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Posts: 208
Location: Northern Wisc. | I am in the market for a trolling motor battery and thought that i would ask about what is out there....I was looking for the optima battery but its $200.00. Is there anything out there that would last a whole season at a reasonable price? Im working my trolling motor 75% of the time when im on the water.....Any suggestions would be appreciated.... |
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| i have been using interstates for 2 years now on a 24 volt PD 70#,i guide everyday and they are still charging 100%,i still get 2-3 days on a charge,so personally do not see the point in spending the money for anything else. |
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| Alot of people really like the Interstate batterys. I think you can get 1 for under $100 at Fleet Farm, or Farm and Fleet depending where your located.
I've had decent luck with my Ironsides battery, but there was once in extreme wind it ran out of juice before I wanted to leave. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | i have been using the trojan agms the last year and love em!! the optimas are along the same lines...the agms are worth the extra money! they cost more but will last you alot longer. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | this thread comes and goes seasonally and the part i think that's key is the amount of use which is all over the spectrum. i'm still running wet cells, but when these are done i'm going to the trojans. i'm about a 60 - 80 day boater per year and the reports from the 100+ and 200+ guys continue to support the trojan gels so that's the upgrade. another upgrade in-store for me is a charger that touches the cranking battery too and not just the t.m. batteries so i can run all the aux. stuff off of the crank and live the whole life of the others for the t.m. .... i run a 24-volt system and going to a 3-bank charger ...
the key distinction is the reserve time gain and the time to bring back to full. countless times i'm not near an outlet and get a quick shot to charge and have to be back out there without an overnight and i think that those type of situations make the extra money for the trojans money well spent.
good luck in your choice ... surely this thread will grow and you'll see some good advice from both perspectives.
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| Walmart batteries... Buy the biggest and best for about $70 per battery.. Full charge will last all day with no problem!!! Burn them up and take them back with no questions asked...
FYI... When you bring them home, don't throw them on your seat of your extended cab of your brand new truck.. They leaked some acid, man am I a dumb ass!!!!
Edited by jclymer 2/23/2007 8:12 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | 24-volt wet cells no matter who the brand for a whole day on mille lac with 3-footers ... pushing and pulling a 20' boat around ... your day will end due to loss of power and i don't care if they are brand new. so, you go in and have an hour or two to charge to get back out there ... sorry, but been there and done that and don't ever want to be in a position of not being able to fish for lack of power again in life. |
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Posts: 910
Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | one other thing to remember is that these guys who are on the water 100+ days a year ARE ALSO CHARGING THEIR BATTERIES RELIGIOUSLY!!!
proper charging and care of the battery will have as much or more effect on longevity as type of battery. those things being equal the trojans/optimas are a better battery. |
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| trojan 31 size AGM's...order them from Gander, I think you can get them for 140 each
they are great ... no maintenance....ever.
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Get the Trojan 31 AGM's. Order them from Gander Mountain and you will save alot over other store. They are the best. |
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Posts: 484
Location: St. Louis, MO., Marco Is., FL, Nestor Falls, ON | jonnysled - 2/23/2007 7:05 PM
another upgrade in-store for me is a charger that touches the cranking battery too and not just the t.m. batteries so i can run all the aux. stuff off of the crank and live the whole life of the others for the t.m. .... i run a 24-volt system and going to a 3-bank charger ...
Jonnysled:
A cheaper solution is to just add a single small charger for the starting battery. I don't know how you have your's rigged, but I have a plug for my 24 volt charger. I just spliced the single 12 volt charger into that plug in and ran the wires to the starter batter. When you plug in to charge your trolling batteries you also charge your starting battery.
I had too many occassions where I accidentally left on my livewell pump, then had very hard rain overnight and the auto-bilge pump drained my batteries over a couple of days of not fishing. Not any longer. You can get one of those 12 volt chargers really cheap. You don't need anything over 5 amp. I think I paid $30 for mine.
Edited by rpieske 2/25/2007 6:59 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | thanks Bob! ... good point and idea ... |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I would not suggest walmart batteries. I set one down in my boat and had it leak right away putting holes in my coat. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | Cabelas AGM batteries. Probably the best features for the money. High outputs also. |
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Posts: 5874
| OK, time and use conditions will also help determine which battery to get. If like sled, you are using up all of your battery in a day in high winds and rough seas, then I would suggest going to a 36v system, and a 101 lb thrust TM. Wheteher it be a Maxxum, Motorguide, or the new Tewrrova, the 36V system would be your best bet. Why? #1, with the higher thrust TM, you won't have to run it as hard to get the same result. #2, the batteries won't drain as fast.
The best thing to do is compare the reserve on the respective batterys. I have had very good luck with the Lead-acid batterys in the past. Never had a day were I ran out of juice, and there were many days that I used the TM 100% pulling harnesses for eyes. Usually had the AP65 set on 4-6, and using the AP. The last barrteries I had were the Trojan SC225's. Big heavy Group 31 battery. Bought them because I had a gift cert from Gander. $100 each. They also would go all day, and have plebty left when I went to charge them.
I'm not sure on the new tech batterys. I've heard that the Optima's do not have the reserve of normal batteries. But the Optima's are a spiral cell technology, and different from the Trojan AGM. There was a good seminar on batteries on the Milwaukee Chapter website from a few years ago. I'll see if I can find it.
I think the new boat will have either the Remy or Trojan wet cells. Depends if I am down in Milwaukee when I want to get them.
As for the charging of the starter battery. Definatley Sled, add a single 5 amp fully Automatic. Guest makes a good one. No sense in pulling the old one and buying a new multi bank.
Edited by Shep 2/26/2007 10:29 AM
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Posts: 2024
| Can the guys that like the AGM batteries be a little more specific as to why you like them? Fast charge? Better reserve capacity? |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | The Group 27 AGM Trojan is 66lbs, has a 175 minute capacity at 25amps. The Group 27 Lead Acid Trojan (SC200) is 60lbs, has a 200 minute capacity at 25 amps.
I've been running the SC200's (because the 225's don't fit in my boxes) for several years and they have never let me down. I don't find it too much of a pain to add distilled water because it is only required a couple times per season. I don't recall the exact price difference but I think the AGM's are about 2x the SC flooded cells. |
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Posts: 2024
| Thanks, Luke.
Bumping this back up, but would still like more info as to WHY go AGM or something else. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I suggest the amg's because:
1. Over 200 days year, never seen my battery reserve below 50%, and I have fished some LONG hours and in some CRAZY winds.
2. They charge very very fast
3. NO MAINTANCE
4. They will last you alot longer than regular batteries
5. THEY ROCK |
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Posts: 2024
| Thanks, Mike. Exactly what I needed! |
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