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Posts: 155
Location: North Metro | I know this question has been asked a billion times before. I am in the market for a new 12 volt trolling motor battery. Looking to get one that is low maintenece and will last a long time. Is gel the way to go, or is the lead/acid deal still the best? I seem to go through the lead acid ones every 2-3 years as I often forget to fill the cells with distilled water and fry them out. What is my best option in your opinion??? Thanks |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Got to Wal-Mart and get the biggest marine "Trolling Battery" they have.
I think Everstart makes them.... Not for sure.
Trust me. |
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Posts: 184
| Mike,
No way on the Wal-Mart batteries. I have gone through a ton of those this year, and will never use them again. I too am interested in looking into some other brands or gel batteries. Granted, a couple of them were because I forgot to add water in about two weeks of purchasing them, and they fried. Some I kept the water in, and they didn't last at all either. Not enough power!!
Chad
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Chad,
I am talking about the maintance free batteries.
You don't add water to them.
I have used them a ton and have never had any problems with them. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I use Optima Batteries. The cost per battery is double the cost of conventional deep cycle. However, I also have 4 full years use out of it, and it is still going strong. I get a full three days of trolling motor use on one charge, which was much greater duration than I ever had with conventional deep cycle batteries that were double the physical size. Prior batteries would last a maximum of 18 months of use.
The Optima Batteries can be topped off with no sign of loss of capasity. They can be drawn down to zero charge, froze, mounted upside down or on its side, and charged up again with no detrimental effects.
The battery is the size of a 6 pack of Malt Liquor cans.
They are available through Batteries Plus, a national franchise.
Good Luck! |
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| My vote is for Dual Pro's. They are maintenance free and with the DP charger I can leave them plugged in all year if I want, or so that's what the Dula Pro rep told me. They have been OUTSTANDING this year. I was up on the V two weeks ago in strong winds all day long and went 3 days before having to charge them, 65lb 24v system. They are pricey (my two 3100 series were about 250$ a piece) but well worth the money. Have used 3 other brands and none of them can compare to these batteries. They are on their 2nd season so I don't know how they will be in the long run but so far so good. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | ive heard great things about the optima gel batteries i think im gonna try em next year! |
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Posts: 1438
| I just bought 2 Farm and Fleet deep cycles this morning. $64 bucks a piece. I was looking at the Optima's just for pricing comparisons. They were 3 times the money for approximately the same size battery. Can't justify that for batteries. The set of batteries, also F & F, I replaced were still from the original owner and were 4 years old. Those were the 24's . I did up to the 29's and expect to get 3-4 years out of them as well. Even if I have to replace them after 2 or 3 years, I'm still money ahead.
I did check Wally's and their Everstarts were 64. Farm and Fleet matched the price (originally 69) so I bought from F&F instead. I'd much rather give them the money that Wally's. Anyway, after talking with a couple different people, I found the batteries (F&F and Everstart) are made by the same company...Johnson Control.
Scott
Edited by theedz155 10/5/2005 5:58 AM
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Posts: 350
Location: WESTERN WI | Best value on the market, trojan/minn Kota deep cycles are a steal. But from what I have heard anout the Optima line, they will never let you down. I plan on maiking my next purchase an Optima if my Trojan ever dies. |
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| I've been using Delco batteries in our boat. I think that both are at least 5, maybe 6 years. I'm just a weekend fisherman, but try to keep them charged all the time.We put an on board charger 2 years ago. Before that, just a small wally charger. I've gone through 3 starter batteries, and no trolling ones. Just my opinion. Thanks Doug |
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Posts: 152
| I run gell batteries in in my Harleys and they last a lot longer than wet cells. Over charging and vibration kill batteries. Vibration causes the scale on the plates to come off and build up in the bottom, eventually contacting the plates and causing a dead cell. Never put tap water in a battery, only distilled water. I never seem to have the bucks to buy the gells for the boat when a Battery dies, so I still run the wet cells. From my experience with the Harleys I think they would be a good way to go. Poor people have poor ways. It's good to have choices. Later |
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Gel Batteries???