TOPIC:

Hi guys. I'm looking to purchase 2 new trolling motor batteries for my boat. They will be used in a 24v system. There is a lot of stuff out there so I thought I would see what you guys have to say. Thanks for your input as always.

Some thoughts:

1) Make sure to get deep cycle
2) Get the largest battery you can
3) Look at the reserve rating, make sure its the highest you can get

I used to have Cabelas branded batteries (not sure who makes them - deka maybe?). After 4 years it was time to replace them and the search was on. The best I could find were Duracell branded from Sam's Club believe it or not. The spec's were excellent and they have been great thus far.

Model number of the Duracell was 31DTMAGM

www.samsclub.com/sams/duracell-agm-deep-...tmagm/prod3590232.ip

After years of changing out my deep cycles after 3 or so years I went with the Optima Blue Top batteries. They are more money but I get a steadier discharge voltage as the battery is being used and 6 years later they hold a charge just like they were new.

I think you meant "Lead Acid" instead of deep cycles as the blue top are still deep cycle batteries. The optima's and duracells I mention above are AGM batteries which offer alot of benefits over traditional lead acid including amount of charge / discharge cycles, charging time, deeper discharge.

Like safecracker mentioned - the voltage does not hit a point and fall off a cliff like lead acid does.

Dirty wrote:

I think you meant "Lead Acid" instead of deep cycles as the blue top are still deep cycle batteries.

Yes, I ditched the Lead Acid for the AGM batteries.

Me too! so far so good. I am happy.

Probably the biggest thing about batteries is to take care of them and keep them charged. Letting them discharge to low levels will murder them........that and the cold. The colder they are, the faster they self discharge.

So if you store your boat outside for the winter, dont leave the battery in it. Get in the basement or garage on a trickle charger.

Most peoples struggles with battery life are often related to how they take care of them.

one thing not mentioned but important.
make sure the battery charger used is the rite kind for the batteries you choose and or chose the batteries to match the charger you currently have

you don't want to find out later you need a different battery charger and now have to spend more money on the proper charger

Thanks guys for your input. As for the AGM batteries, will any brand do for those?

Good point Frank!

Definitely need to have something on the new side. Your trickle charger from 1989 is probably going to be bad news. Most newer chargers (5-7 yrs old) will have the power electronics to detect and optimize AGM charging.

badredram wrote:

Thanks guys for your input. As for the AGM batteries, will any brand do for those?

Well to a certain extent you get what you pay for........sort of.

What often is critical is the structure in the battery itself. The cheap ones are built like a walmart bookshelf while others are built like a tank.

Likewise, there are poorly built batteries that are expensive. and well built batteries that are on the "less expensive side". Case in point above. Safecracker has some very expensive optimas. "likely" better built than the duracells I have, I am pretty sure of that. The duracells have better specs than the Optimas however, so I took the price / performance risk. I have only had mine for less than one year, and while they have been excellent, I cannot claim them as great - only time will tell. Safecrackers experience with the Optimas has obviously been very good.

What ever you do, dont buy $300 batteries. They are likely way overpriced and will not live up to that.