Best STARTING battery???
 

Okay gang,

Which company produces the best starting battery out there for Marine use? I heard that a DEEP Cycle battery is NOT want you want, but rather a battery that has HIGH CRANKING AMPS! I was told that DEEP cycle batteries are more for stereos and accessory use, but not for starting use.

The reason why I ask is because I need to go buy two new STARTING batteries-----a battery that is NOT a whimp! I can only use the smaller 10" long batteries---my battery mounts cannot accomodate a large battery.

Any of you guys have lots of experience when it comes to a good starting battery?

BTW, contrary to popular demand, the Sear's Die Hard I was told is NOT the best starting battery out there---don't really know how much truth that holds or not though.

Thanks

Blue Marine Optimas were my solution I have been very happy with them so far. No maintanince or problems. Plus you can get the nice Eddie Marine boxes to fit them. With 2 Batts & 2 boxes my initial investment was close to $500 a bit pricey but to me worth it.

Got mine at Wallymart, good value, 3 years never failed to start, dunno if the are the "Best". They sell both marine deep cycle and marine starting. Get the starting if you have one battery/engine, add a deep cycle if you have a 3 battery system.

Thanks guys. I have a total of THREE batteries in my boat. Each engine has their own battery and the third battery is for accessories which is relatively new. My boat is set up for Shore Power with an on-board battery charging system. Plus, with my battery switches, I have several options of what I can do as far what battery I choose to do a certain function via the battery terminals.

Anyone else have the goods on which battery is one of the better starting batteries? Thanks

BTW, I prefer to find a battery that I can get at a local store and that is readily available.

Well its kinda up to you on how much you want to spend.

Yes the Optimas/Orbital/ect...(if you turn them upside down, which you can do because they are completly sealed, they look like 6 big "D" cell batteries grouped together) are the best you can buy, without question. They run about $140 for the starting and $160 for the deep cycle.

But honestly most people dont need that much reliabilty. The best battery for your money would probably be the Exide 1000(cranking amps) for about $60 with trade in. I have personally used that battery for 6 years and finally had to replace it. 1-year free replacement warranty, 36 month pro-rated.

Now if you do have electronics that you will run without the engine running you will want a deep cycle battery. All of Exide Marine Deep Cycle batteries are starting batteries also, doesnt mean you have to use them that way, but its just an added feature. So if you leave your stereo on at a beach or something you would probably want that dual purpose battery. These run from about $80-$100. 1-year free replacement warranty, 36 month pro-rated

One thing you might want to keep in mind, when you go to different places to buy batteries you might just be looking at the same battery in a different case. Our Exide rep explained to me that there is only four battery manufactures in the U.S. For example Exide is made by a company that makes 4 other batteries, also like, Die Hard isnt made by Sears.

Mark,

Does the Exide 1000 starting battery (non-deepcylce) have caps to add water for maintenance or not? I'm not sure if I need one with the water fills, I prefer a low maintenance battery though. Thanks again

Several years ago consumer's reports did a study on batteries. The first batch of batteries were all junk. None of them could meet their rated CCA. When they broke the date codes it was found that several batteries were over a year old. Some may have been over two. The second batch of batteries were better because they deliberetly looked for a new, fresh battery. Of all the batteries in the second batch the AC Delco battery was the only one to exceed it's CCA rating. As I recall, it also ranked highly in the other catagories as well.

Think of a new car purchase. That original OEM battery always lasts for more than 5 years. The ones after that are always less. That's because the OEM battery when installed is only a month or so old. Who knows how old the replacement battery is.

Ultimatly, I run two AC Delco dual purpose deep cycle/starting marine batteries. The dual purpose battery isn't as good as a dedicated single purpose battery, but in a application like mine the weight/space/cost savings over dedicated batteries is well worth it.

Cord has a great point about dates, definietly look for them. Exide puts on all their batteries the date of manufacture. While working at Boaters World, if the batteries didnt sell fast enough(which didnt happen often) they wouldnt sit more than 9 or 6(cant exactly remember) months with out getting rotated by Exide.

The Exide 1000 does have caps to fill, I never used them but they do have them. All batteries that I have see you can fill, except Gel Cell and the new Optima/Orbital batteries. Now remember with a 1year free replacement warranty, if you have a problem you can swap it out for a new one. But you shouldnt have any problems. What really kills starting batteries is when you run them down(leave a switch on, or the stereo on etc...) and try to bring them back, it might come back once or twice but that is what you definetly dont want to do. While at Boaters World for 3 years I sold on average about 8-10 pallets(about 200 batt.) a year of these batteries because they would do a special from Jan-April for $49.99 and I maybe saw 10 come back and most were user error not battery error.

Personally if I was in your shoes, I would buy two Exide 1000's for the engines and a Exide deep cycle 120 or 140 minutes reserve(cant exactly remember) which again does have starting capabilities of 630 cranking amps. Both of the these batteries are Group 24 (the smaller ones).

Kamma-Check this months CONSUMER REPORTS, they just did a big test on batteries. Almost all of the Diehards fared really well and were recommended. I was kind of shocked that the very trick looking Optima was a ways down the list...guess you don't always get what you pay for?! BTW- Hows the babe situation......? take care, Berg

my personal experience has been that the high priced batts (optima, etc) fail just as often and unpredictibly as the rest.

Most recent experience is with a West Marine (stores all over the place here in so cal) 1000mca starting battery and interstate deep cycles for the access.....I have used this combo all season (starting a locked in timing blower motor) with no drama....


Using the more economical batteries I don't flinch too much at just proactively replacing them at the beginning of each season...

on the hotboat.net boards there was extensive discussion recently and Trojan batteries appear to be another cost effective recommendation...


happy cranking......

Thanks for all the input. I took Berg's/Liquid Lounge's post and just went over to Sear's and purchased 2 of their Die Hard Gold batteries. They are a NON-deep cycle battery and are freshly produced---one made in Aug and the other in Sept. They are more like a car type battery.

I don't have a lot of time for searching and shopping for batteries and this has been kind of a last minute thing, so I DO regard and appreciate all the input that has been said. These Die Hards have a 1 year warrantee and are maintenance free. We'll see how they do. I know one thing for sure---they're better than what I have now. The ones that I have now won't even hold a charge much at all. My third battery is brand new last year and it is a LARGE deep cycle marine battery and is working fine---it's more for accessories vs cranking so I am all set there.

Best is Stinger by AMP: Very good batteries and I have NEVER replaced one yet. I even put one that looks like a motor cycle battery in my truck and it still is kicking 4 years later no problem. Just took it out and gave it to a friend for his bug because he could not find a battery that would fit were he wanted to put it. They are very expensive however at about 240 bucks for the large one!!

Best Bang for the Buck: The Optima I think fits this catagory well. They can go from btwn 128-160 bucks depending on who is selling them. I have seen a number of failures on these HOWEVER they have always stood behind them no questions asked.

Another good buy is AutoZone Batteries. Made at the same place DieHards are and they come with a better warrantee. They are cheaper then the Diehard Equivelent. Depending on your area you may have to get the post adaptors but they do kick ass for a cheap battery. Maybe 50-60 bucks.

Jon

Optima
 

One season on my Optima's so far no problems. Left the boat sit 3 weeks + Started right up. I am very satisfied so far.

I had two Exide batteries , first one lasted a year and started "acting up". It would need a jump once in a while. Replaced it and ok for another year. Second battery did the same thing. Every once in a while it would need a jump and was ok then. Bought new battery (again) and put the questionable one in a different vehicle , figuring the problem wasn't the battery. Well a little while later the trouble appeared again , same battery , different vehicle. That was my last Exide:mad:. Since then I've stuck with Delco , except for my latest. They are Deka group 31's. Had to change battery boxes in my Formula but I think the Rating is about 33 gazillion CCA:D . My son manages a parts store and I could have got either at cost , but he said that the Deka's where actually better that the Delcos, and had far fewer returns on the Dekas. Also said Exides had interal intercell connector problems causing the starting prob. and Delcos have had a number of returns for broken posts.:(

Interstate
 

I have had good luck with the Interstate Deep Cycles. So far two years in the boat and now problems. I bought one from West Marine and it crapped out in 3 months.

Another good battery company I have dealt with in the past is "LEE" they seemed to last forever, just harder to find.

Audio hit it on the head with the Stinger and Auto Zone batteries.

We use the Stingers in all our sound competition vehicles. Several in each of course. Expensive, but good.

The Auto Zone battery, can't remember the name, but I have used it for several years and always recommend it. Best over the counter warranty of any battery on the market. 1000 CC amps I think. Not very expensive either. Duralast Gold might be the name of it? Anyway, when I need to replace my batteries in the Scarab this will be the ones I use.

Buck
#183

Scott your Optima batteries get the vote for the most trick looking batteries on the market.....Fred

Auto Zone Duralast Gold - all the way!
3 year (THREE YEAR) FREE REPLACEMENT!
a bunch of other months prorated warranty on top.

just figure out how large you can fit, go match it up, and tell them it is for a custom pickup truck (warranty is void for marine use).

I have 5 of them in my diesel cruiser. They have been in there for 29 months and I have not even needed to add any water!

I have had 2 of them in the Formula for about 20 months. I did add water to one of them this summer.

I got sick of replacing batteries all the time. DieHard Marines just did not last more than a season or two. Motorcraft deep cycle batts lasted less than 2 yrs in the diesel. Deka marine batteries did last more than 4 years in the Formula, but the next set lasted a year (same kind of batteries).

I've had good luck with the Exide 1000s. You can buy them at a lot of different places. My friend likes Interstates, but he has to replace them every two years.