Boat Batteries

[Dan]

Need two trolling motor batteries and a starting battery. 31s. Have had Dekas but am open minded. Where are the best prices?

[stackenem]

Stick with the Deka's. Had mine for 5 years and still going strong!!!

[thedude]

i've never had any TM battery last more than 3 seasons - everstart, interstate, deka, optima, meijer (duracell), etc.
I've been using meijer batterys because they are cheap and last as long as everything else.

For a cranking battery - i would recommend a deka 31 AGM however. If your not running a newer engine, you can get by with a smaller battery.

[thedude]

A1 Electric on Turner ave in GR has a house brand by deka (agm and regular lead/acid) that is the best pricing i've found on them also.

[dartag]

I would also say stick with Deka's.   I did have a 2 year old one have a dead cell last year.  They pro-rated the warranty no questions asked.   

[Jay-MadWags]

I got 4 seasons out of 3 interstate TM batteries and cranker battery.

[djkimmel]

I've used Deka only for almost 15 years now with no failures and at least 5 years out of each set even when I was fishing 130+ days a year in many campgrounds. I use 3 wet cell 31s. One as a starting electronics battery, and also as the 3rd in series for the rare times I use 36 volt (have a 24/36 volt motor).

I was leery for years about store brands because I didn't always know who made them, and it changes sometimes from year-to-year. Had a lot of inconsistent and usually the worst luck at the worst time with unknown brand batteries.

Having enough electricity for a full day of any kind of fishing is too important to take chances with unknown batteries, is my opinion. Been nice to not have that concern all these years since I switched to Deka.

[Jay-MadWags]

I got 4 seasons out of 3 interstate TM batteries and cranker battery.

I probably could have gotten almost 5 years but I did not want to be stuck in the middle of Clair and find out I need new batteries. I run a 2012 Skeeter FX20 it a 250 SHO and Fortrex.

[Firefighter Jeff]

  I agree with Justin (The Dude)  I ran Interstate and wasn't all that impressed.  The last sets of batteries I have purchased were from Walmart.  I did have a issue with a couple and they also were prorated and replaced.  I'm sure you can't go wrong with Deka or other top names.  It's just what I run.

[oldjigger]

also  there is  always  a walmart around no matter where you are

[Firefighter Jeff]

also  there is  always  a walmart around no matter where you are

  This is true but not all have a decent selection of marine batteries.  I've looked around trying to find the latest manufacture dates.

[Dan]

Ended up getting three batteries from A-1 Electric on Turner in Grand Rapids. Hopefully, I'll get a number of years out of them. Now all I have to do is get my trailer operational and maybe I can get in the water.

[dartag]

Noticed the last 3 times out this year my TM batteries were weak after 5 hours.  Checked and they are 5 years old.  Got 2 new Deka 31's yesterday so I am all set for 5 more years.   

[yukonjack2]

cranker depends on a few variables - what year is your motor?  If you have an older stator type, then you should run a lead acid and not an AGM, gel, or lithium.  theses types get run down too far yet can still crank your motor - then when charging it can overheat the rectifier and burn it out. 

I would suggest whatever type you get which is correct for your motor type, get at least 1000 CCA.  this will ensure you can start, run pumps, livewells, and all the bigger screen electronics all day without worry of running your battery down.
Get the biggest one you can fit in your compartment - Gr31 is suggested.


MY $0.02!

[t-bone]

Steve - where did you buy your Dekas? I'm probably going to at least get a cranking battery soon. Looking for a local store!

Noticed the last 3 times out this year my TM batteries were weak after 5 hours.  Checked and they are 5 years old.  Got 2 new Deka 31's yesterday so I am all set for 5 more years.   

[dartag]

Discount Battery.   Union Lake and Willow road.  Yellow Building.   They are a Deka dealer.  I have bought batteries there for years. 

[Skulley]

I have Deka Marine Master Group 31 on my boat.  I also have one Group 31 for my travel trailer.  Deka Batteries are made both in Pennsylvania and Iowa by a company called East Penn Manufacturing.  The automotive applications are preferred by the employees of where I work.  I work in the Electrical/Electronics are of Engineering there.  The battery guys at work will tell you that they are the only USA made battery on the market which they are including the marine applications.  There are Deka Batteries that are made in Mexico.  Don't buy those.  They are not made the same.  The USA Dekas are much better made.  It would take me too many paragraphs to explain the build process of these batteries.  The marine applications are also sold by other names in other stores for less money if you know where to buy them.  You can PM me for more information.  This information I'm sharing is not available on the East Penn Manufacturing website.  Here is a link to the site which will give you some information.  The website tells you where locally in this area you can buy the Deka Batteries but I guarantee you'll be paying more than I did for the exact same battery made in the same plant.  It just will not have the Deka name on it.  The website does not give you retailers that sell their product, just their outlets of which there are three (3) here in Michigan.  http://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/

It's all I run any more in my boat and camper.  I also have an East Penn in my trucks meaning my 1500 and my 2500.  Very dependable.  Best I've ever owned and would never buy anything else.




BD