I have a Donzi 43 ZR with triple 700s. The batteries have sat for awhile and I would like to replace all 5. Boat also has a 28 speaker JL Audio stereo system so I want to get the absolute best of the best batteries. Optima? Odyseey?

According to my friend who owns an Interstate distributorship and sells Optima, Optima batteries are only worth the money if you have to mount them in different positions. ie. on their side, vertical or whatever. Other than that, their a waste of money. I just use Interstate Marine batteries, but make sure you've got a couple deep cycles to run your stereo.

I would suggest 4 golf cart 6 volt Rolls batteries. Wire the four into two pairs in series for two very large 12 volt batteries. They will outlast and out perform 12 volt batteries with the same footprint. Trojan also makes a very good battery.

In my boats I have a 12 volt deep cycle starting battery and a 6 volt bank wired in series for my stereo. Its never let me down. It sounds like your have one hell of a stereo that sucks one hell of a lot of juice.

Also if you don't want to go the 6 volt route get the heaviest 12 volt for its given size. The heavier the battery the more lead it has/ the better the battery is. Interstate in my opinion is just a run of the mill battery. There are better batteries. Try and find a Rolls dealer, they get my nod as the best battery.

I also looked at Lifeline or Deka if you budget is for a less than $300 battery and need to keep a group 27 size for the trays. I wouls also stay with an AGM going with a combo of 2-3 start batteries and 2-3 deep cycle for you 12 loads while the boat is off.
FYI>>Dont overlook your battery charger. If you change battery style then make sure your charger can handle it.
Many "factory" chargers are inadequate for a stereo.

Good Luck

I have had excellent luck with Deka Group 31 Batteries.

I have ran Deka deep cycle batteries for 4 years...THE SAME BATTERIES!!!!! I run them almost dead every weekend playing a 2200+ watt stereo for hours!! NO problems!!! They are 27's

I run mine for 8+ hous on a 2500 watt system. I just now added a 2nd Deka for my stereo system, so I should now see 16+ hours... I have an on board 30 AMP charger. It takes about 8hrs on the charger and they are good to go.

Hello, I noticed your conversation regarding our batteries and wanted to offer some assistance. The same attributes that 07DominatorSS’s friend mentioned, regarding the mounting versatility of our batteries also helps minimize the chance of acid leaking from our batteries. AGM-style batteries also generally have a significantly longer lifespan than traditional, “flooded” batteries.

The key to long battery life, regardless of brand, is making sure 12.4 volts are maintained in batteries whenever possible. When batteries are allowed to sit in a partially-discharged state, sulfation begins to diminish performance and lifespan. That makes a quality battery tender or maintainer a wise investment, which will help extend the life of any battery. If you have any questions about our batteries, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

If you really have an unlimited budget you can also look at the "Surette" batteries, I know a few RV guys that use them, they aren't cheap, but, they are rated really, REALLY well

Michael

Could you please confirm or dispell 3 notions, ideas, speculations, whatever you want to call them that have been rolling around in my head for some time now..

1. I preach that there is no such thing as a truely automatic battery charger, in my experience i have always encountered overcharged batteries even on the best built in charge units. not just gel cell batteries, which leads me to my next question similiarly related...

2. I used to work in the healthcare industry and provided high end mobility products to the end user. I used the whole line of MK sealed batteries then and was aware of a difference in charge rates and amperage requirements that the standard integrated chargers provided and I didn't feel that I was getting the full life out of the batteries as the manufacturer intended. I suspected then as I still do that in order to achieve a long life out of gel cells they must be charged at a different duration and amperage.
(a) Is this true?
(b) If so, does re-charging/maintaining gel cells with a 40a or 65a conventional alternator damage the integrity of the battery structure and accordingly cause a reduction in lifetime?

3. I forgot the third, (ADD) once I remember I'll post it, thanks.