gel battery question

I have 2 optima gel batterys from 2013 that have been the best batteries I've ever used. Boat stays on charger year round and they hold great charges.

DILEMMA TIME
I am upgrading to a 36v Fortrex. Do I buy a new gel cell battery and have 1 new 2 old or do I get 3 new acid ones? Cost is the concern here. $220 1 new gel, $300 3 new acids.

Well, I don't recommend that you buy a new gel battery since it is best to have 3 batteries of the same type for a 36V motor. (Optima batteries are not gel batteries.) AGM and conventional cell batteries both have acid, so you're confused there too?

Your dilemma is between Optima AGM and conventional flooded cell. I don't think you can get much battery for $100 if you consider other charges when buying a battery. In addition to sales tax, isn't there a disposal fee even if you turn in an old battery as a core?

It will not hurt a new battery to use it with 2 other older AGM batteries for a 36V series connection as long as those other batteries remain serviceable. Disclaimer: this means that when either of the two older batteries starts to go, you replace that one too, or the new one will be more deeply discharged, which is not a good thing.

THANK YOU! Yes I have no idea what the [censored] to do then. So here is a picture of the batteries I have for my 24v set up. I should just add one of these? How to I tell if a battery is going bad so I do not damage my new one?

Okay first is your charger designed to charge AGM batteries?

I personally would buy some Deka lead acid batteries on troller... I would put a AGM battery on the cranking for the heavy loads during cranking

I was planning on getting a minnkota 3 bank charger

good move you can select which type of battery charging on each bank of the minnkota chargers and they are awesome! I bought mine last year and it has been great!

basically there isn't much difference between a good acid and an AGM.. except the AGM will dont drop voltage when put under a heavier load like cranking which basically means your graphs wont cut off and your engine will crank easier after a long day using battery.

The acids on your troller have the same amount of reserve amps but you just don't need the heavy load carrying ability for the $150 more each battery

First off if this picture is same as your battery`s in your boat, you need to buy 3 trolling motor battery`s, because the dark gray bottom Optima is a cranking battery.