How to Set Up Your Lowrance to Monitor Trolling Motor Battery Life (Like a Fuel Gauge)

How to Monitor Your Trolling Motor Battery Like a Pro (on a Yellowfin 24 CE)

When you're catching bait all morning and then live baiting for tarpon at sunset, power management is everything. You don’t want to lose trolling motor control during the most critical bite window of the day.

In this week’s How-To Tuesday, Tom Rowland takes us aboard his Yellowfin 24 CE to show how elite captains set up their boats for all-day power performance using a Power-Pole MOVE trolling motor and Lithium Pros battery, connected to a Lowrance display via NMEA 2000.

🎥 Watch the Full Walkthrough: [Insert Video Link]

Why This Setup Works for Serious Anglers

The Power-Pole MOVE is one of the quietest and most efficient trolling motors on the market — ideal for stealth approaches and precise boat positioning while live baiting tarpon.

Paired with a Lithium Pros 36V battery, you get:

Lightweight, high-performance power
Consistent voltage under load
Long lifespan
Real-time data via NMEA 2000 connection

But even with lithium, it can be hard to know exactly how much juice you’ve used — and how much you’ve got left.

That’s where Tom’s system makes all the difference.

The Secret Weapon: Real-Time Time Remaining on Lowrance

Using the NMEA output on the Lithium Pros battery, Tom configures his Lowrance display to show battery metrics that work just like a fuel gauge for your trolling motor.

Here's the exact setup:

Connect NMEA 2000 from the battery to your boat’s network.
On your Lowrance:
- Create a new instrument panel layout.
- Add "Time Remaining" from the battery data menu.
- Add "Battery Voltage" to monitor charge at a glance (e.g., 41.8V = full).
- Optional: Add clock, water temp, and other custom data for situational awareness.

With this display up, you can instantly see:

How hard you're working the motor
How many hours you have left at current draw
When you need to conserve vs. when you can push

Why Elite Captains Use This

When you’re chasing tides, bait patterns, or planning long stretches on the trolling motor, this kind of data lets you make smarter calls. Whether you need to throttle back, recharge, or reposition — you’ll have the info to make sure you’re not left dead in the water when it matters most.

This is the setup serious anglers use to manage their day and guarantee power when it counts.

Featured Gear

Boat: Yellowfin 24 CE
Trolling Motor: Power-Pole MOVE
Battery: Lithium Pros 36V w/ NMEA output
Display: Lowrance Instruments
Use Case: Live baiting tarpon at sunset, all-day precision positioning

Final Word: Control Your Power, Control Your Day

If you want to fish smarter, longer, and with confidence, set up your Lowrance like Tom’s. Know how much battery you have left — and make your trolling motor last through every tide, every bait school, and every tarpon bite.

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