Whats the best batteries for trolling motor use? Just looking for everyones opinion. I bought a new 36v 109 lbs thrust trolling motor for my center console and am looking to get 3 new batteries at the same time. What do you recommend?

Optima.............BUT if you are a tightwad like me.......then 3 WalMart Starting-DeepCycle combo batteries............when they go out on Sunday Wal Mart is open and they can be replaced fast! Mine are going on 3 years now no problems..........and cheap also!

This ought to be good!!

I'll throw out my 2�. The best? Could be Trojan, could be Otima, could be any number of batteries. Best buy for the weekend fisherman? I'd say Interstate or Delco Voyager. I've run both and I've gotten 4 years of service out of both with proper maintenance and charging. I looked at Optima when I replaced mine last year. For what it would cost me for the Optimas, I can keep my boat in Interstates for a little over 10 years based on 4 years of service. Now, Optima may give that kind of service, but I doubt it. They havent been around that long.

If we still had a Delco distributor here, I'd probably be running them. We do have an Interstate distributor and the 2 group 27s and one group 24 were less than $200 out the door.

Could be Wal Mart has the best buy as Boatman1 indicates. I got a bad taste in my mouth with Wal Mart / Sam's batteries back when they were selling the GNB batteries (Champion, Stow Away, Power Pac, etc.) I was only getting about a year out of the automotive batteries and not much more than that out of the marine. When I leave a vendor due to service or reliability reasons, I tend not to ever go back. So, I don't know if they've become more reliable in the lat 10-12 years.

Bass & Walleye Boats magazine has an annual battery issue and you can see all the manufacturer's specs for all the batteries and the list price. Really helps when looking for the best one for your needs.


Good Luck!

Walmart - they are not the "best" batteries out there, but for the money and the service I think they are probably the best deal. They have been lasting three years or so and if there is a problem Walmart is available (and open) in most of the remote places my truck and boat wind up.

The best battery is the one with the highest Ah rating. Cranking amps mean nothing to a true deep cycle trolling motor battery. Optima is a good battery, but the ones that I have seen are only rated at 60Ah. Personally I use the US Battery, a true deep cycle, and it is rated at 130Ah.

Optima. I think Trojans are great batteries, I am just partial to Optimas. I installed them a year ago and have not looked at them since.

My stowaway seems to sweat allot. I would like to go to a sealed battery. I really don't like all the battery acid that gets spilled into the battery compartment

Sounds like you are over charging. Have you checked your alternator output when the boat is running??

Also check that you're not over filling them. That will cause it too.

Optima...... Ive had mine for 2 years and no problems or sign of losing any power.

Best...
What a great way to start a bar fight.

However, the **best** I've ever seen weren't marine batteries at all. Sonneschien, gel batteries made in Germany, built for electric wheelchairs were by far the best I've ever seen.

Second place are oil filled thermos, made in california.

The Sonnesheins I had I used for five years, swapping them boat to boat, and sold them with my last champ in '01, and are still running hard.

I believe what kills a marine battery fastest is rough water, it just beats them to death quickly.

Trojans get my vote in the wet-cell battery department.

Mr. Goff is also correct about bustin' white caps and the effect it has on batteries!

The Continentals in my old BassCat lasted 3+yrs, though others have had mixed results with them.

When I 'hit' the lottery someday, might shell out the bucks for some Optimas or Trojan sealed batteries $$$$$$$!

Optimas, The original one that I bought for a starting battery lasted over seven years. And now you can buy them at Sam's Club.

Optimas and Trojans may be the "best". But for the best cost/benefit ratio get AC/Delcos. As for the Wallymart brand, they may be the cheapest and have the best guarantee, but who wants to get stranded on the water? I have been using AC Delcos for 10-15 years on my bass boat and they usually last 3-4 years. Whatever you buy, charge them as soon as you get home. Don't let them sit while they're run down.

Optima=#1