Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

[OscarNav]

Hello again, i was wondering if anybody here run Excide Nautilus batteries for their trolling motors...? I am at a standstill in wich battery to get. Actuallly wich 2 batteries to get.

I need to buy 2 batteries to power a Minn Kota 70 trolling motor. I know these might not be the best options out there, but are the most pratical in price and warranty wise. Out of these two batteries (Maxx and Nautilus) wich one would you guys recommend...?

 

[JB]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

I know nothing about the Nautilus, but have used several Everstart Marine Maxx. The Maxx is a very good battery.

 

[John_S]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

I have used Exide Nautilus Gold, and have not been happy with their longevity. They lasted about three years each.

I purchased a Maxx battery last year, and so far, so good.

 

[OscarNav]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

So far two have voted for the Maxx, or should i say have had positive experiences with the Everstart maxx. I really like the fact that Walmart honors these batteries warranty with no problems....I yet to have problems in exchanging a Everstart, even without the receipt.

I will need to run these batteries in 24V configuration....Can i use a Walmart 4AWG jumper from One Battery (positive) to the other Battery (negative) even if this said JUMPER is not tinned (marine grade)....?

I also bought a Walmart brand charger (Schumaker Speed Charger) that puts out 2, 10, and 15 amps awhile back. I hope this is good enough to charge these batteries. Would you guys go ahead and buy another charger if you were me, since i will have two batteries to charge when i get back from fishing. The advice of " make sure you charge your batteries ASAP" has got me thinking i might need another charger to charge the batteries at the same time...or am i being to paranoid...? Please advise....thanks

 

[John_S]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Assuming you have a seperate starting battery, consider buying an onboard 3-bank marine charger such that you don't have to mess with multiple charges, hookups, etc. It becomes a pain very quickly, especially with 3 batteries.

 

[OscarNav]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Yes, i do have a separate starting battery that also runs my radio and depth/fish finder. Can you still run a on board charger this way....? I did'nt know outboard motors had alternators...

 

[kabcpapc]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Some outboard motors do have alternators but they will not charge a deep cycle battery quickly enough. You would have to run at high speed all day just to put a small charge on the battery. The 3-bank charger previously mention is connected to AC power at the dock or your garage. It's the best way to charge all three batteries in a minimum amount of time.

 

[John_S]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Large or modern outboards may have an alternator. Older and smaller hp ones with elec start usually had a stator charger. It will provide some charging of the starter battery, but depending on how it was run for that day, may or may not of kept it fully charged.

There are allot of automatic marine bank chargers out there that plug into 120VAC. I use a Guest Sportsman 5/10 for my fishing boat. Five amps for starter battery, ten amps for trolling motor battery. In your case you would want something like a 5/10/10. IMHO more than ten amps is overkill. They have types/brands that can automaticly distribute to whatever battery needs the most charge.

PS: slow typer again!

 

[OscarNav]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Some outboard motors do have alternators but they will not charge a deep cycle battery quickly enough. You would have to run at high speed all day just to put a small charge on the battery. The 3-bank charger previously mention is connected to AC power at the dock or your garage. It's the best way to charge all three batteries in a minimum amount of time.

Ahh, my bad, i thought he was talking about a charger that runs off a alternator to charge batteries during positioning. I understand what was said now.....

So in a sense...i do need another charger with multiple banks for charging the troller Batts....? I haven't seen or looked for one here in my home town, but i did see one in the Minn Kota catalog, also on ebay for about $110 shipped. It is a 2 bank AC charger (MK 210P i beleive) but i think it only puts out 5 Amps per bank.....

Any suggestions.....

Can i get a answer on the Jumper for the battery question....Does this neeed to be Marine grade or will a walmart 4AWG do....please advise

 

[John_S]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Five amps will still get you charged over-night, which covers most fishing conditions for most of us. I would spend the extra to get a 3-bank, even if it was just a 3/5/5.

I am not familiar with the Walmart wire. How much money are you saving for the increased risk of corroision/resistance down the road?

 

[OscarNav]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Your right....the only reason i wanted to go with the Walmart wire was because it already has the lug and post adapter...

Thank you for your prompt replies John, and everybody else....I'll get that 2 bank 5 amp Minn Kota Charger Mk 210 on board charger, and 2 Everstart Maxx batteries from wally world. I'll go to a nearby marina for the 6 AWG tinned wire to wire this all together.

Is 6 AWG enough for the jumper or should i get a 4 AWG for this application....?

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Exide Nautilus or Everstart Maxx...Opinions

Six is plenty if the run is shorter than the run to the trolling motor.