Cranking Battery Question

[NathanW]

Wondering what kind of cranking batteries people are running these days in thier bass boats? I have had a Optima Blue Top that that may be failing me (I have not tested it yet but on Sunday I had my first no-start since I installed the thing midway through the 2010 season)

 

Are there any descent Lead-Acid batteries under 150.00 that people are getting a couple years out of?? I never found luck with them as crankers but I was buying $90.00 Autozone/Everstart type stuff. Are Optimas still worth the price tag or do any well-versed electrical guys swear on another brand? Let me know.

[ww2farmer]

I have regularly been getting two trouble free years out of  the $75  group 24 everstarts. They are replaced at the end of the second year no matter what. Granted I am starting a smaller motor on an aluminum boat, and running smaller electronics with it, and I only fish about a dozen tournaments a year, and half of them are 3 hour affairs with the livewell running, but still each battery is used about 300+ times in that two year period with no additional charging except my outboards alternator. Are you running them down pretty good between charging? Most guys I know with bigger glass rigs have a multi bank onboard charger with a bank dedicated to the cranker to keep it fully charged between, and after heavy use.

[RyneB]

I run Die Hards and have not had a problem. My neighbor owns several battery stores in Illinois and he swears by Everlasts and Die Hards. I was thinking of switching all my batterys over to Optimas and he talked me out of it. Then my friends dads Optima just quit holding a charge. My brother in law also had an Optima just quit on him.

[Jig Man]

I run the Seard Die Hard agm as a cranker and Optimas on the Tmotor.

[BuckMaxx]

Everstarts are the way to go...plus Walmart has a good return policy if they hit the crapper.

[NathanW]

Everstarts are the way to go...plus Walmart has a good return policy if they hit the crapper.

 

 

I have regularly been getting two trouble free years out of  the $75  group 24 everstarts. They are replaced at the end of the second year no matter what. Granted I am starting a smaller motor on an aluminum boat, and running smaller electronics with it, and I only fish about a dozen tournaments a year, and half of them are 3 hour affairs with the livewell running, but still each battery is used about 300+ times in that two year period with no additional charging except my outboards alternator. Are you running them down pretty good between charging? Most guys I know with bigger glass rigs have a multi bank onboard charger with a bank dedicated to the cranker to keep it fully charged between, and after heavy use.

I use a promarine on board 3 bank charger and completely dedicate my cranking battery to my motor. So I really cannot run it down too much.

 

I use the Everstart maxx as my trolling motor battery. I get about 1.5 seasons out of each one and have found that in that price range nothing compares to the amp hours.

 

My question is this. Are you guys running the MAXX combo or just pure cranking marine batteries? I had very bad luck with the Maxx combo batteries as crankers, tried two with same results from both, had some very sad times trolling several miles back to the ramp. My father-inlaw, who is a farmer and knows plenty about batteries tested both of them and neither one was charging to proper CCA levels. Pretty sure that Exide was the manufacturer back then though, not that it really matters because Johnson Controls is probably building them to the same specification.

 

As soon as I bought the Optima I went just under 3 years without a no start. I am hesitant about buying a new Optima because they no longer sell them at Coscto for $150.00.

 

Also, guys that are using Die Hards. How many seasons do you get? And I must have 100% trouble free because I mostly fish a river system. Would you say the Die Hards are trouble free, no-worries type of deal?

[tnriverluver]

I run the Autozone Duralast batteries and have for the past 15 years in my cars, trucks, and boat as the cranking battery.  I have gotten 8 years from every single one so far.  They are a great battery and have a very good warranty-replacement if needed.  My son did just have one fail in his 2004 F150 that was 2 years old and they replaced it without even checking it.

[topwaterrob]

I use the walmart batteries and get a good 2-3yrs out of them... 

[bass crazy]

 I have been using sears platinum batteries with no problem. Exspensive yes. Not looking forward to replacing them down the road for a while I hope. I like the convince of not having to check the water level. I charge them with an onboard dual bank chargerwhen I come in from fishing. I have been buying sears batteries for over 40 years  for my vechicles

 

On a car forum that I read daily there have been a lot of negative coments on the optima batteries. Quality has gone down hill since thy where intorduced several years a go is the general opinion.