Boat batteries...

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

What do you think is the best bet?

My two Interstate group 24 "Marine Cranking" batteries are six years old and starting to crap out...I can get two new ones for about $200. Never had a problem with them, thier big use is in the evenings when we crank the tunes for 4-5 hours while camping. No killer stereo just one amp for a couple subs and a Pioneer head unit. Pretty much sold on the I/states but don't know if the Optimas would be better. Are there any special charging deals with the Optimas? I usually charge every 2-3 weeks during winter on low (2 amps) to keep 'em topped off...It seems to be workin' OK.

Did two searches but didn't see to much info....

Thanks for your input

 

[RandyH]

I have your exact set up. same results. Stick with it. As long as they havent cut any corners on them the last few years.

 

[STV_Keith]

Optimas are 50 amp/hr for the starting batteries and 55 amp/hr for the deep cycles. What are your batteries rated?

 

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

Looks like 81 ah...

for new ones...

 

[Hallett270act]

Six years at $200 is a bargain...stick with it. Optima and Odyssey batteries cost allot more and won't last any longer than that. In fact, I have Odyssey batteries in my boat and will cost $700 to replace two...I will switch to Interstate when they are done. I have heard similar experiences from others with the Interstate setup.

 

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

Thanks RH & H270, thats what I was thinking, however I wanted to hear what the Optima folks had to say.

 

[ultra26shadow]

I have your exact set up. same results. Stick with it. As long as they havent cut any corners on them the last few years.

X2 same set up going strong on 5 years will probably buy next season same interstates.

 

[Outdrive1]

Tom Brown recommends Optima batteries. :thumbsup

 

[Outdrive1]

Personally, I'd save your money and put the Interstate deep cycles back in.

 

[TBI]

Fuck Optima and Fuck Brown

 

[Outdrive1]

Fuck Optima and Fuck Brown

That's gonna leave a mark.

 

[Sig Ep Mock]

Stick with the interstates, ours lasted 6 years no problems. Better than all the high dollar batteries I have in everything else.

Chris


Sent from my iPad

 

[TBI]

That's gonna leave a mark.

On Optima or Brown?

 

[Outdrive1]

On Optima or Brown?

Who cares. Fuck em both.

 

[BigQ]

Would you guys bump them up from 24 to say 27 or 31 for better reserve capacity? I only have one 24 right now and looking on adding a second one. Plan on more stereo in the future and be able to play it for a few hours. Or do you just run a separate deep cell and just charge every night?

 

[TPC]

If you can replace them with 27's or 31's that's a plus.
We notice a difference.

Marine Optimas have to be charged with a AGM type charger so that's an extra expense.
I've experienced charging them on a conventional charger and the AGM is the only way no matter what anyone tells ya.

 

[Waffles]

I've never owned an Optima, but based on what I've read about them in the last year or so, I'd steer clear from them. I guess the quality took a big hit after being bought out and they've never been the same. I ended up going with Sears Die-Hard platinum series on both my jeep and my boat.

 

[fed4life]

I have three group 27 Interstate batteries in my boat, on bank one i have the 27-XHD which is a marine starting battery and is the original from 2005 and still working great after 7 years! I probably will replace it next season but 8 years of service is well worth it in my book.

The other two batteries on switch/bank 2 are regular deep cycle Interstate 27 group batteries. I crank my tunes pretty loud when i can and sometimes for an extended period of time and have never had a problem with the batteries dying. I also believe the key to helping them extend their life was the install of my on-board battery charger.

I also agree with other posters here, if you can and have the room, switch the 24's for 27's. We just did this on my friends 21' Ultra and added a third 27 for the monster sound system he has. He has 12 speakers, two 12" subs, and 3 amps to power it all. Last time we were at havazoo he was playing his music loud for about 5 hours straight with no problem...all on Interstates!

 

[79 HUSTLER]

Wish I had stuck with the three interstates instead of the switching to the three stinger agm's. The stingers are expensive sob's to replace and I havn't had the best luck with them.

 

[Bobby V]

If you can replace them with 27's or 31's that's a plus.
We notice a difference.

Marine Optimas have to be charged with a AGM type charger so that's an extra expense.I've experienced charging them on a conventional charger and the AGM is the only way no matter what anyone tells ya.

I've been charging my optimas the last 6-7 years with a conventional charger. I have one that is bad now that I need to replace. Just bought a Deltran tender.

 

[RodnJen]

What is the difference between a starting battery and a deep cycle battery.

I have two Deka Marin batteries from American Battery in Havi. I have only had them a year and one has gone bad already.

From what I'm reading, the Interstate 24's would work great for me.

 

[mjc]

If you have those nice anodized battery boxes if you go to anything else you also have to change them as they usually only fit one size battery.

 

[STV_Keith]

What is the difference between a starting battery and a deep cycle battery.

I have two Deka Marin batteries from American Battery in Havi. I have only had them a year and one has gone bad already.

From what I'm reading, the Interstate 24's would work great for me.

Starting batteries typically have higher cranking amp power, but lower amp/hour ratings. The Group 34 Optima have 1000CCA and 50a/hr in the starting batteries and 850CCA and 55a/hr in the deep cycle batteries.

 

[milkmoney]

for what its worth, i have been running interstate batteries in everything i have owned and will not change. i have great luck with them..:thumbsup

 

[Tom Brown]

I've never owned an Optima, but based on what I've read about them in the last year or so, I'd steer clear from them.

I've had 7 bad Optimas in the last three years.

Two years ago, I had a battery place install a pair of red-tops in my truck on a cold day. They were bad, right out of the box, so they put two more in. When the two replacements were also bad, he offered to boost me so I could clear out of his service bay. Needless to say, those Optimas were removed and my old batteries re-installed with 4.5 hours of my life gone while the battery shop tried to get batteries to take a charge.

I replaced those batteries with batteries reclaimed from a junk yard. I'm serious. They worked great in the truck until I pulled them out last fall and installed them in a solar charged bank because they were a match for some other batteries I had been collecting from the junk yard. lol!

In the place of those junk yard batteries, I installed two used Optimas. One was from a trencher I hadn't used in over a year and the other was out of my diesel Golf. Both of those Optimas are 4+ years old but they spun the truck over perfectly and did a great job all winter. I didn't charge them once, even when it got down to 40 below and stayed that cold for three weeks. No problem. This is the same truck that had 4 bad Optimas before.

The other three that were lost include one in each of two boats. Those were replaced with Optimas because the holders were designed for them. One of the replacements went bad after less than a month and was replaced before the season was out, two years ago. Both boats are working OK, as best I know.

Optima seems to be hot and cold. When they are OK, they are fine. Most of mine have been dog shit, though.

.... so I'd stick with the Interstates, if it were me. That's because of a new law that won't allow junk yards to sell batteries anymore. lol!

 

[TPC]

I've been charging my optimas the last 6-7 years with a conventional charger. I have one that is bad now that I need to replace. Just bought a Deltran tender.

We corrected the mistake in our boat to AGM and corrected the absorption time and the Optima M31's now charge faster and they hold the charge longer.
Also, the little Honda 1000 stand-by (spare) genny seems to handle the lower AGM AMP draw charging better.

You can really see the difference because of all the electronics on the boat.
I only got Optimas for the convenience of not having to check the water levels, they hold up well and bounce right back when run down to 100% dead, and they were rated a bit better than the Interstates.

The Interstate M27's I removed from the boat I put in the RV and they are outstanding. Amazing.

My experience with 27's over the years are they work much better than the 24's for just a few bucks more.

 

[BigDeck]

Cost co marine.

 

[RiverDave]

Buy some battery equalizer pour it in and run them another 7 years. . 20.00 problem solved.

 

[Soldout]

3 years strong on 2 big Costcos. Pulled the boat out this weekend from sitting almost a year of heat and freezing still holding 90%.

 

[Soldout]

3 years strong on 2 big Costcos. Pulled the boat out this weekend from sitting almost a year of heat and freezing still holding 90%.

I have a Red Top in my Tahoe that died over night less than a year old. Also never really understood the AGM charging, did my alternator ruin the battery? Not AGM charging method?

 

[TPC]

I have a Red Top in my Tahoe that died over night less than a year old. Also never really understood the AGM charging, did my alternator ruin the battery? Not AGM charging method?

That's the enigma.
I have Red Tops in the Vehicles,, and no issues 'cept one puked.
They die permanently if allowed to go dead.
The Lite Gray body Blue tops seem to rebound nicely.