Where is a good place to get a inexpensive marine battery? Thanks for the help.

King of the cheap.. Wal-Mart

Bubba- I know they sell them, but is it going to last me? I don't want to have to buy one every year.

[This message has been edited by hooklinesinker (edited 02-11-2004).]

If you want your battery to last, no matter
what the brand, be sure and get one of
the "smart" battery charger/maintainers.
These prevent sulfonation of battery plates,
the major killer of batteries. Battery Tender or Battery Minder are two good ones. Around $40.

dxr

Wally-World "wal-mart"

I just got a new trolling motor battery there on Monday. 1 year free replacement and pro-rated for 2 years. Using it as a back-up for my main TM battery and was about $40.

Walmart.

I use wal mart batteries but be careful when selecting them and keep the receipt. I bought a wal mart battery for my truck late one night and was so tired I didn't realize that it didn't have side post. I tried to take it back (without the receipt) and they said no way, the sticker on it was almost a year old. It still had the plastic caps on the post and they wouldn't take it back, until I found the receipt. Also when I bought my Maxx marine (yellow battery) they pulled about four off the shelves and they all tested bad, before I got two that tested ok.

bass pro shops has a good deal and they will replace them free for the first year. i have 4 of them and have had no trouble at all. to make your batteries last the longest be sure to charge them as soon as you get home, the worst thing that you can do is let them sit for a few days after you get back from the lake. i used to work for a battery factery in dallas for 11 years and we made the walmart batteries. good luck.

You figure? Optimax 137.50 6 years Wallyworld 65.00 2 years this is for the better trolling motor battery. The main + is no acid leakage to corrode connections. Yes I am a dealer now. I started using these because I worked on a boat that the batteries were 6 years old and still good. I think the key to battery life is using a good automatic charger. Even with that on regular lead acid batteries you have venting of acid and having to add distilled water.

Most people including myself don't take care of their batt's. These days it's hard to find a boat with 12 volt trolling motors. With at least three batteries in the back they are up under the deck and have to be un-wired and taken out to check water levels. With on board chargers, that happens even less frequent. Most boats, " get rode hard and put up wet". I have never used a gell-cell battery so I couldn't comment on them. However, I just put two new Everstart (Wal-Mart) batteries in my boat for free. They were both 11 months old. I don't mind changing them out once a year. It's better than them going dead in a stiff wind at noon on tournament day.

Walmart is the only place I have ever purchased a marine battery. I have never been unhappy with how long they last. I always get the biggest heaviest one they carry regardless of the application. With that said, I charge them all as soon as I get the boat back home to prolong the battery life.
You want them to only last one year??don't charge them after trips and let them set all Winter without touching them. That will kill any lead acid battery you buy no matter what the brand.
They are all made by the same company anyway. Just different lables.
F_H

Thank you everybody for the input and advice. I will get on it. Thanks again.

Foul_Hook - not all batteries are made by the same company. There are numerous battery manufacturers. Yes, some battery companies use the same manufacturers, but they are not the same battery with a different sticker. Each battery company has their own design. These designs are patented and can not be used to make other companies products. Just because Exide manufactures batteries for Napa, Ford, Chrysler and their own line does not mean they are all the same design.

You get what you pay for in most cases. I don't like having to replace my batteries every year even if it is for free. It is a hassle to have to take them out, return them to the store and then put them back in. The problem that you run into with Wal-Mart is that they receive their battery shipments in bulk. The sit in the back for who nows how long before they are put on the shelf. When they are put on the shelf the older ones are not rotated to the front. So if they start getting low on stock you could be buying a battery that is 8-12 months old. Who wants to buy a new battery that is already that old? Go with the Optimas. Just my two cents.

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Kbobbjr
Let's Rip some Lips!

Hey Bubba, check this product out. I'm buying the system for my Ranger. BPS has them for $59, I think, for two batteries. I'm sick and tired of crawling around and trying to check the levels too.
http://www.flow-rite.com/


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