What's the best marine battery???

[Big Keepers]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

My deep cycle is a regular West Marine battery, I can't remember how many MCA's it is. My starting battery is a Sears Die Hard marine starting battery. It works just fine, except I don't like the fact that both positive and negative posts are 5/16 size. Usually the positive is a 3/8 which uses the bigger lug. I've had both batteries for going on three seasons now, they seem to be a-ok. I may get new ones next year.

 

[bassman284]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

My cranking battery is the original Interstate from when I bought the boat in 2001. Still going strong. The original deep cycle Interstate might have lasted longer if I hadn't left the charger connected after I pulled the plug on it one time. ding dong.

I've been using dieHard deep cycles since, about 4 of them, I think. Not too impressed. I was going to get an Everstart the last time, but my local Walmart never seems to have them in stock. I think I'll try to hunt down another Interstate next time.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Quote:

>>As a few have pointed out, there are only a handful of manufactures and they are located overseas.<<

Sorry, but that is not correct.

East Penn Manufacturing makes Deka batteries. I have two of their batteries in each of my two boats and one each in three cars. They are an outstanding product made in Pennsylvania, northwest of Allentown. Their facility is an environmental model for the industry.

http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/default.aspx?pageid=468

 

[marine4003]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

My point is you should post YOUR opinion about YOUR experience, instead of posting what your uncle's best friend's one eyed cambell soup eating grandmother did

Sometimes you need to use common sense, I don't care if Jesus said to drop a $180 battery on the concrete to know that's just a little lame brained.
I already have an email into Optima asking them what their stance is on this practice, and will post up their reply.

I know her...but she switched to Progresso...strange woman

 

[skargo]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

I know her...but she switched to Progresso...strange woman

 

[skargo]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Here you go, directly from Optima, and not some mouthbreathing wannabes.

Question
2 messages
Scooter <*****@gmail.com> Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 7:12 PM
To: info@optimabatteries.com
I have a question for you. On a boating forum I read where an Optima rep said for a dead Optima that won't hold a charge, you should drop the battery from waist high onto a hard surface like a concrete floor, and this will fix it.

Sounds crazy to me.

Scott
info@optimabatteries.com <info@optimabatteries.com> Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 10:44 AM
To: Scooter <******@gmail.com>

Hello Scott

No, this will probably crack the battery, damaging it and voiding the warranty.

Thank you,
Daryl
Optima Customer Service

 

[skargo]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Nothing???

 

[IVAZ]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Nothing???

Thanks for the update.
Even though most of us here already new that dropping a heavy battery on concrete would only result in damage, some people need proof. Remember those old TV's that would lose the picture and you could smack them on the side to get it back, I think this is where the dropping the battery idea came from.

 

[skargo]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Thanks for the update.
Even though most of us here already new that dropping a heavy battery on concrete would only result in damage, some people need proof. Remember those old TV's that would lose the picture and you could smack them on the side to get it back, I think this is where the dropping the battery idea came from.

Thanks. While some things do benefit from a smack on the side or a whack on the top, dropping a battery 3 feet is just absurd.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

I've had my Celebrity since 1991 and use it the same way year after year. I tried Walmart batteries for both starting and for my trolling motor motor. 3 years tops on the starting and two years on the trolling motor. These were top of the line batteries. A little better life using Deka batteries.

IMO, here's the best you can purchase. AC Delco batteries. The starting battery in the celebrity is a group 24 and it's 6 years old and still good. The group 27 deep cycle battery is on it's 5th year and still going strong too.

I just purchased another AC Delco group 27 deep cycle for the pontoon boat and it was around $80 from my local garage.

Jeff

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Lead acid batteries should last quite a long time if they are kept charged, full of electrolyte and stored properly in the winter.

 

[itsonlymoney]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Yep, bang for buck Marine Maxx from wally world hands down.

The highest volume two manufacturers are Exide and Johnson Controls with wally world selling the latter. I looked at the Exide deep cells but why change when you get that much time from a set of batts.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

My point is you should post YOUR opinion about YOUR experience, instead of posting what your uncle's best friend's one eyed cambell soup eating grandmother did

As long as one states their source, I see no problem passing along opinons or information from other sources.

I know I have, and I'm sure i will again in the future.

 

[skargo]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

As long as one states their source, I see no problem passing along opinons or information from other sources.

I know I have, and I'm sure i will again in the future.

Did you miss the part where he forwarded ridiculous advice re dropping the optima battery??? I guess it would be cool if some newbie tried it.

I stand by my statement. Way too many people give advice because they HEARD it works.

 

[cstudep]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

You are correct there......Johnson Controls owns several battery "brands" and is certainly one of, if not the largest producer, and they do have factories in the USA as well. The Optima line is manufactured in Colorado and there is a "wal-mart" brand facility about 50 miles from my house.

Being an employee of the company (although not in the battery division) I can get Red Top Optima Batteries for 60 and the Blue tops for 75 I think. Needless to say that is what I use.

Yep, bang for buck Marine Maxx from wally world hands down.

The highest volume two manufacturers are Exide and Johnson Controls with wally world selling the latter. I looked at the Exide deep cells but why change when you get that much time from a set of batts.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

IMO, here's the best you can purchase. AC Delco batteries. The starting battery in the celebrity is a group 24 and it's 6 years old and still good. The group 27 deep cycle battery is on it's 5th year and still going strong too.

I just purchased another AC Delco group 27 deep cycle for the pontoon boat and it was around $80 from my local garage.

Jeff

Same experiance here. Replaced one of my Voyager Grp.27 last year after 6 years of service. The second one, though suspect, is going on it's 7th season. Both batteries are used as house and starting batteries.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Lead acid batteries should last quite a long time if they are kept charged, full of electrolyte and stored properly in the winter.

Yep. Best battery for a dual battery configuration is a battery combiner. Will keep both top up all the time while running.

Not expensive either. I have a Yandina brand and love it.

 

[bassman284]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Thanks for the update.
Even though most of us here already new that dropping a heavy battery on concrete would only result in damage, some people need proof. Remember those old TV's that would lose the picture and you could smack them on the side to get it back, I think this is where the dropping the battery idea came from.

I remember that you were supposed to spit on it THEN smack it. Not sure if that would help on the battery drop, though.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

Did you miss the part where he forwarded ridiculous advice re dropping the optima battery???

No I didn't

 

[skargo]

Re: What's the best marine battery???

No I didn't

I see your point, and I may be being over critical. I have seen some guys mess with newbs on an offroad board, giving them bad advice on purpose, and I hate to see people get bad advice, even by accident.

I over research everything, but some people take the first bit of advice and run with it.