Which Optima batteries to buy ?

[TritonBrent]

I'm in need of a couple new trolling motor batteries and was thining about going with the Optima's. Which model batteries should i go with on a 24V system ? Thanks in advance

[MrSkeeter]

If you were to buy the Optima batteries, I believe it's the blue top one for you.

But from what I've heard, they are great till you run them completely dry ... then they will not charge ... this is the story from a couple of guys I know who used them in their cars. Both left the batteries in the car for a few months w/o starting. Come back and the batteries will not charge. Both were new batteries, less than a year old I'm told.

[Slippy]

blue top is the one for trolling motors, i wouldent recommend them. go with the AC delco 30 series.

[MCSPIN]

I have been using the optima blue top D31M for a long time and love them. I bought mine at batteriesareus.com.

Gary

[Doug Hodel]

I had the same problem that Skeeter was talking about. I bought a cranking battery for my boat and forgot to charge it one month and it went dead and I could re-charge it. In my opinion they are completley over-rated.

Just my thoughts.

It would be the one with the blue top.

[MrSkeeter]

While many people will have their favorite brands for whatever reason, I generally recommend the yellow Walmart Everlast batteries to everyone who will listen.

Get the series 29 batteries for $65/ea and if you take care of them (check fluids once in a while) and recharge them at the end of each fishing day (never leave ANY battery low for any length of time), they'll last you 3-4 years. I fish a few times a month, probably 4-8 days a month and I'm going on the 3rd year in my current set and they still feel pretty strong.

I think you can buy more expensive batteries and some of them may be better. But at what cost? I got a quote for some Trojans the last time I looked, they wanted $150 or $160 each for them. Even if I have to replace the Everlast batteries every three years. So at about 1/3 the cost, that would mean that these Trojans will better last me 9 years for the cost to even out!

[Dewayne]

The Delco Voyagers are good. With a 24V system though I never got more than about 2 years from a set of batteries before I saw performance issues. I did also run a set of the Costco batteries and they lasted about the same, but when they went bad I walked them in a walked out with a new set after 2 years of use.

Go with a 29-31 series. What ever is the biggest you can fit in your mounts.

[Ken C.]

Which model batteries should i go with on a 24V system ? Thanks in advance

I would get the model that says AC Delco Voyager! I think they are around $70 each as opposed to $160+! As Dewayne mentioned get the biggest case size that you can fit in the compartment.

I know Gene at the Hook carries them and I think I've seen the Delco's at Inland Marine as well.

[Slippy]

Gene is the person the pointed me in the diredtion so the Delco's.

[L.Hackney]

If you run any battery dry you will have problems no matter what brand.
I run with Trojans and use the crap out of them. They are expensive but I can say they have never let me down. I put in about 70 to 100 days a year on the water or more. As long as I keep them topped off with a charge and full of water the sucka's last at least 2 1/2 years.
Check out other brands and get which ever fits your budget, if you run alot, then remember you get what you pay for.

[mark poulson]

In'my experience, this is right on. If you run a conventional (wet cell) battery down, it reduces it's ability to hold a charge by 50%+-. according to my boat mechanic. Do it enough, and they'll be worthless.
I leave my chargers hooked up to both my trolling motor and cranking batteries as soon as I get home, and for the week, until I go fishing again.
My Optima blue top 31's recharge fast from Saturday night to Sunday at Odark thirty, when I head out again. And, when I had a problem with my charger, and thought it might be the batteries, I called Optima, and they sent my two new ones, even though it was just beyond the warrantee period. When I found out it was the charger, they said no big deal, and I even got to keep the first pair of batteries, which are still good. I have them on a shelf in the garage, and, periodically, I hook them up to a charger just to keep them full. According to the Optima people, these dry cell batteries should be stored fully charged, as opposed to wet cell batteries.
Of course, this could all be marketing B.S., but the batteries have been fine.

If you run any battery dry you will have problems no matter what brand.
I run with Trojans and use the crap out of them. They are expensive but I can say they have never let me down. I put in about 70 to 100 days a year on the water or more. As long as I keep them topped off with a charge and full of water the sucka's last at least 2 1/2 years.
Check out other brands and get which ever fits your budget, if you run alot, then remember you get what you pay for.

[Slippy]

is it true you shouldent keep Batteries on the concret floor? I hear it drains the batteries.

[L.Hackney]

Hey slippy..
I have a good friend that is a mechanic and he says that it's ok to do that. Then again, my whole life my Dad always told me to never put them on bare ground, concrete or asphalt.
I dont know for sure but I always slip a block of wood under one just in case.

[Mikey]

They had this on mythbusters, and concrete does'nt hurt batteries

[Mike Phua]

TritonBrent,

I have been running the Optima batteries for about 6 years now. In the new Z I'm running now I have 5 of them. 3 for the 36 volt system and 2 on a dual battery perko switch for the house and crank batteries. A very nice feature to the Optimas and any other gel battery is that they are maintenance free. As with any other battery out there if you don't charge them immediately after use they will not perform for you in the long run.

Some other features I like about them is the fact that they are light and small and very dependable. I'm going on my 2nd year with these same batteries with no swaps fishing a minimum of 2 to 3 days a week of hard use. I use them hooked up to a 109 motorguide in the river at lake havasu fighting 5 to 6 mph current for hours and at the Delta going through thick grass filled lakes all day long with no problem and until I have a let down with them they will be the only source of power that I will select for my boats.

Whatever choice you decide on will not be a bad one. Just thought you'd like to hear from someone who actually owns them and puts them through their paces day in and day out.

For you guys fishing the National Guard at the Delta good luck and I'll see you up there in a couple of weeks. MP

[Vince E]

I recently read somewhere, might have been here, that this precaution is leftover from a time when battery casings were made from rubber compounds which had less than perfect insulation properties. Modern plastics are better insulators.
Did Mythbusters mention anything about this?

[TritonBrent]

Thank you to everyone that replied. This information here will definately help me make a decision on battery to buy. I hate to admit it but anyone reading this, check your water level in your batteries often ! I toasted my Trojan TM batteries by letting them run low on water. They still work great but my onboard charger will not give me a green light (meaning fully charged) Lesson learned.

Brent

[W.C]

TritonBrent
Thats the best thing about optima's , They never need water cause they are a solid batteries and they are smaller and weight less than the othere batteries on the market. My old batteries spilled acid and even cracked from all the bouncing around in the back of the boat in rough water. I never ever have to pull my Optima's out of my boat just to add water, That was a headach to do in my boat cause of the tight space and having to unbolt the battery holders, it would take all day.
I think the Optima's are the best batteries I have ever had, Mine are 6 years old and still work great on my 36 volt 109 pound trust MG!!! I will buy 3 more when if ever these stop working, if ever!!!
The best price i found on the Optima's was at Costco. Good luck on your choice.

[Gator]

Brent -

I can tell you this from personal experience. The Wal-Mart Everstart batteries are awesome. I had to buy two new batteries when I bought my boat. I spent 6 months in Florida due to my dad's stroke and neglected the batteries (plus, the wife left the on-board charger unplugged for over a month). I took one battery back and got a full replacement, no cost to me. THis was after a year and a half. You can also take your batteries back near the end of the life-cycle (3 years) and they will replace them.

I will stay with Everstarts as long as I can!

[TritonBrent]

Thanks Lee, i here that alot about the walmart batteries, i got a buddy who takes his back every couple years and gets new fresh ones for free. Seems to me that spending the extra money on optimas give you a little lighter battery and the peace of mind of never having to check water level. Is it worth it ? Maybe... Depends on if i can get a cash job at work or it they are coming out of my pockets...lol Anyone need any cabinet work done ?

Thanks again for the info guys

[MrSkeeter]

Brent,

I believe the blue tops run around $150/ea. That' more than twice the cost of the Walmart batteries. Even if you have to throw away the Walmart batteries every 3 years, it's still cheaper in the long run.

Yes, it's heavier and might cause your boat to loose a MPH or two. But ... if that's a concern and cost is not a factor. Then I'd say go with the Optimum batteries. For me, I chose 29 series Everlast!

[miklanderson]

If you were to buy the Optima batteries, I believe it's the blue top one for you.

But from what I've heard, they are great till you run them completely dry ... then they will not charge ... this is the story from a couple of guys I know who used them in their cars. Both left the batteries in the car for a few months w/o starting. Come back and the batteries will not charge. Both were new batteries, less than a year old I'm told.

This is true from my exprerience as well. I had 2 of them in my boat until yesterday. I've had them for about a year and a half and ran them all the way down trolling for salmon on the Sac last year. They havent been the same since. I've been having charging issues and I cant get them to hold a charge now. Luckily, the Hook on the dock at Russo's carries batteries and I swapped them out for AC Delcos. In my opinion, they were a waste of money and I'll be sticking to the regular batteries from here on out.

[miklanderson]

If you were to buy the Optima batteries, I believe it's the blue top one for you.

But from what I've heard, they are great till you run them completely dry ... then they will not charge ... this is the story from a couple of guys I know who used them in their cars. Both left the batteries in the car for a few months w/o starting. Come back and the batteries will not charge. Both were new batteries, less than a year old I'm told.

This is true from my exprerience as well. I had 2 of them in my boat until yesterday. I've had them for about a year and a half and ran them all the way down trolling for salmon on the Sac last year. They havent been the same since. I've been having charging issues and I cant get them to hold a charge now. Luckily, the Hook on the dock at Russo's carries batteries and I swapped them out for AC Delcos yesterday or my trip would've have been over before it started. In my opinion, they were a waste of money and I'll be sticking to the regular batteries from here on out.

[mark poulson]

I would give Optima a call. They were great with me when I had battery issues that turned out to be a charger problem.
They should last for more than 1 1/2 years.

[miklanderson]

Thanks for the heads up Mark...I plan on contacting them as soon as I get a chance. I'm glad to hear they have good customer service.

[biteme]

Anyone have info on the Costco batteries? I need a couple and Ive always like the Costco return policy.

[W.C]

biteme!!!
When i bought my 3 optima's, I looked everywhere to find the best price. As it turned out, I went to Sears and wanted to buy all 3 there but at the time , they only had one left. so I bought it and ordered the othere 2. when I got home with the 1 Optima battery, my Wife asked me how much did I pay? I for got and cant really say for sure now but at the time I told my wife what it cost me and than she told me that They sell them there at her work. She is a supervisor at Costco. and she was right ! Costco had the same Optima's at alot lower price. I ended up buying the othere 2 there at costco than went to cancell my order at Sears and than had them Match the price that Costco sold them for. That was about 5 or 6 years ago and those batteries are still awsome. I just got back from New Melone's about and 2 hours ago and It was windy and cold up there all day, but My batteries lasted all day and I'm sure I could still use them tommorw with out even a charge!!
No I'm not sponcered by them either, I just like those batteries alot and have been the best batteries i have ever owned. Just my two cents. the rest is up to you.Optima's are Smaller, Lighter and never need any Mantainance of any sort cause they are a Solid Battery and have no liquid to eveporate or spill in the back of you boat compartment. plus, Smaller and Lighter mean your boat will run faster without all the excess weight. Tight Lines

[L.Hackney]

W.C. ,
did you say they have no liquid in them? That's cool.

[biteme]

I was talking about the Costco brand batteries. Ive had a few Optima's. I didnt want to get in on the Optima bash but I wont buy anymore. Ive had two have bad cell's within six months and they wouldnt have a charge. I wont be buying anymore.
I guess Im going to just buy the Costco ones. Ill let you guys know how they work. If they suck Ill just take em back. Costco has a GREAT return policy!

[MrSkeeter]

Biteme,

You should consider the series 29 EverReady (yellow) batteries from Walmart. I"ve been using them for over 5-6 years. They have a 3 year warrantee and I've know folks who return them every 2-years for a fresh one! I've been getting 3-4 years out of a set on my, but I have fairly light usage on them (less than 50 days on the water per year).

[biteme]

Well I went and bought the Kirkland (Costco brand) Its the biggest they make. It has the three year warranty and were 62.00 each. I hope they fit! These things are BIG!