Store brand battery or make the jump

[Toba]

I have just put a minnkota 3 bank charger in the boat because I am tired or using my auto charger. I run a 2 batteries for my 12v trolling motor. Here is my question. How many use batteries from say a certain FF or big place as opposed to specific battery brand? Thoughts on each. Also I am no ace when it comes to batteries. What would be the best class battery for this application. I do not do a lot of full day trips. I would say my fishing takes place in 5 to 6 hours. Thanks for any help given.

[Hawg]

Batteries Plus is as competative as any big box, and their quality,service and the way they stand behind products is top notch. I fell for the big name hoax once-Trojan. What a waste, my batteries Plus have always lasted longer.

[Northlander]

I have had very good luck with Interstates and my Interstate shop in Superior has the best customer service. Go with the biggest battery that will fit in your storage area. No such thing as too much battery life or crankin power.

[ClownColor]

I have two cabela AGM batteries. One is 5 years old and one is 4 years old. Still work like I just bought them. Big part is charging and maintaining your batteries.

I noticed they went up in price alittle but so has just about anything else.

Just curious as to what you are looking at when you say store brand vs name brand? lead vs maintenance free vs gel vs AGM, vs...these are the more important issues I'd think then what's stamped on the side.

[Hookmaster]

I use FF starting batteries for my family's cars and have had good luck. For my deep cycles for my goat I use Cabela's AGMs. My first set lasted 7-8 years and I have 3-4 on my current set. I didn't want to deal with checking fluid levels because they are hard to get at.

[gizmoguy]

Get the biggest battery you can. The less depth you cycle it the longer it will last (years). I agree Trojan was the worst battery I ever purchased. I think I went through 4 of those pieces of cr#p before I figured it out. The best battery I ever had was the Delco Voyager deep cycle, 9-10 yesrs of use. Just recycled my last 2 last week. I was still using them in my camper and fishhouse this winter. 10 years old! Hard to find anymore since Kmart quit carring them. I am now using the Cabelas AGMs. Incredable ammout of power. I have never paid full price either. I have 4 in my boat and 2 in my camper. I have learned the hard way to use a deep cycle to start the boat motors. Plenty of cranking amps. And can run stuff between starts too. If you ever run a starting type battery down to dead it will never will be the same again. I just demote my oldest deepcycle to the starting postion and my youngest to run my electronics. The Cab agms haven't been around long enough to give you a life expentancy. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

[reinhard1]

i use Interstate and they do fine, but i think some of you guys have excelent battaries as well. dont forget to recycle them, i got nine bucks for each batterie i brought in. good luck.

[Surface Tension]

My Deep Cycle Interstate gell cell and Stowaway are over 10 years old and still going.

Last year I bought an Excide for the lawn tractor. This thing can sit for a month summer - winter and the battery holds a good charge. Note that the tractor is an Old Craftman with the combo generator/starter. So put Excide on my list of good batteries. I see Menards carries Excide and if a needed a new battery I'd run there and get one.

Stay away from Super Crank batteries.

[Gordie]

I like interstae and I also bought a deep cycle battery from FF and last year in was good for a bout half the season so I got 5 1/2 years on it. My interstae had 7 years on it before it died.

Last year I replaced the FF battery with a Excide deep cycle and this year I'm going to buy another interstate

[goose89]

I'm an Interstate fan as well. Just replaced a set of Northerns that came with new boat in 2010. Just about went with the Cabela's AGMs. Lots of good reviews in years past, but was a bit leary of the weight decrease in the new ones. Less weight = Less Lead. I'll run these Interestate (SRM-29's) with peace of mind and watch the reviews of the new Cabela's AGM's over the next few years. I gotta hunch the reviews will take go down a tick or two in time.

You've got 3/4 of the battle won with the on-board charger. Maintenance and keeping em charged is key to max battery life. good luck...

[Toba]

Thanks for the information. I need a two trolling motor batteries and have to get my starter checked. In the past I have put my batteries on the car charger about 2-3 a winter. I appreciate the help in pointing me in the right direction.

[SkunkedAgain]

My cheapy FF deep cycle has lasted since 2005. It still could hold half a charge for me, which fit 90% of my needs. The other week I picked up two deep-cycle Interstate batteries at Gander when they were $15-off each. If they don't last as long as my cheapy from FF, I'll probably just go back to that.

[Jeremy airjer W]

My uncle in law was using fleet farm deep cycles and after having really bad luck with a particular store brand I decided to get a fleet farm battery. I'm guessing it is only three years old or so but so far no complaints.

[SkunkedAgain]

Like many things in life, I assume that there are some better batteries and some worse batteries. There are also people that take good care of things and those that don't. Mix that all together and you get a wide range of opinions about equipment, including batteries.

Usually the guys buying the good batteries are also the guys who care about battery maintenance, and vice versa.