I am in the market for 2 new batteries. My 3 1/2 year old Continental Group 27's are starting to give out. They still work, just not great. I was thinking about getting 2 Exide dual purpose group 31 batteries. They are only $99 each. Are they garbage? Would there be another budget battery that I can get the most bang for my buck?

The Excide(Stowaway) batteries at Academy are considerably less expensive than $99.

The Exide (not stowaway) Group 31 batteries at Academy are $99. They have batteries with less capacity for around $54.

I'm looking for opinions on if the group 31 Exide is worth buying or should I go a diff route.

Sorry, didn't read your post well. I bought a 1000 MCA starting battery and 2 dual purpose stowaways when they were on sale and maybe I saw the group 31's and thought they would be priced the same. After rebate paid less than $40 for the starting batt and less than $45 for the dual purpose.

Most batteries are built the same just different manufacturers. We (GNB now Exide)used to sell to the other battery companies so they could meet their production. Continental makes a good baterry. so did AC delco. The key thing with your batteries to get the most longevety out of them is to get them on your charger as soon as you can before they start to take on memory and will start to fail soon after. Also make sure that your connections are clean of corrosion. Right now I am having the best luck with the Bass Pro Shop batteries and one Autozone Good luck lots of people have different opinions, the best thing that i have found is to keep them charged.

Optima blue tops is all ill run from now on. Don't skimp. You'll pay for it on the water sooner or later.

Bass,

Identical situation, I had 2 Continental batteries for my TM.
One Continental went bad. Decided to buy 2 new.

I looked at:
Academy Exide Deep Cycle Type27 - $89.99 @ 182 RC
Interstate Type 27 - $112.99 @ 160 RC
Sears Platinum PM-1 Type31 - $252 @ 200 RC

The PM-1 is the best, but not in my budget for 2 more(PM-1 is my current starting battery. 3 year free replace warranty

I got the Exide Deep Cycle's, they are heavy batteries for a 27. 1 year free replace waranty.

I load tested my good Continental Type27 and it pushed 160 amps, the Excide's pushed 200 amps.

Exides? Sorry, I can let you know in 2-3 years.

I have had to of the exides that look like the opt. Ones. Came from academy each of them were $180 they are AGM batts.

This past weekend I took the second one back after 11 months. I think they are junk!!

Having one bad ok no big deal but when both of them go bad forget it.

I replaced 2 of my three batts with a gam from batteries plus don't recall the model but they were like $250 each and I just ordered another one for the exide I took back will be in tomorrow at batteries plus. I have had good luck with these batts tons of power and no more issues......just my two cents.....maybe it's just the ones academy has maybe they are old or something.