Marine Batteries info

[ChiefBubba]

Since my season is over time for boating and fishing. I have a 16 foot SeaArk with a 50 Yamaha.
I need a new battery. I run a trolling to on so I have 2 batteries. What I have been doing is installing the new battery on the starter and swapping the older battery to the trolling motor. I've been replacing a battery every year. So I'm getting almost 2 years out of them. I'm thinking I should be getting closer to 3. So this year I'm thinking about going to the Optima Blue Tops.
Any battery guys here or fellow boaters can offer me some advice? Bubba

[lowoctane]

They used to be American made. Dunno about now.   

[Tail Feathers]

I have found that using dedicated deep cycle trolling motor batteries and never storing them discharged helps them last longer.   I get three years off them if I'm lucky.  Since I switched to a 24V trolling motor the two batteries seem to last longer the one with a 12V trolling motor.
I run a dedicated Marine cranking battery and got 9 years out of one and 5 out of the next one.
I don't swap batteries and buy the ones for the purpose I plan to use them.  I tried the dual purpose and they didn't last for me.
The Optima are reported to be good and long lasting but I haven't tried them.

[Tom007]

I use Interstate Batteries in my boats. Group 27 to run all electronics, and group 24 Cold Cranking Starter battery to start motors. Have them on a switch. Most important thing is to keep water level up, and in off season they come out and are stored in garage in heat on trickle chargers. I get 4-6 years out of them. Hope this helps....

[Ozarks Hillbilly]

Don't run a starting battery on your tolling motor and don't run a deep cycle for starting outboard. They are designed to do different jobs.  If your tolling motor is just 12 volt you can definitely get by with one dedicated battery but two is better.

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[Tom007]

Don't run a starting battery on your tolling motor and don't run a deep cycle for starting outboard. They are designed to do different jobs.  If your tolling motor is just 12 volt you can definitely get by with one dedicated battery but two is better.

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100% correct here. The trolling batteries are made to be run down, and recharged. Starting batteries are not. Good call...

[catman529]

Get a starting battery for the Yamaha and a deep cycle for the TM. Don't swap em out like that. The everstart 29DC batteries from Walmart have served me well for the trolling motor and all the lights, depthfinder and usb charging port. Holds a really good charge. I use a smaller dual purpose battery for my 35 merc which doesn't draw that much current to start so I don't even charge it that often. Ideally you want to charge and maintain your batteries regularly. Most chargers will maintain the battery with a trickle charge if you leave it hooked up after it's fully charged.


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[Chris O]

If I were running your batteries I would put the new battery on the trolling motor and the old one for the cranking battery. I had the blue optima batteries in an old boat. I only had them for 2seasons before selling the boat and had never really ran them hard on a trolling motor only lakes for 12 hrs but for my typical 4 to 6 hrs on a 24 volt trolling motor I couldn't tell any difference than a regular deep cycle marine battery . Maybe they would have lasted for 4 or 5 years instead of 2 or 3 I don't know. I don't think I will buy them again. I also think Interstate batteries are overrated as well but many guys swear by them.

[bigriverbum]

i got a deep cycle 12 volt but i don't know which setting on my charger to use

STD, AGM, or GEL?

[btomlin]

I run a 24V system on my terrova TM.  I run the walmart deep cycle size 29s on the system.  I have a charger/maintainer/conditioner that is on the batteries 100% of the time that I am not on water.  I have a charger/maintainer on the starter battery also.  I can't recall the size of my starter but I went bigger due to multiple fish finders/livewell pumps/etc.

I think the charger/maintainer/conditioner have extended the lives of my batteries 2x.  I think I am starting year 5 with my trollers and I fish a lot.

I have an older model of this one I believe.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/promariner-prosporthd-series-waterproof-battery-charger?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CAllProducts%7CHigh%7CSSCCatchAll&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo3zsRGaaDP_cdmnOLRi4vb20TNowKiole5FR9ti_d-OVNYpYYuK7TsaArHAEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[g8rvet]

i got a deep cycle 12 volt but i don't know which setting on my charger to use

STD, AGM, or GEL?

It depends on which type of deep cycle battery you have.
STD-normal deep cycle
AGM-glass mat
GEL-gel battery.

I would assume if does not say AGM or GEL it is a STD. 

Chief,

My saltwater flats boat has an onboard charger.  I do not remove my batteries in the winter though.  I do have a master switch. I run 2 TM deep cycle (27 STD-does not run through master switch - has it's own 50 amp double switch breaker I shut off after every trip) and one starter (24 - cranking and electronics-runs through master switch).  I do not buy the high dollar TM batteries (GEL or AGM) as I do not discharge them often enough I feel the cost is worth it.  If I guided or fished every day, I probably would spend the extra coin.  If you have a auto bilge pump, make sure it runs through your switch as well.  That is usually the culprit of the continuous drain on the batteries-I have been told it uses power to check for water level and acts as a drain).  I usually unplug everything in the offseason and plug everything back in a few days before fishing season starts.  May not be best for the batteries, but that is what I do. I would say I probably change everything every 5-6 years as well.

This is my onboard:
https://www.dualpro.com/professional-series.  I have the 3 battery charger.

[ChiefBubba]

Thank you everyone. Gives me a few thing's to think about. I'm for sure going to replace the Trolling motor battery with the deep cycle. Not quite convinced on the Blue Tops yet. Bubba

[CAPTJJ]

Something definitely isn't right if you are only getting 2 years out of a battery. My guess is you need a deep cycle or marine battery which is dual purpose. That's what I use on my charter boat, use 2 27s and 2 24s, nothing special; main engine is a 454 so takes a lot to turn over. Plus use a 15hp 4 stroke for trolling so not using batteries for that and it has a high amp alternator; do have 2 FF/plotters, 3 downriggers and auto pilot drawing power so batteries do get discharged/recharged which is what degrades them. Anyway, with 6 months of use every year, indoor winter storage without a trickle charger.... I usually get 8-9 years out of them, think last one went after only 6.