Help - Boat Batteries - Your Ideas

[DMW1960]

Ok the boat will be 3 years old in March. Was having problems with the batteries at Fall Camp not lasting as long as they should last. All ready have on board 3 bank charger. The boat dealer that I purchased the boat from new is no longer in business. When I purchased the boat they asked me how many batteries that I wanted in it and I told them as many as I could get! So they put 3 interstate batteries in the boat. Well if I would have known that they were going to put interstate batteries in it I would have just went to Wal-Mart. Not much of a interstate battery fan as long as they support Kyle Busch and never had much luck with them in a farm tractor either. Have purchased several over the years that were so called 5 year batteries and they only lasted 2 years. So I haven't had a interstate battery for serveral years.

Boat is set up as a 12 volt system with 1 starting battery and 2 trolling motor batteries. And I have alot of extra stuff that I sometimes plug in and use as the boat is running. So I want alot of extra battery power.

I want a good battery for a fair price. Granted I know the cheaper the battery the worse they will be but I don't have alot of money to spend. I have learned with my pickup that the largest best Motor Craft Ford battery works better for me. Because if I can plug it in then I have it on!

Ok some questions for you? Batteries are sized by Group. How do I find out what group my current batteries are? What brand do you have the best luck with? And is there a good battery dealer in the Springfield area that you have had good luck with?

Been looking at some of the prices of boat batteries in BP catalog and online and some of them cost upwards of $200.00 each. How do I tell which one I need? A boat isn't like a Ford pickup that I can just run into the dealership and tell them to put a big one in it.

Thanks for your help!

[Lead Head]

I share your views about the Interstate batteries. The first set I owned were great and then the next two sets after that did not stay charged like they should. After I looked around and did some comparison shopping I went with Pro-Guide, 27 group deep cycles, and they have been better than anything I have ever used. The dealership I used was on MO 86 in the Golden Missouri area. I think it was called Battery Warehouse. Good batteries and they were reasonably priced, best thing is they are three years old and still going strong.

[crappiencali]

I have pro-guide in my boat too!

[Kit Papermouth]

I'm running Deep Cycle Delco Voyagers. I got lots of recs. from guys at work that have been running them for years and not one has had a bad incident with them. I've had mine for only a year now. I do know the AGM Yellow Top O Reiley Batteries are poo poo. Both Beagle and I were not happy with them. He took his back. I have mine in parallel for my Starter, bilge, livewell & depth finders. I'll be happy to get rid of them. Right now I would replace them as well with the Delco Voyagers. Bumper to Bumper carries them in Springfield. They are also sealed so you don't get as much of the corrosion build up on the positive terminal and you don't have to fill the cells.

G.

[beagle man]

sears die hard group 31 power to spare.

[jackb]

Dan, pm's sent.

[jimp]

wally world batteries work for me for 3 yrs or so, then I just go buy new ones. 99% of the time my batteries die a quick (internal shorts) death, no matter in the boat or truck.

[DMW1960]

wally world batteries work for me for 3 yrs or so, then I just go buy new ones. 99% of the time my batteries die a quick (internal shorts) death, no matter in the boat or truck.

Thats the problem I used to have until I started giving more for my batteries and started buying higher quaility batteries. Nothing I hate more than a battery that won't keep up with everything I try to plug into it. I had a guy several years ago who used to own a Battery company in KC tell me that most of the cheaper batteries for trucks and tractors were only made to last for 2 to 2.5 years and the higher quality batteries would take a lot ruffer treatment. I have had pickup batteries only last a year that was until I started buying a better quaility battery. The guy told me that most people would buy a 3 year battery and it would go out about 2 years and then people would come back in for some warranty and that is how the battery companies kept you hooked. He said the plates in the cheaper batteries could be knocked out just by hitting a large bump driving off road causing a internal short.

[prefers shiners]

I just replaced my 3 batteries......I use one called "Big Mamma".....group 27 cost $85 and has 180 reserve amps.......(some guy on here said the reserve amps are the most important number to look at.....the higher the better)........been using them for about 14 years.........my battery guy told me not to go with the group 31 as they take forever to charge up......here is an excellent link for info on batteries.....

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ

[beagle man]

sears die hard, power to spare