LITHIONICS Li3 Super-Troll Series
By Joel Shangle

At one point in the conversation with Bassmaster Elite Series superstar Aaron Martens, I have to redirect him: “Aaron, enough about the batteries, bro."

This conversation is taking place in early March, shortly after Martens racked up his fifth straight Top-12 finish in the Bassmaster Classic. Martens is one of the best bass anglers off all time and I’m trying my best to pick brain for little details about early-spring fishing, but, for some reason, we keep ending up back on batteries.

Batteries this, batteries that, batteries, batteries, batteries.

Turns out, maybe it’s for good reason.

There's absolutely nothing sexy about a battery, but a slick bit of high-performance racing technology has been applied to a product that should make major differences in both boat performance and overall fishing effectiveness for serious bass anglers.

Lithionics Battery’s Li3 Super-Troll Series of Lithium ion batteries appear to be game-changers for anglers seeking increased trolling time, decreased weight and improved power efficiency.

Introducing the Super-Troll
The battery that Martens is so enthusiastic about is the 12-volt, 100-amp (12V100A) model of the Super-Troll Series, which also includes 60- and 40-amp models. Lithium isn’t new technology – rechargeable Lithium ion batteries have been around since the early 1990s – but the application of it to marine uses (and specifically bass boats) is brand spanking new, thanks to a conversation between Kinami Baits honcho Derek Yamamoto and Lithionics president Steve Tartaglia.

“Derek told me that the serious tournament anglers were loading up five batteries on a boat that weigh over 360 pounds, and they still couldn’t get 12 hours of trolling out of them,” Tartaglia says. “He saw what we were doing with lightweight Lithium batteries for high-performance automobiles and asked a pretty simple question: ‘Why can’t you make these batteries for bass boats?’.”  

Lithionics’ engineers went to work on a series of smaller, more compact batteries to fit the physical limitations of the typical bass boat, first putting 40- and 60-amp models to the test and producing four and eight-hour trolling charges, respectively. After Martens found out about the batteries and become involved in the testing, he insisted on a big-dog 100-amp version, which provides 10 to 12 hours of trolling time on one charge.

“We make a 100-amp version for RVs, so I set Derek and Aaron up with four 100-amp models that were designed to work in tight quarters: they took them to Okechobee, and went out of their minds,” Tartaglia laughs.

Benefits of lithium
Martens is one of the most notorious tinkerers in the bass-fishing world, so, going back to the March post-Classic conversation, I understand where he’s coming from. The 12V100A weighs in at a scant 28 pounds, so the total weight of four Super-Troll units on Marten’s new 21-foot Phenix – 112 pounds – is nearly 250 pounds less than a five-unit glasmat setup.

“I got rid of over 200 pounds in the back of the boat, so the difference is phenomenal,” Martens says. “My hole shots are immediate, I have a higher top speed, and the boat sits flat while I’m trolling. The performance is 40 to 60 percent better. These things are as cool as any GPS.”

Longer power, quicker charge:  Recharge time on Lithionics batteries are roughly three to four times faster then lead-acid units: Tartaglia says that one of his company’s 36-volt chargers can charge a 12V100A in roughly three hours (lead-acid, as you well know, takes closer to eight hours) at an average estimated cost of 75 cents.

The batteries are capable of over 3,000 cycles versus roughly 300 from lead-acid, a tenfold increase in battery life. They’re guaranteed for five years outright, but Tartaglia says the typical Super-Troll battery will last between eight and 10 years.

NeverDie = never stranded
Lithionics’ NeverDie feature allows you to pull 90 percent of the power out of the batteries for electronics and livewells, but they go into sleep mode at 10 percent that allows for engine start when they’re pulled out of hibernation by remote control.

The price tag
Lithionics Super-Troll Series units aren’t cheap: the 12V100A carries an MSRP of $1,387, the 12V60A is $1,024 and the 12V40A is $842.

“Over the course of the life of the battery, it’s one of the cheapest performance upgrades ever,” Martens points out.
-JS

INFORMATION
Lithionics Battery
www.lithionicsbattery.com
2449-A McMullen Booth Road
Clearwater, FL 33759
(727) 726-4204
(855) 726-4204 toll free

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