Interstate vs autocraft batteries
 

Hello,

After ten years and 400 hours I think it is time to replace both
batteries for my 496 ho. I have Interstate now and am very
happy with since they have lasted so long. The problem
is I have a opportunity to buy Autocraft batteries from
Advanced Auto for half the price of Intetstate. Is there a
a big quality difference between the two batteries? Or should
I pay more for the Interstate?

Thank you.

I've used the Autocraft and Duralast (Autozone) batteries before in cars. I won't again. Niether has the reserve capacity or life I get from Interstate or even the Walmart batteries. Im trying one of the Walmart batteries out now and it is holding up much better than the Autocraft/Duralast. 3 years in it looks to be as good as Interstate.

From the Johnson Controls website:

Johnson Controls is the leading supplier of batteries to many of the largest aftermarket battery retailers, including Advance Auto Parts, DAISA S.A., AutoZone, Costco, NAPA, Interstate Batteries, Walmart and more. Powering virtually every type of passenger car, light truck and utility vehicle, our batteries are globally sold under private labels, as well as our own brands – VARTA®, Heliar®, LTH®, MAC®, Delkor® and OPTIMA®.


In a lot of cases, the only thing that changes is the label (between similar styles, i.e. lead acid, AGM, gel, etc).There are duds from time to time, but heat, lack of use, and vibration are the true enemies of your battery.
Last I knew, Exide and JCi were the two big suppliers and were the lion's share of the store labels.

One of my favorite quotes
 

" "There is hardly anything in the world that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price alone are that person's lawful prey. It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money – that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot – it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better."

Spend a little extra and buy Optima and the problem is solved with potential battery issues.

I just installed my third set of optima's since 2001, about 7 or 8 years a set in the boat, when one tests weak I replace both and use the other for my transfer pump for as long as it lasts.

Going to have to disagree with you on that........

I just had two new G-29 Delco's put in my boat, 18 month warrenty instead of 12, 845 mca & 210 reserve.... 129.00 a piece

I've been running the duralast marine batteries since 2010. I just removed one this week from the boat, and put it on charge in the garage. After a full charge, it passed a voltage test, and load test. Still gonna replace just because.... 5 years old.

Its a group 27, with 1000 marine cranking amps, 800 cold cranking amps, and 180 min reserve capacity. Pretty good specs for a group 27 dual purpose battery imo.

Just replaced my 2004 G27 interstates with G29 Walmart batteries. 18 month warranty. They were 102 I believe.