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Posts: 49
| Looking to purchase a new starting battery for my boat. Is a gel worth the $ ? |
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Location: Milwaukee | You bet! They don't freeze, and last years longer in my experience. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I don't think you can go wrong with them. Trojans, Optimas, and Cabelas are a few I have used and know people who have used them. Nothing but good things with them. |
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Posts: 177
Location: Cohasset, MN | As with all batteries, check the date code (if you can decipher it). Every mfg code is different. You'd rather not have a battery that's been sitting on the retailers shelf for a year and a half. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | Hello, I am a battery abuser. I never take them out in the winter, I am bad about charging them after use. Ive been running the same Trojans AGMs for 4 seasons for my trolling motor, and a Bass Pro AGM for my cranking battery. I wont go with anything else but the AGMs. I know people who have also had very good luck with the Optimas.
Edited by muskihntr 3/15/2010 8:22 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | I have Trojan AGM's for starter and trolling motor batteries...my 31 size trolling batteries are still going strong from 06...and I put them thru a ton of hours per season...the starter I have I believe is the 2nd one since 06..and I'm not sure if the one I have will make it this season...I buy AGM's (gel style) for the simple fact they are no maintenance..ever...
they do cost a lot more...usually about 2 x as much as regular flooded cell but the ones I have owned I have liked..if my starter goes this spring I will purchase another Trojan AGM
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Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Guy's - AGM's are not gell-cells and gell-cells are not AGM's. They are two different lead-acid battery technologies. For most of our muskie fishing applications AGM's are fine - if you want a reality check ask the battery supplier what a comparable gell-cell cost's. It's like buying a rod designed to throw 2 lb'r Bull Dawgs to throw bucktails - > poor application of a perfectly good product. BTW- Optima's are AGM. If you are a telco (telecommunications company) you may or may not want AGM's.
Have fun!
Al |
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Location: Contrarian Island | sorry, AGMs...Trojan in my boat are AGMs
I think he meant AGM anyway...  |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | For just a starting battery I wouldn't spend the cash on a gel unless its on sale. I use a standard maint. lead acid battery for cranking and small accessories and AGM's for TM. Esox is right about they are not even close to being the same. An AGM has a glass matte (?) material between the plates. Anyways, one thing to consider is your charging system when choosing a battery. I've looked at Optimas years ago but one thing I noticed is their recommended charge rate was much lower than my DualPro charger put out. I have DP45 which puts out 15amps per bank (3 banks). It was to much for the Optimas and I didn't want to take the chance and drop the cash and ruin the batteries right away. |
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Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | I'm surprised that a 15A charger would be unacceptable. Were you talking direct w/Optima? I just checked their website & found this:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/marine/fishing/ask_pro/index.php?ID=...
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Al this was years ago... maybe 6+ so things may have changed since but back then I remember they had a set charge rate which was under 10amps. I see things look different now from the link you provided, thanks. If anything I was trying to point out another area that a person should look at when choosing a battery.
I may have to check into Optima's now that you brought this up. I've never looked since that first time. |
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Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | HiTarga - Not doubting what you were told, just surprised by it. No doubt things can change in 6 years. There is a general rule for charger ratings versus the A/H rating of any lead-acid battery.
The smallest charger is ~5% of the A/H rating and the largest is 20% of the A/H rating. f.ex. If you have a 100A/H battery you would need ~ 5A to 20A charger. As always it's best to consult the battery manufacturer.
Al |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | That's an easy R.O.T to remember Al. Never seen it before but definitly easy to do the math in ones head while staring at the racks full of batteries. I've had the same AGM's for a while now and will be looking into some new batteries soon. It's been awhile since I've looked around to see what's out there. |
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Posts: 501
Location: S.Wisconsin | When i bought my starting batery i was looking at getting a optima. The dealer told me to save my money and just go with the interstate starting batery. He sold both optima and interstate so he could have just sold me the one that cost double. |
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Posts: 253
Location: On the water | I use Interstate Batteries to start and run everything else in my boat. Very happy with the performance of the batteries. |
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Posts: 99
| http://www.odysseybatteries.com/ Check out Odyssey Battery they are awsome |
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gel battery