Quick Battery Poll Please

[purplehayes]

Hey folks...

I have had my boat (bought second hand) for about 3 years now and I have decided that this season start will be done with new batteries and likely new cables. I would like to change the batteries to AGM's so that they are Maint free and all of that.

I have an Optima Yellow Top in my SUV and am a huge fan. I have had no further battery issues since installing that battery in the vehicle when I had previously gone through 3 standard OEM batteries in about 1 year.

So I asked the marine tech who would be doing the work about replacing my batteries and cables with Optima Batteries. I value his opinion and he recommended Discover AGM batteries (if needed or recommended after a test of the system). I am not familiar with them and I have not been able to gleen too much info from the web about them. Does anyone have experience with them and if so how to they compare to Optima's and in general which would the community choose.

Cheers

 

[kaz911]

There a quite a few threads on battery selection. Search does wonders.

Anyway - I'll just say my favourite is Lifeline AGM marine batteries. I'm not a fan of Optima's but I am in a hot climate where they seem to give up their life very very fast. I do not know Discover batteries. But a lot of people here are happy with Sears ?Platinum AGMs due to their low cost and often available coupons. But people who read spec sheets and understand them - quite often select Lifeline AGMs :grin: even if they are more expensive.

 

[dpmulvey]

IIRC, Lifeline makes sears brands.

If money is no object, Rolls-Surrette.

If it is, Costco wet cell deep cycle batteries and a watering kit. (http://www.powerstridebattery.com/battery-watering-kits)

 

[thompsdw]

I thought Sears Platinum was made by EnerSys. They are the same company that makes the military grade AGM Odyssey batteries used in military vehicles. Basically, the sears platinum is an Odyssey battery. Based on my experience, there is none better. I really like the two I installed in my boat.

 

[dpmulvey]

You're right. It is Odyssey. My bad. Sorry!

Great battery. I know a fellow who has them in his SR and his F-350 diesel. He tells me it is the best battery he has owned. No problems spinning the diesel on a cold morning.

 

[purplehayes]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the posts. All excellent information. I had done a quick search in the posts on batteries but in my quick peruse did not see stuff directly associated with my specific question but none the less I will make sure to look deeper into the current posts before asking. Thanks again for the info.

Cheers

 

[Jeremygavin]

I put 4 new Sears platinum batteries in last spring and had no problem all summer. Long days on the beach with 2 fridges going all day, head use with three girls aboard and lights whenever needed and never dropped below 12v by the end of the day.
They were the best battery for the money that I could find.

 

[Hampton]

While we're at it, do you match the size or do you match the original CCA? For my bow thruster, I replaced the big, old, wet cell batteries with AGM's with more CCA's, but they were one size smaller. Sure, more is better, but is it necessary?

 

[tcason]

I put 4 new Sears platinum batteries in last spring and had no problem all summer. Long days on the beach with 2 fridges going all day, head use with three girls aboard and lights whenever needed and never dropped below 12v by the end of the day.
They were the best battery for the money that I could find.

I installed in the Sears platinum car model - same specs as marine but much better warranty!
Second year ni issues and leave in all winter unhooked - not a heavey load on my batteries.

 

[Hampton]

As I understand it, some boat applications require the marine-sized terminals that are only available on marine batteries. Mine use the car terminals. I've been using the other, additional terminals for stereo stuff.

 

[DDD]

I put in AGM, Sears Marine Platinum.
upgraded to group 31.

They have coupons available quite often, online.

Been happy so far.

 

[DB360]

Installed the 4 Sears AGM's a year ago last Dec. All is good to date cranking these diesels!:smt038 Good price and warranty.

Regards,
Dennis

 

[Alegria]

Brought 4 of the marine platinum batteries. I was lucky they had 4 they usually only stock 2 at a time. We shall see how they hold up liked the 3 year warranty and that they can be returned to any Sears.

 

[jason78]

I also put in (3) Sears DieHard Platinum Group 31 Batteries several years ago and am pleased with them so far.

 

[Mystic Dreamer]

I switched from the Optima Blue Top 31's to Sears DieHard Marine Platinum's- the Optima's only lasted me about 3 years... after about a year, so far so good with the DieHards.

 

[hottoddie]

I haven't seen any comments re: changing battery chargers when changing from lead acid to AGM. Unless your charger is capable of switching from one type to another you may be faced with additional expense to install a compatible charger. My 26 year old ferro charger works fine on my 4 group 31 lead acid batteries so I will not try to reinvent the wheel on this one. Just another angle to consider.

 

[Alegria]

Well looks like I'll be testing that theory out this summer. Stay tuned! I used to leave my charger on all the time but given the new agm batteries I am planning on leaving it off so they don't fail. We shall see.

 

[jason78]

As far as I can remember, when it has been discussed here in the past, the charger incompatibility issues were with GEL batteries, not AGM.

 

[1000islander]

I have 8 DieHard Marine Platinum's installed on my 420. Going on 4 years, no problems.

 

[moparlvr4406]

As I understand it, some boat applications require the marine-sized terminals that are only available on marine batteries. Mine use the car terminals. I've been using the other, additional terminals for stereo stuff.

these work like a charm...and available at nearly any auto parts store