Best trolling Motor Batteries?

[eyedabassman]

I need two new batteries for my trolling motor. So what are some good batteries you guys like? I have a minn-kota 74 lb. thrust.

[Dwight Hottle]

Take a look at sears platinum batteries. They are an AGM. Maintenance free, no water to add.

[South FLA]

Take a look at sears platinum batteries. They are an AGM. Maintenance free, no water to add.

I second the above advice.  They are made by Odyssey for Sears and Odyssey batteries are awesome!!

[eyedabassman]

Do you know what they cost?

[bass or bass ?]

I like the Everstart Maxx from Wal-Mart. @ $75.

[eyedabassman]

I was thinking of getting the Interstate batteries. I can get a deal two for $ 129.00 with tax! I just am not sure if there is a better battery out there for the money!

[Way2slow]

Odssey, way over priced, has the least amount of run time, and not that good.

Everstart Maxx, cheap battery, but usually gives a couple of years severvice.  Good choice for those that don't take care of their batteries

Insterstate is a good battery for those listed so far but if you want the best quality, get a DEKA.  They don't have quite the runtime of the Trojan's but the DC31 will give all most people could ever need, but if taken care of, they will last a long time.  I run the DC31's on the TM and the DP27 for a cranking battery.   

[SPAZ]

DEKA batteries are top notch.  A lot of the car audio folks use them.

[Mike Z]

I cannot comment on the best battery, but can say that the AGM batteries do have a leg up as far as life and reliability go. Also, make sure you have a trickle charger set up to keep the batteries topped off between uses and after you charge back up. Using a trickle charger can make a battery last 2-3x as long when you go for periods of time without using as many do with marine and motorcycle applications. Don't get one of those super chargers that charge a battery in 30 minutes. Over charging or fast charging a battery will shorten its lifespan. The manufacturer will have a guide as to how to charge the battery. In general, the smaller the battery, the slower you need to charge. Heat kills a battery, but in a marine application I am not sure I would be worried.

Last, if you are in or near a larger city, check the yellow pages for battery wholesalers. Depending on the battery and who you deal with, you can save a considerable amount. They may ask if you have an account, but you may be able to wiggle your way in to a discount if you are nice enough. I am fortunate enough to be working for a very large company and get discounts at most of our vendors. Never hurts to try and drop a name.

[eyedabassman]

Odssey, way over priced, has the least amount of run time, and not that good.

Everstart Maxx, cheap battery, but usually gives a couple of years severvice. Good choice for those that don't take care of their batter

Insterstate is a good battery for those listed so far but if you want the best quality, get a DEKA. They don't have quite the runtime of the Trojan's but the DC31 will give all most people could ever need, but if taken care of, they will last a long time. I run the DC31's on the TM and the DP27 for a cranking battery.

Do you know what the cost is of a DEKA battery?

[Javelin200]

I've always used Delco Voyagers (Series 27), and they've served me very well. Maintenance free is a bonus any more in a flooded cell battery. Should be able to find them for around a C note.

[Way2slow]

Actually, I don't know the normal selling price of the Deca's.  We sell them but our prices are very inflated.  Also, since the Deca's distributor is only a few doors up from my shop and I'm pretty good customer of theirs, when I buy my personal batteries, I wait until they get in a load of blems in and get those, at about 1/5 the market price.

The main benifit of AGM's is they are maintenance rather maintenance free and can be placed in any position in a virtually unvented compartment.   They do have a higher cycle life than most deep cycle batteries but you do give up considerable runtime over similar size flooded cell batteries.

In applications were it's difficult to gain access to the batteries or the batteries need to positioned other than face up, I use AGM's.  For everything else, I recommend flooded cell batteries.  AGM's are very expensive and provide less run time.  The additional cycle life of the AGM's does not offset the difference in cost over a quality flooded cell battery.

85% of how much better the AGM's are is all sales pitch.  They want you to think they are the greatest thing since slice bread, so they can make those big bucks off them when you don't need one.

[eyedabassman]

Actually, I don't know the normal selling price of the Deca's. We sell them but our prices are very inflated. Also, since the Deca's distributor is only a few doors up from my shop and I'm pretty good customer of theirs, when I buy my personal batteries, I wait until they get in a load of blems in and get those, at about 1/5 the market price.

The main benifit of AGM's is they are maintenance rather maintenance free and can be placed in any position in a virtually unvented compartment. They do have a higher cycle life than most deep cycle batteries but you do give up considerable runtime over similar size flooded cell batteries.

In applications were it's difficult to gain access to the batteries or the batteries need to positioned other than face up, I use AGM's. For everything else, I recommend flooded cell batteries. AGM's are very expensive and provide less run time. The additional cycle life of the AGM's does not offset the difference in cost over a quality flooded cell battery.

85% of how much better the AGM's are is all sales pitch. They want you to think they are the greatest thing since slice bread, so they can make those big bucks off them when you don't need one.

Thanks, Way2Slow for your help and thanks to everyone and my buddy Spaz! I think I will stay with the InterState Batteries! I can get two for $ 129 and that is with tax. When I ordered my Triton it came with the InterState batteries and i did keep them up so they are 6 years old and the started to act up last year. I think the norm for trolling batteries is about 4 years so I did very good with mine! So I should stay with a good thing!

[Josh Bassman]

I was thinking of getting the Interstate batteries. I can get a deal two for $ 129.00 with tax! I just am not sure if there is a better battery out there for the money!

Where are you finding this deal? I'm getting ready to buy some new interstate bat. and they are $129 each.

[florida strain]

i have always prefered interstate marine as well, never had a issue.

[eyedabassman]

I was thinking of getting the Interstate batteries. I can get a deal two for $ 129.00 with tax! I just am not sure if there is a better battery out there for the money!

Where are you finding this deal? I'm getting ready to buy some new interstate bat. and they are $129 each.

My buddy's wife works there and she is a big wig! :)

[thetr20one]

With out a doubt TROJAN batteries. Hands down the best deep cycle marine batteries out there. You get what you pay for!!!

[mike304]

my buddy uses Interstates and he says they are great.

I know guys who really like Deka's too.

[Way2slow]

Trojan batteries are very good, but they have gone downhill some over the past couple of years.  They also lost their contract with one of the major golf cart manufactors and they are feeling the strain.

The Trojan SSC225 still provides more run time than just about any TM deepcycle on the market and they still give a long life cycle.  As for the Best battery though, the Deka is a better battery, just doesn't have quite the runtime the SSC225 does. Not everybody needs every second on runtime possible to get thru a days fishing. 

[Andy Taylor]

I like the Everstart Maxx from Wal-Mart. @ $75.

Is the Everstart battery maintenance free? I'm looking for a maintenance free deep cycle battery, under $100. Is that doable? Thanks.

[Bounce]

Thanks for all the good info guys.  My bass boat has the Waly World specials, but I'm putting a trolling motor on my canoe, so that's a little more critical as far as the run time.

Skip

[Tpayneful]

I have Deka 31's in my Stratos 294XLE.  My Partner has Deka 31's in his Skeeter Z190.  I have a Minnkota Maxxum  70lb trolling motor and he has a Minnkota Edge 70lb trolling motor.  I can run my trolling motor all day on a windy day with my Deka batteries.  I can even go2.6 MPH max speed.  He can only get 6 hours of continuous use on switch setting 3 and then the batteries are flat dead.  His top speed is 2.0 MPH.  His problem isn't his batteries, it is his old technology trolling motor.  I am sure that he would get more run time if he had a Maxxum.  Something to think about. 

[ksboy]

Aren't most of the battery brands being mentioned made by Yuasa-Exide??

[marinetech]

trojans the only way to go. stay away from agm's for trolling motor batts. If you discharge them to low , you have to eqaulize them to bring them back and its a pain  to do it right , we have to do our customers agm's when they run them down to low.

[Way2slow]

Deka's are from East Penn Manufactoring, a family owned american company.

Unless something has changed recently, Trojan's are their own brand and an american company.

US Battery is another excellent, american made battery, but they I don't think they market to the public, just OEM.