A battery rant

[RcgTexas]

That's the key I think. Don't leave them in the cold and keep the charge up.

I have no problem with batteries down here in this heat. Cold is the enemy of a battery. As is not keeping the charge up. ----------------

[OldePharte]

Wow, You guys really take care of your stuff. My boat battery stays in the boat 24/7/365, no trickle charger. First battery lasted 4 years and I never really looked at it. Changed it last year and it sat for 11 months unused. Went to start it last month, and no hesitation.

No doubt that I am getting close to needing to change the engine oil and lower unit grease. Six year old boat/motor and I'm closing in 80 hours. I think that there is some maintenance needed at a 100 hours.

[BobG]

No doubt that I am getting close to needing to change the engine oil and lower unit grease. Six year old boat/motor and I'm closing in 80 hours. I think that there is some maintenance needed at a 100 hours.

Yeah, but your impeller should be changed every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.
I'm over 900 hours in 4 years.

[ROLAND]

MW Hawker.... if you're interested in looking at any of the Continental Batteries I mentioned, here's a link to their marine battery page... I have a single battery set up on my boat, so I ended up buying a starting battery.. hope this helps.

http://www.continentalbattery.com/categ ... rv?reset=1

[Cowracer]

I used to work on the fringes of the battery industry. For 8 years I worked at a lead smelter, who's main customers were battery companies. I can tell you there are HUGE differences in the metallurgy in batteries. We would custom alloy metals to customer specifications, and there are some real cheap low-cost manufactures out there, and some really good high quality manufactures too. I'm not sure if my non-disclosure clause is still in effect so I can't name names, but I can say this. I have Deka batteries in just about everything I own, and would not take an Interstate or Wal-mart brand (they are the same) if you gave me one.

Tim

[BobL]

Climate, usage, storage, etc. are contributing factors so asking what batteries last longer than others can product misleading results/replies. I have had Interstate and Wal-Mart cranking batteries in my last 3 toons and all would last 3+ years. But keep this in mind:

1 - I keep the boat on the lift and use it at least every 2-3 weeks from April to September - never sits for long stretches of time

2 - I put a full charge on the battery in October

3 - I put another full charge on it around Feb/March then once more around April (never touch it again after that)

4 - I don't have a trolling motor

5 - I don't anchor and run the stereo or other electronics

6 - I am in Louisiana so rarely get below freezing

When I had a wakeboard boat (Master Craft with a big stereo - and did not use the boat nearly as much as I use the toon), I used to run through a battery every 1 - 1.5 years. I tried an expensive Optima and came to the conclusion (as other friends before me have) to "go cheap and go often".

So there you have my $0.02.

[C_M_25]

While we are on batteries:

I feel like my less than 1 year old interstate trolling motor battery is not as strong as earlier this season. I haven't used it much, but when I do use it, I hook it up to my battery tender jr. Is this thing powerful enough to fully charge a deep cycle battery?

[joe20toon]

I have 2 group 31 Deka/NAPA batteries for my bow thruster (trolling motor). I have read good reviews on DEKA deep cycle batteries. Hope they last... They are new so can't post about lifespan. First time using "onboard" charger...