It might be nice if Old Town being a pretty big company could bulk purchase lithium batteries and offer them with the purchase of their AutoPilot kayaks. Right now the Sportsman AutoPilot 120 plus 100 Ah lithium battery is around 5 grand including tax and delivery.
Exactly. In Canada, these things cost more than many good kayaks. The cost of these things just keeps increasing. Plus trailer, plus trailer mods, plus expensive cart, plus accessories, plus plus plus
I enjoyed your video and learned quite a bit from your commentary. The one question I was hoping you would address is, should I unplug my trolling motor on my autopilot 120 before I charge the battery? Also how does leaving the trolling motor plugged in while charging affect the battery charge or motor of your autopilot 120. A video addressing that would have been very nice and helpful as well. Thank you again for your video.
Purchased my LiFePO4 battery at Cabela's but no one had any good advice on a battery charger. Keep in mind that most marine stores assume you want to install a marine battery charger, I needed one to plug into household current. To make your life easier when charging this battery, purchase alligator clips so that you did not have to ratchet off the power cable. Cabelas's also told me they were having a difficult time getting battery chargers. I solved the problem by going first to the battery manufacturer who put me in touch with a TN company. Honestly , a huge and unnecessary learning curve that should have been solved at Cabela's that sold me the "Tracker " battery made by RiOn.
I have a 100ah lead acid for my 106MK and it is rough. It weighs 58lbs. I have to pull it every time I leave the lake/river. I will be purchasing a 54ah lithium in the spring just for the weight reduction alone.
Did I hear that the battery gauge by the throttle is only useful with a lead acid battery? If I’m planning to use a lithium ion battery what type of gauge can I get or use to keep track of my battery life?
There are some Bluetooth monitors that you install between the wiring of your battery to your motor that allow you to check the battery life and percentage of your battery. Sucks they don't mention it tho..
Half the battery life left of which battery? Both? (you said you have 1 of each type) Also, do the 4 lights each equal 25% of the lead acid battery? If so, you should only run down to 50% or so with the lead acid? (keep at least 2 lights remaining at all times)
The Dakota Lithium 100ah battery specs list the battery as larger than a Group 27. Is this the lithium battery you have in the provided battery box? I have a 136 on the way and trying to find the right lithium battery..
Will you guys sell that minn Kota throttle lever Speed controller on the 10.6 sportsman? Need one for my topwater 120 motor building Endura minn Kota. Where can I find it ?
Hi Jim - the red cable coming from the battery box attaches to the positive terminal on your battery, and the black cable attaches to the negative terminal. If you are unable to identify which terminal is which on your battery, please contact the battery manufacturer before attempting to connect to your battery box.
Hi, Manny, there's no clear dedicated place to stash an accessory battery. I place my accessory battery in a battery bag oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors.com/parts/oce-hull-deck/battery-bag and stash it up in the bow under the 6" hatch on my AutoPilot or the front bow hatch of all other OT Sportsman models. I like to stash my battery in the front because I find it easier to reach the thru-hull wiring kits and accessory tracks. Hope this helps!
@@ryanlillypad Hi Ryan. I cannot find any suggestions as to how to suspend the Old Town battery bag. Any suggestions would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Thanks!
Thanks for your question and interest in our products. Paddles are not packaged up with our kayaks. However, we do have a great selection of Old Town or Carlisle paddles at oldtowncanoe.com
Correct, you will need a shunted battery meter to accurately measure charge on a lithium battery. Here is a link to our favorite one: ampedoutdoors.com/collections/lifepo4-battery/products/battery-capacity-meter-with-wiring-kit-available-7-30
![Best Battery for Old Town AutoPilot and Minn Kota Kayaks [Sealed Lead Acid vs Lithium Batteries]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Ay8IIETmQg/mqdefault.jpg)
![Best Battery for Old Town AutoPilot and Minn Kota Kayaks [Sealed Lead Acid vs Lithium Batteries]](/img/tr.png)
I just bought a new MK 106, I sure should would love one of those hats!
Great video that really goes in depth. Anyone looking to get a model that is powered by Minn Kota should watch this video.
It might be nice if Old Town being a pretty big company could bulk purchase lithium batteries and offer them with the purchase of their AutoPilot kayaks. Right now the Sportsman AutoPilot 120 plus 100 Ah lithium battery is around 5 grand including tax and delivery.
Exactly. In Canada, these things cost more than many good kayaks. The cost of these things just keeps increasing. Plus trailer, plus trailer mods, plus expensive cart, plus accessories, plus plus plus
Nicely done Ryan. 👍
Good video thank you
Very helpful! Answered my questions.
I enjoyed your video and learned quite a bit from your commentary. The one question I was hoping you would address is, should I unplug my trolling motor on my autopilot 120 before I charge the battery? Also how does leaving the trolling motor plugged in while charging affect the battery charge or motor of your autopilot 120. A video addressing that would have been very nice and helpful as well. Thank you again for your video.
Purchased my LiFePO4 battery at Cabela's but no one had any good advice on a battery charger. Keep in mind that most marine stores assume you want to install a marine battery charger, I needed one to plug into household current. To make your life easier when charging this battery, purchase alligator clips so that you did not have to ratchet off the power cable. Cabelas's also told me they were having a difficult time getting battery chargers.
I solved the problem by going first to the battery manufacturer who put me in touch with a TN company. Honestly , a huge and unnecessary learning curve that should have been solved at Cabela's that sold me the "Tracker " battery made by RiOn.
Gary, thanks for sharing your experience. This is good information for those shopping for batteries.
I was just wondering about a few of those things, thanks!
I have a 100ah lead acid for my 106MK and it is rough. It weighs 58lbs. I have to pull it every time I leave the lake/river. I will be purchasing a 54ah lithium in the spring just for the weight reduction alone.
Is it a group 27 battery? I'm having trouble finding a group 27 100ah battery?
@@mattmezza4574 yeah it was like $99 at Oriley Auto Parts.
YES!!! THANK U FOR THIS VIDEO
I can say on mine a 31 series AGM BATTERY fit in the box absolutely perfect.
How long does it last?
Im not sure, i ran it 5 hours the other day , fishing not constant but creeping along and was still on 3 of 4 bars on the indicator.
Well done.
HIV did I hear you correct? The battery meter doesn’t work with lithium battery?
Thanks Ryan, very informative
great info.thanks
Since the battery meter on my 106 is not compatible with my lithium battery, how do I monitor the charge of my battery?
Did I hear that the battery gauge by the throttle is only useful with a lead acid battery? If I’m planning to use a lithium ion battery what type of gauge can I get or use to keep track of my battery life?
There are some Bluetooth monitors that you install between the wiring of your battery to your motor that allow you to check the battery life and percentage of your battery. Sucks they don't mention it tho..
Half the battery life left of which battery? Both? (you said you have 1 of each type)
Also, do the 4 lights each equal 25% of the lead acid battery? If so, you should only run down to 50% or so with the lead acid? (keep at least 2 lights remaining at all times)
Does the Minn Kota unit have the digital maximizer feature?
What size battery do you run in your old town autopilot when fishing?
The Dakota Lithium 100ah battery specs list the battery as larger than a Group 27. Is this the lithium battery you have in the provided battery box? I have a 136 on the way and trying to find the right lithium battery..
Man I hope so. I got a Autopilot 120, and just ordered the Dakota Lithium 100AH battery today. Have you heard if this wont work?
It will fit.
Is there any chance you guy’s will release a 12 or 13 foot powered by minnkota version of this kayak?
Could I put a solar panel charger on it as I'm fishing to keep the battery charged up and how many lithium batteries can the box hold
How many amp hours does the mini cotto in this sportsman kayak use at full power
how about for the predator mk ..? is the dakota 100ah li-on battery will fit on the predator mk battery box ..?
I want to know the same thing
Yes it will fit in the Predator MK battery box.
Hello, I will run a 12V 100AH battery for my Autopilot 120 , should I install circuit breaker? If yes, what AMP require as circuit breaker.
Regards.
Hi Jeffrey - the battery box has a built in breaker, there is no need to install any additional breakers.
@@OldTownCanoeKayak Thanks.
Can this boat use AGM marine battery? Not a wet cell battery
This is my EXACT question also. I wish they would have answered this.
Will you guys sell that minn Kota throttle lever Speed controller on the 10.6 sportsman? Need one for my topwater 120 motor building Endura minn Kota. Where can I find it ?
Perfect video. One other thing i was curious about. What do you use specifically to charge your lithium battery?
We suggest getting a recommendation on the charger from the manufacturer of the battery.
@@OldTownCanoeKayak very poor answer. Old Town has an obligation to make life easier on its customers at the retail level.
@@garymcnabb7527 they can’t make a blanket statement on all lithium batteries. Their statement is valid and accurate
@@brownsfan222 I disagree. How would you know that? Old Town reached out to me and thanked me for my response.
Is the battery case compatible with optima battery???
Is the battery box supplied by Old Town water proof? lets say if I were to flip the kayak over will it prevent water from getting into the battery?
The battery box is not waterproof, but it will keep incidental water from splashing off of the battery.
How do you put the batteries in? Can't find the plus ans minus
Hi Jim - the red cable coming from the battery box attaches to the positive terminal on your battery, and the black cable attaches to the negative terminal. If you are unable to identify which terminal is which on your battery, please contact the battery manufacturer before attempting to connect to your battery box.
Where do I get back up props and prop pins and a kill switch?
Give us a call at 800-343-1555 and we can ship some to you. We hope to have them on our website soon. Thanks!
Does the new Old Town Models have a secure place for the second depth finder battery? To keep it secure inside Kayak!
Hi, Manny, there's no clear dedicated place to stash an accessory battery. I place my accessory battery in a battery bag oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors.com/parts/oce-hull-deck/battery-bag and stash it up in the bow under the 6" hatch on my AutoPilot or the front bow hatch of all other OT Sportsman models. I like to stash my battery in the front because I find it easier to reach the thru-hull wiring kits and accessory tracks. Hope this helps!
Ryan Lilly I have a 106 on the way and was going to ask the same thing. Thanks!
@@ryanlillypad Hi Ryan. I cannot find any suggestions as to how to suspend the Old Town battery bag. Any suggestions would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Thanks!
does the 120 kayak come with a paddle?
Thanks for your question and interest in our products. Paddles are not packaged up with our kayaks. However, we do have a great selection of Old Town or Carlisle paddles at oldtowncanoe.com
I accidentally broke my rudder. Can i still operate my autopilot 136 ?
Yes! Though you will lose some maneuverability and tracking. We don’t recommend operating in current without the rudder.
I wish I could win a kayak like the old Town autopilot 120 or the 106mk please help me out
This whole time I thought my battery was always full. Not incompatible…..
So if its a lithium battery it will not show battery life on the throttle?
Correct, you will need a shunted battery meter to accurately measure charge on a lithium battery. Here is a link to our favorite one: ampedoutdoors.com/collections/lifepo4-battery/products/battery-capacity-meter-with-wiring-kit-available-7-30