Deep cell batteries

[buckybird]

looking for feedback on best bang for your buck for deep cell batteries.

[FishFrenzy]

Costco (Kirkland Brand) offers good batteries for a good price. I suppose it depends on the size of the battery and what you intent to use it for.

FishFrenzy

[Deerslayer99]

Not to rob your thread buckybird but i am also looking for a decent marine battery....all i need one for is to run my bow and stern lights thats it....no other electronics....

[Snowwalker]

If you are looking for storage and NON-starting duty, you will want to buy true deep cycle, not marine deep cycle/starter batteries.

You should also think about how you will maintain them. You do not want to leave them just sitting for long periods, and then charge them. A couple solar panels or a small Intelligent battery charger should work. You should only charge them with a charge that no more then 10-15% of their reserve Amp/hour capacity. A 6 Amp charger will charge and maintain a 470 Amp/hour battery( these weight about 125LBS), as well as a 47 Amp( 10% ) charger, just not going to charge to a full charge as quick. They will also charge a 230 Amp hours battery, but the 47 Amp ( 20%) charger will damage it and shorten it's life.
How much reserve Amp-Hours do you need/want?

[Mattones]

Good to see this thread! I am new to boating and looking for one for my trolling motor

[DUXX]

Optima batteries are good as they are sealed and dont leak and are sealed. They have a blue top marine version for boats and rv use. I use the yellow top in my truck after having 2 batteries leak and go
weak. I use my truck high beams to set up decoys for an hour and a
half and run a flood light through the inverter with the engine off. Never had a problem for four years now. They are more
expensive though

[patvetzal]

I have a yellow top that mounts on the tractor when using the 8000lb winch, powers my trolling motor, jump starts vehicles as needed and powered an inverter during a power failure. It's over ten years old now.....Sits in an unheated garage when not in use....but is recharged after every major use, not two months later.

[line052]

I used these when I first had solar power on shed. 27D truck (new mil surplus) tanks of batteries. Equilized each month and lasted 6 years, still new when I sold the system. Those batteries powered my whole basement CFL, electronics, but not furnace. Never let your batteries get below 11.5V as this is more than 50% discharged. Always buy more than what you need (amp hours).
27D truck batteries.jpg

[irocdyou]

I ordered a AC Delco deep cycle for my boat. I run GPS, Lights, Live Well , Trolling motor and use it to start up the motor. I also have an on board smart charger from bass pro that I keep plugged in when the boat is not in use. The charger gives it a slow charge and if it sits fully charged for a while , it discharges it slowly and brings it back up.

[Rugger]

I had a brand new set of Optima blue tops come with my boat, those two batteries were used solely to run my 24v electric motor. I had 8 years of solid performance from them and now in the 9th year they are starting to show some issues. After about 5 hours of use I get intermittent power. The motor will stop and if I leave it for a few minutes they will kick in again and provide good power for 15-30 min and then stop again. Not 100% sure this is due to the batteries but given their age I'm thinking they're the weakest link.

Given my great experience I started looking at replacing them with the same but am now thinking I will give the Kirkland batteries a try as I can get two of them for less than one Optima.

Picked up an http://oxford-products.com/us/products/Oximiser-900.html


Got it at a marina at 400 and 141 for $48, can't beat that price....

Curious to see if it will put enough life back into the batteries to get them through their 9th year and then I'll by my boat new batteries for our 10th anniversary