Trolling motor batteries

bassinjoe44 · Post by **bassinjoe44** » Mon May 15, 2006 10:05 pm

In the market for some new batteries.Just trying to get some opinions on what everybody likes.I`ve got a Minn kota 74lb.Any info would be greatly appreciated.Thanks

W.C · Post by **W.C** » Mon May 15, 2006 10:22 pm

The Optimas are the best batteries i have ever had. u won't be dissapointed. they r solid batteries wish mean u don't have to do anything but charge them... just think ! u don't have to take them out to see if they r leaking any acid or u don't have to fill them with water every so many months. "what a hassle that was for me in my boat.
Trust me the Optimas are that good. i won't buy anything else from now on.... just my two cent. take it for what it's worth... and no they don't sponcer me... i wish!

MrSkeeter · Post by **MrSkeeter** » Mon May 15, 2006 11:09 pm

There'll be folks supporting batteries like Optimas, Trojans, Delco, etc. Here's what I know or have heard through the grapevine as I did a little search recently ...

Optimas are real nice ... kind of expensive (~$150/ea) ... somewhat lighter than others maybe, sealed batteries so no leakage or water evaporation issue. What I heard was that if you run them down completely ... like I've done at times w/ my wet cells, sometimes they don't recover ... oops $150 out of luck?

Trojans are real nice ... but they've come up in price SIGNIFICANTLY. The end of last year, one could have bought one for less than a hundred dollars. Now, the cheapest I've been able to find was a little over $140 (they list for $185 I think). These are excellent batteries, but they weight a TON!!

Personally, I've been using some Walmart Everlast series 31's that go for $60 or 70/ea. They come w/ a 2-yr replacement warantee from Walmart if the batteries fail to hold charge during that time. After the 2 year period, it get's pro-rated. I usually get about 3-4 years of moderate use from them. I have them for my starting and trolling motor (I have a Minn Kota ProMax80) batteries. I can usually get a full 2 day of use on them on one charge. But if I have the livewells and others running, it'll be somewhat less.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:29 am

I had to go to Optimas when I went to 24v, to make three batteries fit in my compartment. The batteries are great. They stay the same from morning to night, without running down much like my old Interstate.
Optima also has a great warranty. I had a problem with one of mine after a year+, and they sent me two new ones, no charge.

Kelly Ripa · Post by **Kelly Ripa** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:34 am

I don't like batteries that are iffy and now I don't even think about them as they just flat out deliver the goods when you want it.

reellittlephish · Post by **reellittlephish** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:28 pm

All good comments. I think you get what you pay for in batteries. I got a pair of SCS225 Trojans for the 24v Trolling Motor and take it out on Mead and Mojave - always reliable for 2 years and I can fish off them for 2 days before recharge without drawing down below 70%. Cranking Battery is Optima Blue top group 24 and I like the more "linear" discharge rate of that. with all the elcetronics on board, if I had to do it over and $$ was no object I'd get a group 31 Optima for a cranking battery, and stay with the Trojans for the TM.

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:18 pm

buy some of the ones these guys mentioned.

Otherwise, buy a set of Wal-Mart Everstart group 29 deep cycles, for $65 each. And here's the kicker..... Make sure you keep your reciepts, and bring them back for full "FREE" replacement every 17 months, for the rest of your life !

I don't know about you, but I can pretty much kill a group 29 deep cycle in 17 months anyway, "even if they did actually test them"...... but if they did actually test one, and they thought it was "not quite weak enough yet", there are plenty of ways to finish that job (but I never had to do that). I have never been exactly sure what constitutes a bad battery, but I feel like when it gets down to holding a charge for only half of what it did as new, its time for another "free" replacement.

Fish

PS, Talk about getting what you paid for..... Well lets see, I originally paid for 2 batteries at $65 each. That's $130. I think each has been replaced about 6 times. That's 14 batteries for less than $10 each. "Always the lowest price" is sure right !

Hey, now that I think about it, I think I have one that needs to be replaced again soon....

Richard - Sonora · Post by **Richard - Sonora** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:38 am

My experinence is similar to Chris'. I got some good advice last summer when the discussion of batteries came up. Go with the biggest Wal-Mart Marine that you can fit in the space(s). They don't cost a lot, they perform well and can be replaced under warranty virtually anywhere we fish. Think about it. R-S

Kelly Ripa · Post by **Kelly Ripa** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:25 am

But stay away from Sears! I used to rent my batteries just like everyone else however the last time I brought in my batteries they would not exchange one because when they hooked both batteries up and tested them for 45 minutes while I waited they simply handed me to slips of paper. One said one battery could be replaced and the other said that it had tested within their parameters and they would not allow me to return it. Well after I was done telling Mr. Manager what I thought of that I left both batteries sitting there and went and bought the optimas. No more yelling as they have a warranty and of course I have a reciept. The guy at Sears who tested the batteries said the same as you all just buy 'em and return them but if the boss man ain't gonna let ya return them well...Let's just say I don't buy much where America shops anymore...

fishwithron2 · Post by **fishwithron2** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:43 pm

Walmart use to sell Stow away. Now you can only buy it at Sam's club. I buy their size 31 and it sells for around $65. keep your receipt as they'er warranty for 18 month, it use to be 2 year.
Sam's Club belongs to Walmart and is their version of Price club.

ash · Post by **ash** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:01 am

I am going through the same thing right now, time for new TM batteries.

So when I buy the Walmart Everlast series 31's how long do they need to stay on the charger until I get a full charge? I have a T on Sunday and will buy them and hook them up tonight.

Thanks and Great thread!

Sacto John · Post by **Sacto John** » Thu May 18, 2006 7:38 am

You will be fine if you get them today and put them on the charger. They will be ready to go Sunday. I have the everstarts from Wally World and have not had a problem yet. I will be turning them in soon for new bateries.

ash · Post by **ash** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:47 am

Thanks, $210.00 later two batteries, oil, portable air pump OUCHIE!

Hopefully, I will no longer experiance a 50% loss of power halfway through the day.

\see you on the water Sunday

fishwithron2 · Post by **fishwithron2** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:24 pm

The Walmart around Sac don't carry the Ever Start 31's. Had to buy my Stow away at sam's club.

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:22 am

Do you happen to know the weight on them ? Believe me, if there was such a thing as a group 92, that I could still pick up and set in my boat, I'd use it.... However, my group 29's are (If I remember correctly) 63 lbs as it is ! 31's sound tempting, but not if they are over 70 lbs. I'm getting too old for all that heavy lifting. A 15 to 20 plus Largemouth is all the lifting I want to do

Peace,
Fish

FISHIN · Post by **FISHIN** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:56 pm

Optima are great

fishwithron2 · Post by **fishwithron2** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:50 pm

Next time I have my group 31's stow away out i'll weight them. I'm only 5'4 and weight 135 and have no trouble lifting them up Not much more than my old 29's which is what I had before and i'm 60+.
.

scottsweet · Post by **scottsweet** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:10 pm

I personally am using the Lightening Series batteries from Dual Pro. I have the 31 series with 1500CCA...the highest in the industry. They are heavier and more $$, but...they last a LONG time. Especially since the Verados came out, they suck up more juice.

They can be ordered if they are not stocked locally. Just call Dualpro or visit them at www.dualpro.com.

I was originally turned on to them by Gary Klein.

Scott

kb · Post by kb » Sun May 21, 2006 12:30 pm

I also use Dual Pro's and have had no problem with them at all. They are the best trolling motor battery on the market and we all know what a great company charging systems is

kb

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:20 am

I sure am glad this thread put the heat in my seat on Thursday. I bought two new Everstart Max 29's and put them on the Charger.

Folsom on Sunday put the batteries to the test and they passed, I would have been done by 11:00 if I was on my old batteries!

Thank you for a every educational thread, this forum is great!