www.iFourWinns.com

Howdy y'all,

I got two years out of my batteries (starting battery is still in good shape, but the house battery is shot). I currently have a deep cycle (house) and a starting battery that I purchased at Batteries Plus. I got out for $200 for both a couple of years ago.

This year, I am purchasing an additional deep cycle battery that I will run in parallel so I can extend my usage to all day. So, a total of 3 batteries.

Any places better than others (price-wise) in your experience? I have looked on-line, but there isn't much savings over what I can get at Batteries Plus.

I'm not interested in Optima batteries. Sorry, but I'm not drinking the Koolaid on that deal. The numbers just aren't there from what I've seen.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I agree, Optima is not worth the money/hype. I deal with Batteries Plus all the time at work, and some batteries they are competitive, but never have been on deep cycles for our lifts, and hi-lo's.

I would recommend either Sam's Club, or even the Maxx Marine at WalMart (believe it or not). I bought two group 27 deep cycles at Sam's for our 268, and I think they were $78 each. Good batteries too.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I just bought 4 gc2 golf cart batteries at Sams Club for 66.00 each! They are 6 volt so they would need to be run in series sets, but they are rated at 208amps hours! I talked to my Interstate battery supplier here at work and he told me to get them from Sam's instead of him b/c they sell them to Sam's for 20.00 cheaper than he can give them to me at cost! It's the only battery they actuallly sell at a loss due to some kind of special deal worked out with Sam's.

After my blue top crapped out on me after 1.5 seasons....I'm also done drinking the Optima Kool-aid! Plus the blue tops are only rated at 55amp hours.

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Well here is my 2 cents!!!

Look into the Odyssey brand of glass matt batteries. http://www.odysseyfactory.com/ There made to military specs. Sears has them under there name and if you know Sears, there easy to deal with under warranty. It comes with a 4yr replacement & 100 month prorated warranty.

I have pushed & pushed these with every overnight trip & they have not let me down. They have both starting & deep cycle capabilities. From there site "Some batteries provide enormous cranking power. Others, deep cycle reserve power. The revolutionary ODYSSEY® battery is designed to do both" I have done it, I used one battery all night, I will spare you with what I did, and it started the engine with out hesitation the next morning. I don't even pull them out in the winter, made to handle -50F, with 1% loss of power per month. This is the start of my 3rd season with them, no problems.

To each there own, thats what makes the world go around.

At $125 to $300 per battery, you had better get at least 3 years out of them. Taken care of properly, a lead acid battery will
last that long as well, for less than half the cost.

Just MY opinion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FWIW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I just bought my deep cycle battery at the local Chaparral dealer. Price was $89....same battery at West Marine was $165.

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'01 Vista 298

West Marine is Neiman Marcus for males.


Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I'm starting my 4th season on a set of Walmart batts. It's always been hit and miss there with car batt's... just make sure you have a load tester at home to verify everything is good about once-twice per season.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

West Marine is only good (for me at lest) if you need it right away! The battery I picked up at Sears was $189, now $209. I have seen them on sale.

Two main points here:
Yes, they cost more, but the warranty is 3 to 4 times longer than any lead acid battery I have ever seen. In other words, if you bought it today, and 8 years later (96 months) it fails. It is still coverred, granted it will only be about $10.00 back to you.

The other thing to is, it will put out more in amps and last longer than any lead acid battery in it's class. That in it self can be worth it. The question is, "what type of boating do you do". A lead acid type (in that size), would not last me over night. If thats not what you do or want, than this battery is not for you.

A plus too is, no float charge needed in the winter months.

Now that was good!

Nothing but Interstate for me, but I do have an account there so get a pretty good price. $90.00 each for my boat batteries and never a problem with them.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

On the "hit or miss" that you mentioned. Marine batteries, in general, have a thicker outer case & there plates (inside) are made to take the pounding that a boat can give. Thats is the main differences between them. Sorry if I am stating the obvious, but if there failing on you, that could be why.

WalMart group 29 deep cycles for 80 bucks have been great for me.

Solid warranty. Pull them and get them tested yearly.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I have had great success with Deka Marine Master lead acid batteries, I have 2 group 27 starters that I will be starting my 5th season with and 2 group 31 deep cycles that are going on the 3rd season


http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=468
According to thier website, you can buy them here from your location

East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc.
1724 Trinity Valley Drive
Carrollton, TX 75006
Phone: 972-616-0682
Fax: 972-616-0685
epmcarrollton@dekabatteries.com
Distance: 13 miles

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Bridgewater, PA
2008 Vista 318

partycove,where at on the beaver? I'm at bridgewater marina (Mikes)