Professional big water fishing guide Doug Wegner shares his extensive boat electronics setup and how he ensures abundant power and reliability using a Dakota Lithium battery configuration. From powering multiple high-power consumption fish finders to his hard-working 36V brushless trolling motor, Wegner explains how lightweight and power-dense lithium marine batteries excel over their AGM and lead-acid counterparts.
FEATURED PRODUCT (retail links)
- ELECTRONICS BATTERY – DL+ 12V 320Ah LiFePO4 Dual Purpose Battery (replaced Doug’s 200Ah battery): Buy at Dakota Lithium
- TROLLING MOTOR BATTERIES (three 12V in series) – DL+ 36V 135Ah Dual Purpose Trolling Motor Battery Set: Buy at Dakota Lithium
- SINGLE 36V TROLLING MOTOR BATTERY – Dakota Lithium 36V 110Ah Deep Cycle LiFePO4 Single Battery: Buy at Dakota Lithium
- DAKOTA LITHIUM WATERPROOF MARINE CHARGERS – Buy at Dakota Lithium
- DOUG’S ONBOARD CHARGER – Minn Kota MK 550PCL On-Board Battery Charger (Item # 1835500): Check out at Minn Kota | Buy at Bass Pro Shops
ELECTRONICS SETUP
Wegner’s boat is loaded with many top-of-the-line Humminbird SOLIX and APEX Series units. These powerful touchscreen devices require substantial power, and Wegner relies on a systematic combination of lithium-iron phosphate batteries to keep them running smoothly. Powering his electronics for one or more days at a time requires a lot of power; while this video featured a 200 amp-hour Dakota Lithium, Wegner has since upgraded to Dakota Lithium’s 320 amp-hour Group 31 battery.
RELIABLE PERFORMANCE
Fishing in early spring and late fall often means dealing with freezing temperatures. Wegner prefers using internally heated batteries, which charge in sub-freezing conditions. This eliminates the need to remove them from the boat for indoor charging. Huge amp-hour capacities extend his runtime to more than a day while fast-recharging tops them off quickly.
VERSATILE POWER OPTIONS
Wegner uses 12V 135Ah batteries for his trolling motor and starting needs. These compact Group 24 batteries deliver impressive power and are internally heated, providing reliable performance in all temperatures. Wegner highlights the dual-purpose nature of these batteries, which can power both electronics and motors efficiently.
LIGHTWEIGHT AND LONG-LASTING
One of the standout benefits of lithium batteries is their weight and size reduction compared to traditional AGM and lead-acid batteries. Wegner notes that these batteries cut down about half the weight while offering superior longevity. Backed by an 11-year warranty, Dakota Lithium batteries provide peace of mind and reliable performance year after year.
Consider upgrading your boat setup to lithium batteries if you’re looking to power high-performance electronics and want extended runtime, consistent performance/voltage, and an extensive 11-year warranty (Dakota Lithium).
DOUG’S BOAT SETUP
- BOAT – Lund 219 Pro-V GL: Check out at Lund Boats
- MOTOR – Mercury Verado 400hp 5.7L V10: Check out at Mercury Marine
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ulterra (Item # 1358503): Check out at Minn Kota | Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- CONSOLE GRAPH 1 – Humminbird SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- CONSOLE GRAPH 2 – Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- PORT GUNNEL GRAPH 1 – Humminbird APEX 13 MEGA SI+ Fishfinder/Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- PORT GUNNEL GRAPH 2 – Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- BOW GRAPH – Humminbird SOLIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- 360 SONAR – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
