New battery recommendations

[Rip_lipz]

Hey everyone,

 

Looking to get all new battery's for my 98 ranger 518dvs. I need some opinions on what sizes and brands. Last year I killed my cranking battery after about 6 hours on the water. I had to put a 4th battery to run the electronics this was kind of annoying because I only have a 3 bank charger. I would like to stick with 3 battery's. Also would like to stay under 500 bucks for all 3.

 

Electronics

 

Johnson venom 200hp

2 8ft power poles

2 helix 9s

1 helix 7

ultrex 80 thrust 24v

hummingbird 360 transducer

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

[BassThumb]

Dual Purpose X2Power group 31 AGM for the cranking and electronics. Paid $350 at Batteries Plus. Group 31 is probably a little overkill to be honest. 

 

I was killing my lead acid cranking battery last season with a Helix 12 and 9 to the point I couldn't turn the motor over after about 6 hours on the lake. The new AGM holds more than enough charge, but they're not cheap. Ive had 14 hour trips with no issue.

 

I'd throw two group 31 Interstate lead acid marine batteries on the other side for the troller. It'll push the bill a bit over $500 total. I know they get mixed reviews but I've always gotten 5-6 good years out of them for the same purpose.

[WRB]

How did you kill a battery in 8 hrs usage? You mean you ran the voltage down below 11 1/2V  and it wouldn't start the big OB.

$175 X 3 = $525 within your budget?

Tom

[Rip_lipz]

2 minutes ago, BassThumb said:

Dual Purpose X2Power group 31 AGM for the cranking and electronics. Paid $350 at Batteries Plus. Group 31 is probably a little overkill to be honest. 

 

I was killing my lead acid cranking battery last season with a Helix 12 and 9 to the point I couldn't turn the motor over after about 6 hours on the lake. The new AGM holds more than enough charge, but they're not cheap. Ive had 14 hour trips with no issue.

 

I'd throw two group 31 Interstate lead acid marine batteries on the other side for the troller. It'll push the bill a bit over $500 total. I know they get mixed reviews but I've always gotten 5-6 good years out of them for the same purpose.

Thank you. I fish anywhere from 6-12 hours, having something reliable to run the electronics and crank is worth a little extra money. The interstates in the boat now have 2013 stickers so they are ready to be switched out. Scared the **** out of myself last year, my motor would not crank and I was about 700 feet from a rock dam in fast moving current. I keep tools and did a quick switch to the trolling battery's got me out of that situation, thankfully.

1 minute ago, WRB said:

How did you kill a battery in 8 hrs usage? You mean you ran the voltage down below 11 1/2V  and it wouldn't start the big OB.

$175 X 3 = $525 within your budget?

Tom

All of my electronics switched off and I could not crank the motor. Never checked the voltage but I would assume it was fairly low. 525 is in my budget, if I have to spend a little extra for reliability, ill be a happy man.

[Tennessee Boy]

1 hour ago, Rip_lipz said:

Electronics

 

Johnson venom 200hp

2 8ft power poles

2 helix 9s

1 helix 7

ultrex 80 thrust 24v

hummingbird 360 transducer

 

That’s a lot of stuff to run off one battery.  You probably also have a network switch,  a gps heading sensor for the 360, and a heading sensor for the  Ultrex.  

[Rip_lipz]

1 minute ago, Tennessee Boy said:

That’s a lot of stuff the run off one battery.  You probably also have a network switch,  a gps heading sensor for the 360, and a heading sensor for the  Ultrex.  

Yes sir. I agree.

[Tennessee Boy]

Have you considered staying with four batteries and finding a solution for charging them.  I wonder if charging two batteries with one bank with a battery isolator would work.  Would love to know if anyone on here has tried that approach.

[WRB]

You need a battery 40-50 amp on/off switch when charging the cranking battery so you iosalte computer. 

A good group 31 AGM deep cycle cranking battery should do what you need. Duracell Platinum and VMax Tank MR137-120 are around $225 shipped. I would suggest starting with changing the 1 cranking battery first and change the TM's to the same brand after you try the new battery.

Tom

PS, short jumper cables don't take up much room.