Thanks for the info here guys !

I’m 99% sure we’re gonna do the LiOn this time around. Just wading through all the reel issues , and rumors concerning their usage as a primary energy source for my MK RT bow mount motor has been interesting. Like the ones noted above. Charging should not be an issue as my current charger will do just fine. Ultra “cold” environment issues here should not be a problem either. So there is the higher cost issue that sorta comes and goes. It seems that any US sourced lithium batteries are quite a bit higher in cost than those (most of the rest) from chine.

The stuff from chine is by far the cheapest, and a lot of the different brand names offered are in some cases, all the same battery, just different labels.

It looks like I can pay $400 or $500 for a LiOn that will fit my needs, or As low as $250 for an energy equivalent from an unknown labeled battery from chine.

Then there are rumors of new batteries with new cases and labels using old used LiOm plates from defunct batteries on the insides, so it looks like one needs to wade carefully through the option prior to commitment...