BY MIKE STEVENS
LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZ. – WON BASS pro Roy Hawk of Lake Havasu City is currently sitting in seventh in Angler of the Year standings in the wake of a first place finish at the WON BASS Lake Havasu Open in May. During this mid-season break in the action leading up to the Lake Mead Open (Sept. 10-12), Western Outdoor News reached out to Hawk for a quick Q&A with the 2-time U.S. Open Champion for a quick Q&A on lithium batteries. Here’s what the Volta Power Systems pro had to say, live from his backyard pool.
When did you switch to lithium batteries, and what was the main reason behind the change?
It’s been quite a while, I would say 7, 8 years, maybe longer. I had a variety of friends that had them and I studied about them, and I realized it was best for overall-efficiency because they charge so quick, and they keep power longer throughout the day. The decrease of voltage is minimal throughout the cycle of the battery.
When you get home they charge quicker, but also with the Power-Pole Charge, every time I run around I’m charging those lithiums back up. I could go for days as long as I’m starting that engine.
How has lithium improved the performance of your electronics or trolling motor during long tournament days?
It’s like its 100% charged all day. It’s a must have. There is no way I would go backward on my battery situation. After using it for years and realizing the benefits of it, there’s no way I could go back. In theory, they’re going to last 10 years. That’s a big deal.
Back when I started and we had deep cycle marine batteries, if you bought a set in January, by October that battery is only holding 75% or less at full charge. Every time you cycled them, they got smaller, smaller and smaller. We were buying batteries every year, and by the end of the year at the U.S. Open, we were on crap batteries. That doesn’t happen with lithium. I’ve also transferred them from boat to boat. I think I I’ve gone through four boats on the same set of batteries.
Do you run all your systems (trolling motor, graphs, livewell, etc.) off lithium, or do you mix battery types?
All lithium, and I’ve done that for about four years.
Did switching to lithium noticeably affect your boat’s speed or handling?
They’re easier to install and get in and out of the boat and also, the less weight you have the more efficient your boat will be. I think we’re probably not too far out from bass boats designed for lithiums.
How has charging time compared to your old setup?
I would say it’s only a couple hours to get to a full charge if it’s drained completely down to nothing. So, 4 to 5 hours from completely dead, that’s pretty dang quick.
What would you tell weekend anglers who are hesitant about the price tag?
Batteries were like $3,000 apiece, now they’re like $1,000, so it’s a no brainer when AGM batteries are $400-500. Those will only last 2 to 3 years, and a lithium will last you 10? It’s a huge no brainer. You can cut something out of your budget somewhere and come up with that amount on money in a year.
What do you like about Volta Power Systems, both product-wise and as a company?
I can tell you one, right off the bat. I got them early in the year and one of the first tourneys I was at the lake was frozen, but the Volta has a heating system that allows it to run and stay efficient even in cold temperatures, and that’s really cool. Volta has that built inside of it. That’s a huge thing right out of the gate.
As far as customer service, if you ever have a problem with a battery, you can pick up the phone and talk to a human immediately. They’re extremely good and are real people. They’re the type of people I want to be associated with.
What should anglers look out for when shopping for lithium batteries?
Look for reviews. I’d be leery of the cheapest batteries out there. If you don’t have a solid company that has a reputable product, you could be in trouble. Also, talk to anglers, see what the pros are running, and call the companies and talk to them about their battries. The customer service has to be good, but I haven’t had any problems with my Volta batteries.
For more information, visit voltapowersystems.com
