12 volt deep cycle battery suggestions?

[c-level]

One of my batteries is going out and I'm looking at different batteries. I have a 17 foot boston whaler with the normal electronics.

Any battery suggestions?

[Double Z]

I've got Interstate in my trailer. They've lasted 3 years of a lot of use and a lot of sitting. Same with the boat but one is a starting battery. Less sitting with the boat. I don't think it's sat longer than a month in the last two years.

[gecsr1]

Optima... blue tops.... cost more but they are great, I have two in my fifht wheel, and going on 5 yrs and no problems, when the batteries in my boat go south, I'll be installing blue tops in her tooo....

[fishstick-er]

Cant beat the standard price club deal. The trade-in (warranty) policy is the best. Just bring them in for exchange 100 percent at 24 months or less. I go through batteries like crazy as they are drawn down to near dead and recharged weekly in my Bass boat. Nothing more expensive (Optima) lasts any longer so why spend the money. BTW replacing one, replace them both. The other will follow.

[cvjarrod]

For marine applications:

AGM will last the longest. (~5+ yrs)

Gel will last 2nd longest. (~5 yrs with the right charging system)

Lead acid will last 3rd longest. (~3 yrs)

Any battery will crap out on you if you constantly draw it down to almost dead and recharge it.

Here's a decent deal on AGM batteries:

Cabela's Advanced Angler AGM Batteries

[tuna taxi]

Originally Posted by gecsr1

Optima... blue tops.... cost more but they are great, I have two in my fifht wheel, and going on 5 yrs and no problems, when the batteries in my boat go south, I'll be installing blue tops in her tooo....

Just curious, how much did you pay for the Optima's?

[Saluki]

Call the guys at Powertron, they know their stuff and have great prices.

Powertron Battery Co Yellow Pages Details - Yellow.com

[neversink2]

Originally Posted by fishstick-er

Cant beat the standard price club deal. The trade-in (warranty) policy is the best. Just bring them in for exchange 100 percent at 24 months or less. I go through batteries like crazy as they are drawn down to near dead and recharged weekly in my Bass boat. Nothing more expensive (Optima) lasts any longer so why spend the money. BTW replacing one, replace them both. The other will follow.

The reason you go through them like crazy is because you drain them almost fully or fully. This will put any cell in an early grave. I run 2 optima blue tops on my house bank and don't have a generator on-board. They never get below 50%.

The life of any deep cycle will be much longer if you A) never discharge below 30% and B) always keep them on a 3 stage (bulk, absorption, float) charger when the boat is not in use.

FYI - Most flooded cells discharge over time. Sitting hurts most batteries life more than anything. However, gel's, specifically AGM's discharge very little when sitting uncharged. You can let optimas sit for up to a year with zero charging. Blue tops are around $150 ea at costco. Getem and you'll never go back to anything else provided you have enough capacity for running your overnight stuff.

I have a red in my truck and it's 6 yrs old. The charge density is much higher due to the spiral windings. Awesome batteries!

[riverplayer]

Check out the ratings on the new odyssey's. I just replaced both batteries with the new 250's and they rock. Pricey at 250 each but well worth the no maintenance. I thought the starter was going to blow off the big KAD44 the first time I started the engine after replacing my old AGM's. They are serious batteries and should be considered by anyone that has heavy DC usage.

[RandyStinchcomb]

another vote for Optima have them in my boat and race car, never a problem

[Captain Curt]

Glad you guys are talking up the Optima's. Just put the
Blue Top D31M, 1125 CA, 900 CA in Little Hanna II. Never used them before. Just using it for trolling and so far (3 trips), It seems to not last any longer (per day), than any other battery we've used in the past. But I like the fact that it is spill proof, and that it's suppose to last longer (in years) than most.
Like Brandon said, we've been using the Batteries from Powertron, 31 TMX Deep Cycle in Big Hanna, and have no problems so far.

Curtis.........

The boat Hanna.........

[neversink2]

The marines at camp pendleton use red tops in the AAAV. Last time I was down there, I asked a General Dynamics guy how he liked them and he said "they're ok". Translation: "pretty good" considering they beat the living shit out evertything inside that 2,000hp sardine can.