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

Quote:

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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.

OK Shadow,
Here ya go, a sneak preview of what I been working on this summer.
Site is incomplete and will launch soon.
This is not an advertisement.

Some good comments on battery facts so far but I will add my 2 cents.
If your looking for a bigger gas tank such as trolling time then consider the reserve capacity rating.
This number tells you the minutes under 25 amp load and still maintain certain voltage.
This is how to measure capacity of deep cycle batteries, but only one of several rates given, such as CA, CCA, MCA, AH.



Product Comparison

Product Details
Product	D31M 8052-161, Optima BLUE TOP Marine Deep Cycle Battery	31MDC, Exide Nautilus Marine & RV Deep Cycle Battery	8A31DTM, 12 Month Deka Intimidator Deep Cycle AGM Battery
Image	http://www.labatteries.com/shoponlin...NGLE-90x90.jpg	http://www.labatteries.com/shoponlin...mark-90x90.jpg	http://www.labatteries.com/shoponlin...mark-90x90.jpg
Price	$0.00	$110.00	$228.00
Model	OPT D31M	31MDC	8A31DTM
Brand	Optima	Exide	Deka
Availability	2 - 3 Days	In Stock	In Stock
Rating	http://www.labatteries.com/shoponlin...ge/stars-0.png Based on 0 reviews.	http://www.labatteries.com/shoponlin...ge/stars-0.png Based on 0 reviews.	http://www.labatteries.com/shoponlin...ge/stars-0.png Based on 0 reviews.
Summary	Optima BLUE TOP D31M 12 Volt 900 CCA/1125 MCA Marine Deep Cycle 8052-161 Ultra high-performance SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY® AGM (absorbent glass mat) dual-purpose battery for marine and RV. BLUETOP®..	Exide 31MDC 12 Volt 725 CCA/900 CA Deep Cycle ..	Deka 8A31DTM 12 Volt 800 CCA/1000 MCA AGM Battery ..
Weight	59.80lb	0.00lb	69.00lb
Dimensions (L x W x H)	12.19in x 6.56in x 9.38in	13.00in x 6.81in x 9.88in	12.94in x 6.75in x 9.38in
Power Rating
Voltage	12	12	12
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) @ 0°F	900	725	800
Marine Cranking Amps (MCA) @ 32°F	1125	900	1000
Reserve Capacity Minutes @ 25A	155	205	210
Amp Hours (20 Hr Rate)		115	105
Characteristics
BCI Group Size	31	31DC	31
Manufacturers Part Number	8052-161	31MDC	8A31DTM
Battery Type	Sealed AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)- Marine Deep Cycle	Deep Cycle Lead Acid	Sealed AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)-Deep Cycle
Terminal Type	M, Top Post & Stud (5/16P 5/16N)	M1 Post w/Stud (3/8P 5/16N)	M, Top Post & Stud (5/16P 5/16N)
Core Unit Value	1.5	1.5	1.5
Manufacturer Warranty
Free Replacement Period	24 Months	12 Months	12 Months

LINKS HAVE BEEN REMOVED

This battery is a gorilla! Used for golf cars.


Home » Shop by Brand » Trojan Battery Company » T1275, Trojan Deep Cycle Golf and Utility Battery
T1275, Trojan Deep Cycle Golf and Utility Battery

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Brand: Trojan
Product Code: T1275
Availability: In Stock
Price: $147.00

Dimensions: 12.88in X 7.13in X 10.88in (LxWxH)
Weight: 82lb
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Description Specification Product Documents Reviews (0)

Power Rating
Voltage	12
Reserve Capacity Minutes @ 25A	280
Reserve Capacity Minutes @ 56 AH	102
Amp Hours (5 Hr Rate)	120
Amp Hours (20 Hr Rate)	150
Characteristics
Manufacturers Part Number	T1275
Battery Type	Flooded Lead Acid-Deep Cycle
Terminal Type	LPT, Low Profile Post w/ 5/16 Stud
Core Unit Value	2.0

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jig rig

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.(thats not what we want for a trolling motor):crazy: However, Gel and AGM batteries do not need watering,(so what, maybe water'em once every few years) are safer (no acid spilling out),(been running flooded for years and aint spilling nothing) can be placed in a variety of positions,(mine sit in the back on a tray, who cares) have a slower self-discharge characteristic,true and are more efficient in charging and discharging than flooded batteries. Gel batteries NOT, need special charger, no benefits-AGM Yes Gel batteries are more suitable for deep cycling applications whereas AGM batteries are more for light cycling and engine-starting applications. :Rofl

HTH

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....................

you looking for a cranking or trolling battery?

Ive been using everstart marine from wal mart since I have owned a boat so for year and years lol. And I love them never ever have a problem and since I do allot of night fishing ( running lights and general electronics for hours and hours my battery never fails.
Hope this helps

Hello, I noticed your conversation involving our batteries and wanted to offer some assistance. As Tommy suggested in the frequency with which he trades out boats, he is a tournament angler sponsored by many companies and we are one of them. First and foremost, the quality of our batteries has never been better. Jig rig's suggestion that another brand can offer up to four times the reserve capacity of our batteries is very misleading. Every manufacturer looks for a balance between cranking amps and reserve capacity, with some trade-off for one versus the other, but I have yet to come across a manufacturer that can defy the laws of physics and cram four times as much energy into the same space (group size) we're using for our batteries. For tournament anglers, weight is also a concern for accessing shallow areas, so some anglers like to compare reserve capacity and cranking amps per pound.

If someone is going to compare batteries, I would encourage them (as some here have done) to pick a group size, post the cranking amps, reserve capacity, warranty coverage and price. Did you know some battery companies can reduce or eliminate your warranty coverage if you discharge your battery below a minimum voltage level or use your batteries in an environment that exceeds a certain temperature? Both are likely to happen in any fishing application located in the continental US. We don't do that with our warranty coverage and it looks like links to manufacturer sites here are prohibited, but our warranty is easy to find on our site. skiptomylu is also correct that we will extend warranty coverage by an additional year if our Digital 1200 is purchased with the battery from us.

While some folks lump gel and AGM batteries into the same group, they are different technologies with different characteristics. We are owned by Johnson Controls, which has produced hundreds of millions of batteries, both flooded and AGM. With that background, we state clearly in our claims that our batteries can last up to twice as long as a traditional flooded battery, but the bottom line for battery life regardless of brand or manufacturer, is proper voltage maintenance. Whenever any battery is discharged below 12.4 volts and left sitting in that state, sulfation begins to form in the battery, which diminishes both capacity and lifespan. That makes a quality battery maintenance device an excellent investment for any battery doesn't see regular use. Keep your batteries fully-charged (about 13.0-13.2 volts for our BlueTop batteries) and you will maximize their lifespan, regardless of who makes them or what label is put on them.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
OPTIMA® Batteries (optimabatteries) on Pinterest

Oh no.......discussion looming about tech stuff and NOT sacalait......

I put three Optima D34's in my boat over six years ago and literally have not touched them since! I keep the charger on them at all times and fish most weekends.....They run my MinnKota Terrova on a 20 ft glass Triton and I have never run out of power during a full day of trolling. I have been gone fishing a whole weekend where it was not convenient to charge and they have lasted both day's. When I need more batteries they will be Optima's....Put them in your boat and forget 'em! Take worrying about your batteries out of the equation come tourney time!!!

OK guys/gals I do appreciate all the comments and views. Fishervet, I apologize for putting this here instead of the off topic but I needed a battery before the Darbonne gathering and I knew I would get better responses here. Again I apologize. I did decide to go with the Optima blue top and will see how it works out. Bruce feel free to move this to the off topic so as not to upset anyone.

Thanks again for all of the replys.

takes more than that to upset me....it can stay Bruce...no worries Shadow..

FV, it can be moved. I got the battery and no need to leave it here. Thanks

>Jig rig's suggestion that another brand can offer up to four times the reserve capacity of our batteries is very misleading.

And what is misleading about my suggestion?. Can't be the cold cranking amps. The Trogan has more (CCA) than the Optima. Not that it matters. They (Trogan) have more than enough to crank an out board.

The warranty issues are a problem with the Optima batteries. Which has been lowered.

You could post the Consumer Reports comparison testing too.

The original post was about gel batteries which Optima doesn't offer.

Jig rig, you cited one specification of one of our batteries. In the next sentence, you speculated (falsely) about the quality of our products. In the sentence after that, you indicated another battery brand offers more than four times as much reserve capacity as our battery. What you didn't bother to explain was that you were comparing two entirely different battery group sizes. That's like telling someone who isn't familiar with trucks, that a Kenworth can haul more than an F-350, without explaining that one is significantly larger, significantly more expensive and may not be suitable for the same applications.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
OPTIMA® Batteries (optimabatteries) on Pinterest

Talk about misleading.

I stated "Optima battery rate 150 down to 100 minutes discharge rate at 25amps" Which one spec is in that statement?

No speculation on your products. JMO. I've got three of your mexican made batteries under the bench that failed a few months out of warrenty.

I did no comparing of batteries. Just stated the facts. Which is Trogan makes batteries with higher discharge rate capacity than Optima. If that staments is not correct send me a link that shows differant.

:popcorn

White Flag Icon

Devil Icon Which one is better? Shiners or jigs?

Move PLEASE!!! lol

Move to wot

Quote:

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Originally Posted by free bird

Devil Icon Which one is better? Shiners or jigs?

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Silly question. We all know better.

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/fi...y-emoticon.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jig rig

Optima battery rate 150 down to 100 minutes discharge rate at 25amps.

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We make multiple battery sizes, none of them matching that description. One of our most common battery sizes for marine applications is our Group D31M, which has a rated reserve capacity of 155 minutes. This capacity is determined according to BCI standards, by measuring the amount of time it takes a 25-amp discharge rate to discharge a battery down to 10.5 volts at 80 degrees farenheit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jig rig

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

---

While individual experiences can vary, the quality of our batteries has never been better (and it has always been very good). Many of the "bad" batteries returned to us under warranty are just deeply-discharged and work fine, when properly-recharged. We now sponsor the Chumpcar World Series and have installed batteries in entire fields that someone else thought were no good. If any battery fails from a manufacturing defect, it is likely to do so well within the first year of use, if not the first month. Beyond that, battery performance and lifespan is largely related to the application in which the battery is used and how the battery is maintained.

The battery you are describing is significantly larger than a Group 31 battery in every regard, weighs more than twice as much, may be significantly more expensive and may have a warranty that is significantly shorter and/or may have pro-rated coverage with more restrictions and exclusions. Our sponsored tournament anglers can pretty much pick any combination of batteries they'd like for their boats, but the freshwater anglers are very aware of how battery weight impacts their draft and subsequently, their ability to access shallower fishing locations. They don't need enough reserve capacity to cross Lake Michigan with their trolling motor, so they choose combinations that provide all the reserve capacity they do need, without putting too much weight into their boat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jig rig

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 and AGM technology is different enough, that I wouldn't lump them together in a conversation comparing technologies, especially as it relates to charging characteristics. I don't know how any battery manufacturer or brand could convince someone to pay more for an AGM battery if it didn't perform better or last longer than a flooded alternative. While I have watched an employee of another battery company bash his own AGM products in favor of his flooded products, I really don't understand why he would do that unless a profit motive was involved.

Start-stop technology is coming to the US automotive market and with it, will be a significant increase in the use of AGM batteries. Automakers are using AGM batteries instead of flooded batteries, because they are more capable of handling the increased electrical demands of these applications.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jig rig

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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Again, I'm not even sure why gel batteries are being mentioned in this thread. Someone would have to go out of their way to find a gel battery and the vast majority of the marine market uses flooded or AGM products. Lithium-based technology may be relevant at some point, but gel likely never will.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
OPTIMA® Batteries (optimabatteries) on Pinterest

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jig rig
Optima battery rate 150 down to 100 minutes discharge rate at 25amps.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by OptimaJim
We make multiple battery sizes, none of them matching that description. One of our most common battery sizes for marine applications is our Group D31M, which has a rated reserve capacity of 155 minutes. This capacity is determined according to BCI standards, by measuring the amount of time it takes a 25-amp discharge rate to discharge a battery down to 10.5 volts at 80 degrees farenheit.

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He may be pulling the data from http://d26maze4pb6to3.cloudfront.net...pecs_Sheet.pdf where the blue tops' Reserve Capacity seem to be from 100 minutes to 155 minutes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OptimaJim
While individual experiences can vary, the quality of our batteries has never been better (and it has always been very good). Many of the "bad" batteries returned to us under warranty are just deeply-discharged and work fine, when properly-recharged. We now sponsor the Chumpcar World Series and have installed batteries in entire fields that someone else thought were no good. If any battery fails from a manufacturing defect, it is likely to do so well within the first year of use, if not the first month. Beyond that, battery performance and lifespan is largely related to the application in which the battery is used and how the battery is maintained.

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I used one in a vehicle once (yellow top I believe) and it didn't last long, maybe a few months. I had a friend that was crazy about trying one, so I gave it to him for free and told him to deal with Optima on the warranty. I admit, that one bad experience may be keeping me from a good battery.

Big Mama are very good to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikeg

Big Mama are very good to.

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I've used plenty of them..........good batteries......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikeg

Big Mama are very good to.

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I had 3 of these last time I bought batteries and they did last for 3 years, I was just trying to see if I could get a little more than 3 years life. The optima I bought is replacing a big mama battery.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shadow

I had 3 of these last time I bought batteries and they did last for 3 years, I was just trying to see if I could get a little more than 3 years life. The optima I bought is replacing a big mama battery.

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Save your receipt on that Optima, if you have a warranty issue it HAS to go back to where it came from and you have to have the receipt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikeg

Big Mama are very good to.

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Where are they sold? I recently bought new batteries for my boat but could not find the Big Mama batteries... I would love to find some, last ones I replaced were at 6 years for one and just under 7 for the other.

You usually find them at outboard shops. At least that is where I found mine. I got mine at Lake Charles Yamaha, which no longer exist. I have seen them at Gene's Marine off of hwy 14 in Lake Charles. That's the only places that I know of but I am sure there are others.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bassadict69

Where are they sold? I recently bought new batteries for my boat but could not find the Big Mama batteries... I would love to find some, last ones I replaced were at 6 years for one and just under 7 for the other.

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Tri State Battery on North Market in Shreveport

I apologize for my slow response to this thread. I've been buried under e-mails since a trade show in early-November and I'm just getting caught back up now with a backlog of conversations.

TigerFanatic1, the rated reserve capacity of our various BlueTop group sizes ranges from 100 minutes for our 34M to 155 minutes for our D31M. The 34M is a starting battery, not designed for deep-cycle use, so I wouldn't recommend it in a trolling motor application.

It is a good idea as Rees Guide suggested, to keep your battery receipt. All warranties are handled by the original retailer and while many of our national retailers will have an electronic record of your purchase in their system nationwide, having the receipt often helps expedite warranty service.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
OPTIMA® Batteries (optimabatteries) on Pinterest