Battery Recommendations

[DTro]

Tis the season for a new battery this spring. Battery will be used mainly for small trolling motor and to crank a 25hp motor here and there. I'm more concerned about the charge for the trolling motor, I can pull start in a bind.

I'm thinking a straight deep cycle will be fine, or should I go with the combo deep/crank?

Brands?

[Giant_Jackpot]

Go straight deep cycle. Starter batteries are designed to put out a lot of amps quickly and you won’t need that on a 25hp. The deep cycle will hold up better in the long run.

[nytelyter]

if your budget allows you to do so. buy an optima. they are by far one of the best batteries made today. and no i donnt selll them.

[Northlander]

I have had real good luck with my Interstates and they also carry Optima so they must be good. Pricey but well worth it in my opinion.

[mymaro]

See if you can get a hold of an interstate dealer and ask for a "blem" i picked up two deep cycle gells this year for 55 bucks (one battery retails at 95 the other at 87) the only problem is no warrenty but why would they sell them if they werent good. These batteries ussually have some visual defect. One battery didnt have a label and the other had a scratch on the side. I am currently using them for my ice house.

[Walleye Guy]

I have also have good luck with Interstate. However the best battery I have owned to date is a Trojan. Its one heavy bugger but I am on my fifth year of using it as my trolling motor battery. It also powers the four 12 volt incandescant lights in our permanent fish house.

I have heard good things about Optima as well. However I know my $80 Trojan doesn't owe me anything at this point.

[kunk]

Straight deep cycle will do you fine. My last boat had a 25hp and that's what I used. It took little juice for starting and kept the battery charged all the time. Never ran out of juice for the trolling motor or the depth finders.

[DTro]

Thanks for the replies.

I see that minn-kota markets a battery made by trojan.

So I guess so far it's between Interstate, Optima, and Trojan

[TravisC]

the nice thing about interstates is almost every gas station has them so if you do have problems its easy to get a replacement if your away from home.

[harvey lee]

We use a Optima in the race car and if it can take that rough a ride,then it must be a very well built battery.Im going to try one for the trolling motor this year as it seems to be a very good battery.I have had better performance out of the more expensive units than the cheaper ones.I would think that the more you spend the better off you will be.Most times,but not always.

[lawdog]

I agree with lee harvey, Optima is the cat's meow when it comes to batteries. Other than that, its Interstate.

[1DIRTBALL]

I've also heard good things about Interstate batteries but my favorite is still my Trojan. I have the 31 series and those bad boys are mega heavy. They might cost you half the National debt and your first born child but they are well worth it. The Trojan 31 series is so tough that I would be willing to bet that it would beat the snot out of the Diet Pepsi machine in a football game anytime!!!!!!!!! 1DIRTBALL

[porterhouse]

I agree with Dirtball!!

Last year I made the switch to trojans and I'm very happy. These Batteries can take a beating. The downside with these Trojans are that they are pretty heavy!! I mostly fish for muskies and I average 20-25 Hrs a week on the water and these batteries held up !!!!!

Brian