Two baddest dogs for troll batteries I've found:

Thermo: Made in California, they are oil filled (not acid) and last much longer. A+ batteries.

Then the best: Sonneshien, gel battery made in Germany, they are made for electric wheelchairs, etc. Unbelievable durability and holds a charge longer than anything I've seen. About the same price as the gel battery at academy.

Never thought of wheelchair batteries. We used a tank battery for our 12V Motor Guide when I was a kid. I think that battery is still working on its first charge. I like the parrallel idea. Definitely get an on board charger, consider connecting not only the TM batteries but also your cranking bat.

Didn't mean to misinform you. BJH and KO Bass Attack are correct in their statement about wiring the batteries parallel for 12 volt. Just didn't think it through. The sun doesn't shine on the same dogs rear every day!

I have the same 46lb motorguide, and I use wallymarts biggest marine deepcycle (18 months free replacement/24 months prorated), and like the guy said, there's one close by you 24/7 no matter where you are.

The one I have now I've had almost 2 years and last week I noticed it was going down fast but I wasn't ready to buy a new one, so I charged it up & tested it. I got inconsistent readings with the hydrometer and multimeter so I took a closer look at the terminals.

They didn't look bad, maybe just a little darker than usual, but I took the dremel to 'em with a wire brush & shined 'em up real bright. That battery lasted a 3-day camping trip last weekend without slowing down.

I used to run 2 smaller parallel batteries and I loved the performance, they just never get tired, but then one of 'em gets weak and they both go downhill fast. Seems like the weaker one drains the stronger until it becomes weaker, then the 2nd one drains the 1st until it's the weaker again, and so on till they're both stone cold dead.

I had been using a optima, but it was one that someone had given me. It used to last me about one 6 hour trip.

I am down here at Port Aransas now, will be seeing what I can find at the Wal-marts when I get back.

I just replaced mine.I had BPro in their before they lasted 2.5 years. which is good. But their prices jumped up to 109.99. called around Trojans 146.00 ,Interstate 96.95. so I'm going to try wal-mart for 70.00 with exchange they are made by Johnson control.

Do you guys have the part number for that big battery from Wal-mart? I have been to three different Wal-marts and the biggest they had was a 115 Everstart and a 125 reserve hour Everstart Maxx.

Went to Cabela's and they had a house brand 225 RH for $190-ish.

If that is the biggest one they make ( everstart maxx) I bet that will work just fine.

I looked around and ended up calling a place called the Battery Warehouse in Killeen. I got a 210 reserve made by Johnson Controls for $95. So we will see how this one does.

Thanks for all your help.

Jeff

I think the WalMart batteries are made by Johnson control and you will be in good shape.

Tried the new battery out and it works like a charm. Used it for about 6 hours and it never missed beat or showed any signs of slowing down.

Too bad I just ruined my new prop the second time out, hit somthing in Lake Belton. Oh well boat is going back in storage again till December, and didnt like that prop anyway, the spare prop will work for one more outting.

Thanks again guys for the info on the batteries!

Jeff

yepper that would be who makes them, youd be surprised how many brands they make, used to haul batterys from them and they had about 25-30 different brand names on the exact same batterys.
wally world has the best battery for the money I can guarantee it, been using them for years in everything and the few problems I have had have been easy to resolve.

Thanks for your service, good luck and watch your 6. Oh, btw I use the big wally world battery also and it has kept up with all I have asked of it.

I like the Stow-Away batteries Academy sells. They have a $10 mail-in rebate going on also.

I run Interstates all year all and keep on going, going, going!