24V trolling motors are one of the most popular electric propulsion systems for anglers who have a larger boat and look for more power and longer periods out on the water.
However, it could be a daunting task to select the best one in this huge market where all trolling motors seem to share similar designs and functions.
Moreover, the 24V trolling motor wiring, especially the battery setup, could be a big hassle to get started for people who are new to the electric trolling motor.
No worries.
In this post, we will help you choose the best 24-volt motor for your desired needs (including battery recommendations) and guide you through the detailed steps in hooking up your 24V trolling motor.
If you are still hesitant about 12v or 24v trolling motors, we will also provide insights on the pros and cons for each so that you can make a wise choice.
Table of Content:
- 12V vs 24V Trolling Motor: Which to Choose
- 24V Trolling Motor Wiring (with Diagram)
- How to Charge 24V Trolling Motor Batteries
- Best 24 Volt Electric Trolling Motors in 2021
- 24V Battery for Trolling Motor Recommendations
- 24 Volt Trolling Motor Burning Questions
12V vs 24V Trolling Motor
If you’ve searched around, you will find that most trolling motor brands come with a selection of 12- or 24-volts, and the 24v ones are usually labeled with a higher price tag.
Does it mean a 24v trolling motor is better than a 12V?
Not really. It all depends on your applications.
It’s important to understand the difference between 12V and 24V trolling motors to ensure you get what you’re looking for and don’t waste money.
Basically, the 12V trolling motor runs off of one 12-volt deep cycle marine battery. And by contrast, a 24-volt trolling motor battery requires two 12V batteries.
Therefore, the 24V trolling motors offer the following advantages:
- More available thrust
- Longer runtime
- Lower amp draw
That’s to say, you may expect more power, longer range, and runtime from a 24V trolling motor since the 24-volt battery bank has 2x more battery capacity than 12v motors.
| Voltage | Thrust |
| 12 volts | Up to 55 lbs |
| 24 volts | 70-80 lbs |
Besides that, even at the same thrust, a 24v trolling motor is more efficient with a lower amp draw than 12v which also makes it lasts longer.
We can calculate the run time if given the 12/24v trolling motor amp & battery capacity (say 115 amp-hour):
| Trolling motor type | Max amp | Running time |
| 24v trolling motor | 28 amps | 115/28=4.107 hours |
| 12v trolling motor | 45 amps | 115/45=2.555 hours |
So generally, if you are an owner of a boat larger than 16’’, a higher thrust 24V trolling motor would be a better solution that delivers more power and ability to push your boat around easier and faster.
If your boat is 16-foot or smaller and using it in lower thrust applications, you can go for a 12-volt model to save money on both the trolling motor and extra battery.
24V Trolling Motor Wiring
24V trolling motor battery setup and wiring can be easy with this guide.
The thing is that you will need 2 matching 12-volt deep circle batteries wired in series
Here is a diagram you can refer to when hooking up the 24v trolling motor:
Notice: The 24v trolling motor wire size can have a big effect on the overall cost of the whole setup, especially when you are running wires in a long boat.
You may ask the manufacturer for recommended wire size given your situation. We suggest 8 gauge for most 24V trolling motor systems and 6 gauge for over 20 ft.
Also, check out this video that shows how to connect a 24v trolling motor easily:
You can also purchase the 24v trolling motor wiring kit directly from the manufacturer to facilitate the whole process.
Note: A circuit breaker is important for this 24v trolling motor wiring kit since it helps protect the wiring, motor, and boat from possible electrical damage.
How to Charge 24V Trolling Motor Batteries
The problem is you can’t charge a 24-volt trolling motor with just one regular battery charger.
If all you have is one charger you would have to disconnect the jumper wire between the two batteries and charge them separately, one at a time.
The best way is to buy a dual (2 bank) marine boat charge and mount it in your boat.
It will allow you to leave everything hooked up and charge both batteries. There are several brands out there, Minn Kota, Dual-Pro, BPS XPS.
Best 24 Volt Electric Trolling Motor
There are so many 24-volt trolling motor options out there from different brands including the big players like Minn Kota, MotorGuide, and Haswing motors.
Here are some top 24-volt trolling motor systems you can buy for your various needs:
#1. Best Overall: Newport Vessels NV-Series
The Newport Vessels is one of the most popular and affordable 24V trolling motor systems on the market that can be used on both freshwater and saltwater.
Designed with a fully adjustable 36’’ shaft, this 24V trolling motor is suitable for almost all personal small to medium-sized boats up to 4000 lbs including bass boats and jon boats.
With the powerful motor and 8 adjustable speeds (5 forward &3 reverse), you can get to the spot easily, smoothly, quickly, and quietly. Anyone can learn how to use it in minutes!
| Boat size | Up to 4000 lbs |
| Mount Type | Transom mount |
| Water Type | Freshwater & saltwater |
| Weight | 25 lbs |
| Thrust | 86 pound |
| Voltage | 24 volt |
| Shaft length | 36’’ |
This saltwater 24V trolling motor is durable in corrosive water thanks to its corrosion-resistant materials including stainless steel, a sacrificial zinc anode, fiberglass composite shaft, and a fiberglass reinforced nylon propeller.
If you simply want a 24V transom mount trolling motor system and have no idea which one to go to, the Newport Vessels NV-Series is the best choice with thousands of happy users worldwide.
#2. Best 24V Trolling Motor with Spot Lock: Minn Kota Terrova
Want a 24V GPS trolling motor with spot lock that keeps your boat on the most productive fishing spot? Look no further than the Minn Kota Terrova.
The i-Pilot system is one of the most reliable GPS systems you can trust that works great even in strong current. With the help of the heading sensor, you can make adjustments by 5 feet in any direction using the Jog function.
If you prefer a 24V foot control trolling motor which frees up both hands for fishing or landing the hooked fish, the Ulterra features a multi-function foot pedal with spot-lock activation, speed control, etc.
More than that, the spring-loaded lift-assist design made it easy for stowing.
| Boat size | Up to 4000 lbs |
| Mount Type | Bow mount |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Thrust | 80 pound |
| Voltage | 24 volt |
| Shaft length | 45’’ |
If you are looking for a 24V trolling motor with GPS for saltwater use especially, check out the Minn Kota Riptide series trolling motor.
24V Battery for Trolling Motor
Now that we get the best 24V trolling motor and grasped the knowledge as to how to build a 24V trolling motor system with 12V batteries, our next step is to get the batteries.
Generally, we recommend using Lead Acid or AGM deep cycle batteries with at least a 100-amperage hour rating, usually group 27 size battery.
For more information about trolling motor battery selection, click here.
Here are some 12V batteries that can be used with the 24V trolling motor listed above:
#1. Universal Group 12V Deep Circle Battery
| Size | 12.17 x 6.61 x 9.16 (inches) |
| Weight | 63.93 pounds |
| Capacity | 100 Ah |
| Amps | 30 amps max |
| Group | 27 |
Click here to learn more information about this trolling motor battery.
#2. Mighty Max 12V Marine Battery
| Size | 12.17 x 6.61 x 8.30 inches |
| Weight | 60 pounds |
| Capacity | 100 Ah |
| Group | 30H |
Click here to learn more information about this trolling motor battery.
Tips: To extend the life of your battery, always recharge after use. Most trolling motor batteries fail due to a lack of proper charging.
24 Volt Trolling Motor FAQs
We also rounded up some questions about 24V trolling motor batteries here in case that you share the same confusion. If s there is anything specific you want to know, comment below and I will get back to you asap.
#1. How long will a 24v trolling motor last?
This entirely depends on the battery capacity or Amperage Hour Rating (Ah) on the battery you are using. Learn how to calculate the runtime with our previous guide.
Take the Newport Vessels NV-Series 24V trolling motor as an example, a 50Ah battery can power the motor for roughly 1hr at speed 5 continuously and 2.5hrs at speed 3.
#2. Will a 24V trolling motor run on 12V?
It depends on what type of trolling motor you are using.
If you are talking about the tiller controlled or cable steer 24V trolling motor (like the Newport Vessels NV-Series), you can use it on 12V without damaging it, but the performance will be affected greatly, and the battery will drain quicker than normal.
And electric steer 24V motors (including the Minn Kota Terrova) cannot be used on lower voltages.
#3. Converting 24V trolling motor to 36V?
You’ll need to add one more deep cycle to make up the 36 volts.
Your batteries will be wired in series, so you just need a short jumper to connect the new battery inline between the power lead coming from the trolling motor to the existing battery.