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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | Looking to buy all new bateries for the boat. I am looking at the Gel batteries like the Optimas. Anyone out their using them and are they worth the extra $$$$.
Also where is a good place for picking them up around the Twin Cities.
Thanks ahead of time for your replies. |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Go with Trojan AGM gel batteries & save yourself some money. |
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Posts: 786
Location: Minnesota | Optimas by far!
JMO,
James
http://www.gruntmuskielures.com |
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| I use and can recomend the Optimas whole heatedly, they have never let me down yet after 3 years. I have never used Trojan (battery's) so I can't say that Optimas are better, just that I'm completely satisfied with Optimas. BTW, thankfully the other Trojan's have never let me down either  |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | I'm still using flooded cell Trojan's and love them. I have a friend that has Optima's that take much longer to recharge than my Trojans. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | trojan agms....first year with them and i love them!! cant go wrong with either trojans or optimas, but i think you get a little more for your money with the trojans! |
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Posts: 5874
| I think the Optimas are AGM. I heard they are a good battery, but at twice the price of a good lead/acid battery, may not be a better value.
I always used lead/acid batteries from Remy Battery in Milwaukee. Great batteries, lasted at least 4 years og hard use, and only $50-60 ea. They were made by Johnson Controls, so there may be a distributor like Remy in your area.
Last year I bought $90 Trojans. Bigger and heavier, they seemd to work fine. |
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| i've never used AGMs, so i look at in pure cost/benefit terms.
a quick price just now found:
Optima 31 AGM Blue or Yellow Top: $225/each
Trojan 31 AGM: $200/each
Interstate lead-acid from KMart: $65/each (what i currently run)
i run 3 batteries on my trolling motor, that would cost me initially:
Optima: $675
Trojan: $600
Interstate: $200
my Interstates have lasted 3 years with regular maintenance.
assuming i replace them every 3 years, it would take 9 years to equal the cost of the others.
(the math works out basically the same if you're running a 24v system with only 2 batteries)
i've never had any power or endurance issues with those less expensive/lower technology batteries.
would i notice that much of a performance difference?
will the AGM batteries last more than 9 years to make it cost effective? |
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| Joe
I believe that I am the friend that has the optima's that you are referring to. The outlet at the hotel we were staying at was messed up. The last several times that I have recharged my batteries they went to full charge in about 3 to 4 hours charging them on an outlet that works. I ran the Trojans in 04 and 05 and I have optimas now. The Trojans were the best batteries that I have ever used that required maintenance. My Optimas are just as powerful, charge up faster and require no maintenance. They are more expensive, but I believe worth it. I have not heard of anyone having problems with either the Trojans or the Optimas.
Rick |
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Location: Contrarian Island | for me I went with Trojan AGM's and I got a deal on them thru a local dealer..I put 2, 31 size in my boat..they were 135 at the time..since then I guess the price has gone up to about 150 thru this dealer...
I went with them for 2 reasons basically...one, they are zero maintenance...something I like.. and 2, peace of mind..I wanted the best battery I could get with the most power/res. capacity that required no maintenance and was backed up by somone local should it go bad...
Sure regular flooded cell batteries are less expensive but I had too many go bad over the last 12 years to try that game again...maybe cuz I never filled them up with whatever goes in them! AGM's I highly recommend |
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Posts: 120
Location: Chicago, IL | Do you need to have a special charger for the Optima's? right now I have Nautalis lead/acid and they are going strong through the 3rd season but I will probably have to get new batteries soon. I have a Guest 2 bank charger.
Dan Hardy |
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| My charger for the Optimas is the same exact charger that I had for the Trojans. So I would assume no.
Rick |
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