Siebert Outdoors Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 What size and type of battery are you using for your starting battery on your boat? I'm looking to get another Optima but I'm looking at all brands. I'd like to have something lighter and no water fills. I noticed Cabelas has a good deal on AGM's. Its to start a Ficht 225 and run all the other goods. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted January 27, 2014 Super User Posted January 27, 2014 Get the largest dual purpose battery you can fit in the boat. It's going to be about 20 pounds heavier than your Optima, but it's also going to have one and half times more power reserve minutes than your Optima has. As for what make, that's why they make so many different brands, everybody has their own favorite, so I will leave that one up to you. I run Deka by East Penn Manufacturing, batteries but those are also the same ones NAPA, Bass Pro Shop and a lot of other name brands put their label on. You have to remember, there are only about five battery manufactures left in the US with Johnson Controls being the biggest. However, with that said, that doesn't mean that everything Johnson control ships out under different labels are the same battery, they are not. I don't mess with imports, however, some of the batteries out of Japan are excellent batteries, the others I would not touch. Don't forget that Ficht needs a lot of CCA/MCA so don't skimp there. Quote
Trek Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 I loved my Optima's in my last boat. I choose last year on this boat not to buy them because I needed four this time with a 36 volt system. My boat is a 2010. The batteries always seem to poop out at three years. I bought Duracell from Sam's Club. They use to sell Optima but I don't think they do now. My starter battery went bad in about three weeks but they did replace it with no problems. The trolling motor batteries have held up all year with plenty of power. But it's that little thing in the back of my head that worries about them. I'm always checking to see their charged and backing off the usage because I think their going to die. When these die I will go back to Optima or what ever the best battery in the world is no matter what the outrages price is just to not worry about them again. There is nothing worse then a dead battery and the tournament is not over. Even though the last time that happened to me we won the tournament. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 27, 2014 Super User Posted January 27, 2014 Sears has a 3 year free replacement on the die hard platinum but they ain't cheap. 1 Quote
Super User RoLo Posted January 28, 2014 Super User Posted January 28, 2014 I've had good luck with Interstate, my cranking battery is now over 3 years old. Roger 1 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted January 28, 2014 Super User Posted January 28, 2014 If the sky is the limit, go for the lithium ion batteries. There are a few brands out there, but they're much smaller, lighter, and more powerful. Check out this article on Bassmasters. Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 28, 2014 Super User Posted January 28, 2014 The Sears Die Hard AGM PM-1 is what I have been running with my 2 hds units, 2 lss boxes, aerator and the Opti that needs lots of CCAs. It cost about the same as my Optimas that I have on the trolling motor. Like stated it has a 3 year warranty and comes with 1150 CCA. It has never failed to crank the opti even in 20° temps after an hour on the road to the water. When this one goes, I'll buy another just like it. 2 Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted January 28, 2014 Super User Posted January 28, 2014 The Sears Die Hard AGM PM-1 is what I have been running with my 2 hds units, 2 lss boxes, aerator and the Opti that needs lots of CCAs. It cost about the same as my Optimas that I have on the trolling motor. Like stated it has a 3 year warranty and comes with 1150 CCA. It has never failed to crank the opti even in 20° temps after an hour on the road to the water. When this one goes, I'll buy another just like it. I second this opinion. They weigh 75lbs each in this size. 1 Quote
Brian Needham Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 The Sears Die Hard AGM PM-1 is what I have been running with my 2 hds units, 2 lss boxes, aerator and the Opti that needs lots of CCAs. It cost about the same as my Optimas that I have on the trolling motor. Like stated it has a 3 year warranty and comes with 1150 CCA. It has never failed to crank the opti even in 20° temps after an hour on the road to the water. When this one goes, I'll buy another just like it. the pm-1 is really the only serious long term choice when talking about cranking batteries, IMO. Quote
gone2thedogs Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 definitely lithium hard to beat on lbs and power and charge rate ect. look at that article on Bassmasters and a 10 yr, life expectancy so worth the money Quote
Nice_Bass Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 I've had good luck with Interstate, my cranking battery is now over 3 years old. Roger same... Quote
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