Lets Talk Batteries

[RI Builder]

It just dawned on me yesterday that I left the batteries in the boat all winter. I was going to replace them this year anyway.

What does everyone recommend?

Boat is a 28' Pursuit with twin Crusader inboards.

[HOTSPOT]

I will be watching this thread too.

I have 4 batteries.

1>Dedicated starting battery for a Yamaha F200

1>Dedicated deep cycle battery for house circuit (can be combined with engine circuit via a switch)

2>Deep cycle batteries for the trolling motor

My feeling is all four need to be replaced, but I have not checked them yet, it is on my spring check list.

Checking the water in these batteries is a royal pain. They are installed in boxes, which I prefer, and are in hard to reach areas.

Definitely want to go AGM and am leaning towards the DIE HARD from Sears, which is the only AGM I can purchase locally.

[tarpon140]

I was looking at the AGM batteries from Cabelas to replace mine this year. Would be good to hear if anyboby has any experience with these, and how Cabelas is to deal with if you have an issue with them.

Also how well do these AGM batteries work with a trolling motor?

[HOTSPOT]

Also how well do these AGM batteries work with a trolling motor?

They provide more "up/down" cycles than any other deep cycle trolling batteries. The Trojan brand AGM is one of, if not the most most popular trolling battery among tournament bass anglers and they use their trolling motors a LOT.

I guess it depends on how much you use your trolling motor to justify the cost of AGMs. I have a set of Bass Pro size 33 deep cycle trolling batteries that I bought 5 years ago. Last time out, they were okay, but I could tell they had lost some punch. They were only $70 each and have held up good, I do not use the trolling motor heavily for hours at time either and very seldom have I ran them all the way down. I charge them after every use with an onboard 20 amp Pro-Mariner.

My trolling motor batteries are under the front casting deck. It is a bear just to check the water and it takes 12 beers just to get limber enough to try it!!

Decisions, decisions......

[kingair]

I heard these were the best

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc2150.htm

[TeamZ]

I`ve been running an Interstate AGM for a little over three years now with no problems at all. Not running a trolling motor, but I leave the live well , radios and GPS running for hours off shore and my voltage never drops below 11.5.

[ScarabChris]

I use your standard lead/acid deep cycle batteries. I have 2 group 31 batteries and its more than enough power. And my boat is a power hog with the stereo system and electric head. I get about a year and a half out of one and a year out of the other. The house battery goes faster.

[kerno]

Lead seems like pretty simple stuff and is easy to recycle. A lot of recycled lead is contaminated with other metals like zinc and antimony. Odyssey is the only battery company I know of that owns their own mines and uses 100 percent new lead. I am not all that fussy about car batteries, but Odysseys are in my console. Longest life, highest electical capacity per pound and very resitant to shock damage. The best part is tha Sears sells them for less under their own label.

[jenkinsph]

I only know I will be buying Odyssey or Platinum DieHards next time around.

Steve

[welder]

AGM's and don't look back