. Also leave it on when I’m storage it for the winter

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I personally would recommend taking off the charger as soon as it’s fully charged. My batteries charge up quick maybe 2 hours or so. I have left mine on the charger and the battery goes to standby mode to prevent overcharging which can lead to thermal runaway and fire. Thats only if the internal battery management system was to fail. I have not heard of this happening on these particular batteries. Once charged the batteries hold the charge a long time. They do not self discharge at the rate of lead acid or agm. Hope that helps.

[@vernonneal7050]

​@caverncityoutdoors..did your Skeeter lose any top end speed after going with all lithiums?

[@caverncityoutdoors]

@vernonneal7050 not that I noticed but my skeeter was always slow… 😂

[@vernonneal7050]

@caverncityoutdoors Funny...I have a 2023 ZXR19 that I'm switching over to all lithiums...I've heard more Skeeter guys say they didn't lose any top end, but actually gain 2-3 mph

[@caverncityoutdoors]

Yea I actually felt like it handled better… I could feel the difference I can’t say I gained or lost speed.

[@timgrzybowski8800]

Do you think you could get by with 1 125AH for starter and electronics?

[@caverncityoutdoors]

In most scenarios I would think it would be fine. Before I got my second one, with my electronics I’d probably be around 40% SOC by the end of the day. That’s running everything on the boat and minimum engine run time. It really all depends on what or better yet how many electronics you are running and the amp draw.

[@tomspence7777]

Did you notice a difference in your electronics performance? I’m thinking about the same setup or just going a single 125ah for electronics only and leaving the engine and other accessories on an AGM.

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I was having an issue with low voltage on my electronics. I ran individual 10 gage wire to all my electronics the same time I installed the lithium batteries. Very little if any voltage drop… definitely an improvement but not in the terms as I can see more clearly just no low voltage issues.

[@kevinmckinney]

I missed it. Are you using 12v or 24v batteries ? I’m new to marine batteries

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I am using 12 volt batteries. They have been great.

[@kenji-xj2ft]

I'm looking for strong cranking batteries to start up my boat without any issues. You ran them parallel and starting up the boat is no issue? I have 175hp mercury.

[@caverncityoutdoors]

I had no issues with my Yamaha 250 SHO single or in parallel.

[@garydavidson7932]

Same with my 200 Yamaha SHO. I run a single Ionic 100 amp hour as a cranking battery. But my electronics don’t run off of my cranking battery. Always at 99% when I check it with the app. I agree they are awesome.

[@michaelridings8179]

Did you have to buy a new battery charger or continue using the one already in the boat ?

[@caverncityoutdoors]

So my boat came with a Minn Kota PC460. It was listed as a compatible charger on the batteries website. I stuck with it for now and works great!

[@michaelridings8179]

@@caverncityoutdoors good deal I'm getting to the point of needing at least a new cranking battery and looking at lithium.I also have a Minn kota charger but have to look at model number

[@happyjohnson8927]

They are 350$ each?

[@caverncityoutdoors]

Yes sir the 12vlt 50 ah.