Why would I replace if still 100%? Not a dig just an observation. Guess I'm too cheap. Optima Blue Tops have serviced me well for a few years but ask me after 5 years. If not lasting that long I go back to Walmart too.

yes, just keep your receipt 1 year

Walmart Everstart 27DC (not available in the Maxx)
109AH-160RC-750MCA 1 yr. warranty $81.67
Sams Energizer 27DC
109AH-180RC-840MCA 1 yr. warranty $79.88.
Both batteries are made by Johnson Controls and the one at Sam's is about 3.5# heavier than Wally's??
I have 2 - Everstart Maxx 24's from Walmart now for my 74# TM and one crapped out...thinking about going with the 27's from Sam's because of the higher RC.

Academy, group31, $110, charge and run it for two days on #55 TM.

My boat is an older boat and I upgraded everything electrical including trolling motor, wiring, battery boxes, etc. So while I had everything apart, I thought it made sense to replace the batteries also. Your point is well taken. I should have just used them until they failed and ruined one of my few fishing trips.

Are all these batteries maintenance free? I am NOT interested in any that are NOT.

there isn't such thing as a battery that doesn't need maintained. in fact, the majority of battery horror stories come from people who didn't maintain their battery. its' not hard, but you have to do it, if you expect a battery to last.

I recently had to buy new batteries after my cheap wal mart batteries I had for 3 years would charge...but, I had them for 3 years, and they were used easily 150 days of fishing. likely closer to 200.

I had great success with Trojan for the trolling motor. About every 3rd or 4 th trip I checked the water level. I could fish 8-10 hrs easy on a charge.

Well I guess It depends on what you call maintenance. I DO NOT want a battery I have to add water to. With an AGM battery all I did was charge it and check the connections to make sure they were clean and tight.

Are there any Deka dealers in Texas?

a know there is a place on the west side of Nacogdoches that sells Deka.

Just get more Cabelas. They are on sale. The 30's are 191.

Mine are only three years old and I hope they go another couple years.

You likely replaced 5 yr old batteries with the lead plates almost used up. An older "100% charged" battery may have only 20 or 30% or less of usable capacity and could soon leave you stranded. Some battery manufacturers consider a battery at end of life when capacity reaches 80% of new even though they will charge to 100% state of charge.

I had a 30 series Cabela's as my starting/third trolling motor battery and it failed after six months. Got another one under warranty and it too failed after about six months. It was still covered under warranty but after two failures I decided not to tempt fate and got the big Sear's Platinum battery. No problems for going on two years now. Sold the boat now but sold to a friend and it is still going strong!

BTY, Mercury no longer recommends the Cabela's AGM battery for the OptiMax.

Sears group 31. When my interstates on the TM die I'm going deka.