raekmike
Seaman
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2008
- Messages
- 58
Sorry if I ramble on here...
Everybody obviously has their opinions but...
Here are some facts. Trust me I sell them. I also use and maintain about 10 group 27 deep cycles for the boat and camper ranging from 1 to 6 years old.
There are basically 3 manufacturers that make batteries. Delphi (AC Delco). Exide (Exide, Champion, Napa). and Johnson Controls(The rest i.e. Interstate-yes Interstate, as well as Optima, Die Hard, Motorcraft, Kirkland the Costco Brand, Duralast, Energizer, Eveready, and most of the Everstarts the ones from Walmart.
I've noticed alot of talk about different brands and types and opinions on all here on iboats. By the way this place is great and alot of great stuff here guys-thanks-.
All opinions aside, everyone needs to realize its how you take care of your batteries such as never letting them sit with less than a full charge except on your way home from the water. GET EM CHARGED AS SOON AS THE BOAT IS HOME OR MOORED!!! If it's offseason top em off bi-weekly or have a battery tender do the work for you.
MISCONCEPTIONS....
Cranking amps. The bigger the motor the more cranking amps you need. FALSE partially. Higher compression motors need more cranking amps than low compression motors. This does not necessarily mean the bigger the motor the more cca you need. V8's usually run lower compression than the more high tech newer 2, 3, 4, and 6 cylinders.
Your basic group 27 deep cycle will give you typically 750 cranking amps and 600 cold cranking. Thats at 32 and 0 degrees f. This of course varies somewhat on brand but not much.
If you are using strictly a starting battery and not a starting/deep cycle for your starting battery, you could be looking at trouble eventually. The thinner plates of the starting only batteries have a great first birst of power BUT how many times have you seen boats after their launched trying to get started for several minutes? especially opening day? Hmm? You'll have alot more cranking time with the Deep cycle if you have any issues getting your stuff started. 500 to 600 cca is plenty to start most any motor with exception to high performance built stuff.
Ok sorry all I don't mean to pick on the optima's here cause they look so good, BUT...the advertising is very misleading. Twice the life does not mean it runs your trolling motor twice as long. What it means is....In their opinion it should go through twice as many re-charging cycles as a standard lead acid type battery. And again yes they look cool and don't leak. Perfect battery for a jet sled slamming rocks on the river and such. The yellow top and the Blue top are exactly the same battery except for the connectors. Yellow for Automotive and blue for Marine. Yellow has top posts and side mounts for G.M. products. The blue top has top posts and screw on wingnuts for Marine use and accesories. Both batteries have 55 yes 55 amp hours compared to 115 amp hours typically found in a group 27 standard lead acid battery such as the ones i use from COSTCO. Does this mean you can troll twice as long on a standard battery? Why yes it absolutely does. Did i believe it? No. Did I test it? Yes. Do I belive now? Absolutely! Unless you have a very specific application where you would need a sealed battery, Do not spend the money on an optima to look cool with your friends. Buy 2 standard group 27's and stay on the water catching fish for 4 times as long with the 2. But pack a big cooler and a lunch cause you won't be going back to the truck till dark.
Battery Chargers:.....If your in the market for one still. I would highly recommend one that has a desulfate feature which reconditions the battery. Sounds like hocus pocus but I've brought many a battery back from just about death to near new condition by using this. It breaks up the buildup on the plates that happens over time and allow the battery to accept a full or near full charge like it did when it was new. I use a husky that I purchased at Home Depot for around 60 or 70 bucks and its a 20/10/2 charger to boot.
Bottom line is.. Keep goin with the brand of batteries you like (cause most are the same lol) and just keep em charged and take care of your sh*t) Personally look for the best price with the best warranty. My bets have always been at Costco for price and warranty, but choose for yourself...
One Last Thing... DO NOT EVER BUY ANY BOAT BATTERY OR PART FROM SOMEONE WHO MAKES A COMMISION. PLEASE PEOPLE PLEASE!!!
Everybody obviously has their opinions but...
Here are some facts. Trust me I sell them. I also use and maintain about 10 group 27 deep cycles for the boat and camper ranging from 1 to 6 years old.
There are basically 3 manufacturers that make batteries. Delphi (AC Delco). Exide (Exide, Champion, Napa). and Johnson Controls(The rest i.e. Interstate-yes Interstate, as well as Optima, Die Hard, Motorcraft, Kirkland the Costco Brand, Duralast, Energizer, Eveready, and most of the Everstarts the ones from Walmart.
I've noticed alot of talk about different brands and types and opinions on all here on iboats. By the way this place is great and alot of great stuff here guys-thanks-.
All opinions aside, everyone needs to realize its how you take care of your batteries such as never letting them sit with less than a full charge except on your way home from the water. GET EM CHARGED AS SOON AS THE BOAT IS HOME OR MOORED!!! If it's offseason top em off bi-weekly or have a battery tender do the work for you.
MISCONCEPTIONS....
Cranking amps. The bigger the motor the more cranking amps you need. FALSE partially. Higher compression motors need more cranking amps than low compression motors. This does not necessarily mean the bigger the motor the more cca you need. V8's usually run lower compression than the more high tech newer 2, 3, 4, and 6 cylinders.
Your basic group 27 deep cycle will give you typically 750 cranking amps and 600 cold cranking. Thats at 32 and 0 degrees f. This of course varies somewhat on brand but not much.
If you are using strictly a starting battery and not a starting/deep cycle for your starting battery, you could be looking at trouble eventually. The thinner plates of the starting only batteries have a great first birst of power BUT how many times have you seen boats after their launched trying to get started for several minutes? especially opening day? Hmm? You'll have alot more cranking time with the Deep cycle if you have any issues getting your stuff started. 500 to 600 cca is plenty to start most any motor with exception to high performance built stuff.
Ok sorry all I don't mean to pick on the optima's here cause they look so good, BUT...the advertising is very misleading. Twice the life does not mean it runs your trolling motor twice as long. What it means is....In their opinion it should go through twice as many re-charging cycles as a standard lead acid type battery. And again yes they look cool and don't leak. Perfect battery for a jet sled slamming rocks on the river and such. The yellow top and the Blue top are exactly the same battery except for the connectors. Yellow for Automotive and blue for Marine. Yellow has top posts and side mounts for G.M. products. The blue top has top posts and screw on wingnuts for Marine use and accesories. Both batteries have 55 yes 55 amp hours compared to 115 amp hours typically found in a group 27 standard lead acid battery such as the ones i use from COSTCO. Does this mean you can troll twice as long on a standard battery? Why yes it absolutely does. Did i believe it? No. Did I test it? Yes. Do I belive now? Absolutely! Unless you have a very specific application where you would need a sealed battery, Do not spend the money on an optima to look cool with your friends. Buy 2 standard group 27's and stay on the water catching fish for 4 times as long with the 2. But pack a big cooler and a lunch cause you won't be going back to the truck till dark.
Battery Chargers:.....If your in the market for one still. I would highly recommend one that has a desulfate feature which reconditions the battery. Sounds like hocus pocus but I've brought many a battery back from just about death to near new condition by using this. It breaks up the buildup on the plates that happens over time and allow the battery to accept a full or near full charge like it did when it was new. I use a husky that I purchased at Home Depot for around 60 or 70 bucks and its a 20/10/2 charger to boot.
Bottom line is.. Keep goin with the brand of batteries you like (cause most are the same lol) and just keep em charged and take care of your sh*t) Personally look for the best price with the best warranty. My bets have always been at Costco for price and warranty, but choose for yourself...
One Last Thing... DO NOT EVER BUY ANY BOAT BATTERY OR PART FROM SOMEONE WHO MAKES A COMMISION. PLEASE PEOPLE PLEASE!!!
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