Which Battery is best?

I hate to keep :deadhorse but I need to get a new battery for my boat before Darbonne and was wondering which battery is better out of the traditional deep cycle and the new gel batteries? I know the gels are about $50 to $100 more than the traditional, just wondering if they are worth it and if they last any longer? I could get about 3 years out of a traditional deep cycle in the past. Thanks for any input, and PLEASE let me know soon! I am planning on getting a battery this week.
Thanks again!!!

I run Optimas (31 Blue Tops) and I will not run out of juice fishing all day long "standing" on the trolling motor. I also feel it is very important to use Minn Kotas new Precision Charger - it has settings for each type of battery and properly charges the battery.

Thanks for the reply Tommy. How long have you had your batteries and do they hold up like when they were new?

Just replaced my two 6 year old Duralast batteries in my boat with 2 more,bought at the local Auto Zone.......my buddy bought some of those high dollar batteries (can't remember the brand) at Academy, they did not last 2 years, he now has 3 Duralast batteries in his boat.........

I sell my Ranger every one or two years so the batteries go with it - but the people I have talked to that have bought them are really happy and as far as I know - they are all still going strong!!! The Optimas are built to last a long time - I have a couple of them that have been serving me well for close to 7 years in other vehicles - I also have a friend that has been using them in his horse trailer for over 5 years and is constantly "nagging" on me to get him a deal on them for his other vehicles! I feel they are worth the money. Again - the biggest reason I am so confident with them is that I have never run out of juice with them in a full fishing day.

Thanks for all the replys and keep them coming! I just talked to my cousin and he confirmed what Tommy has been saying, he sold his alluminum boat with his blue top optima battery after using it for 6 years and said the battery would hold the charge just like the day he got it. He did warn me that some of the optimas that were built in Mexico were having some problems though. Thanks agian!

Optima battery rate 150 down to 100 minutes discharge rate at 25amps. There seems to be issues with the mexican made Optimas. You can get Trogans up to 440min. at 25amps.
Trogan make a great battery.IMO

Generally, gel and AGM batteries have about 20% less capacity, cost about two times more, and have a shorter cycle life than comparable flooded lead acid batteries. However, Gel and AGM batteries do not need watering, are safer (no acid spilling out), can be placed in a variety of positions, have a slower self-discharge characteristic, and are more efficient in charging and discharging than flooded batteries. Gel batteries are more suitable for deep cycling applications whereas AGM batteries are more for light cycling and engine-starting applications.

HTH

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Originally Posted by shadow

Thanks for the reply Tommy. How long have you had your batteries and do they hold up like when they were new?

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I don't think there is any doubt that he's right, the Optima Batteries are awesome! I have been using the same Troll Motor Batteries and treated them not so good and still they just keep on keeping on. Part of the abuse was not all my fault because if my boat being stranded for over a year in it's sling so I didn't charge them, but when I finally got it back going they just acted like nothing happened. Also through cold weather they just hold up. I know they have a deal if you buy your Optima from them and buy their battery charger which you leave on set on Maintain when not using it they will add one more year of warranty to your battery! I have talked to guys that have had one for 7 or even 9 years and still going. Mine I have had for 4 years. Here is a link to my charger which I absolutely love and is not like a regular charger. Oh and you can set up this charger to maintain 3 batteries.
Marine Battery Charger | Motorcycle Battery Charger :: OPTIMA® Batteries

I have the 1200, but right now I use my regular built in charger for my TM batteries until I can get them hooked up to this charger then I will use it for all 3.

Thanks jig rig! Great information there!

I've been running a pair of interstate batteries for about 6 years and there still going strong.