www.iFourWinns.com

Your kidding right Barry, I'm about 8 boats down from you on the same dock..................

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Bridgewater, PA
2008 Vista 318

For the $$, Walmart is hard to beat. I think we've always managed to get at least 3 yrs out of the deep cycle usually more, and we beat them up pretty good in the summer. It doesn't hurt that there is a Walmart on the road out to the Marina. Easy to deal with, always open.

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Lakebum
2006 378 Vista
Nashville, TN
Current
04 Hustler Cheetah
06 Seadoo sportster 150
Past
06 378 vista
328 vista
240 horizon
21' glastron
20' celebrity

I used to buy nothing but Interstate but found they last no longer than the cheap $80 ones (if you want to call that cheap).

Going on my 4th year with these from Advance Auto parts.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Is the moral of the story... cheap batteries work great? Just expect to only get 3-4 seasons out of them before thinking about replacing.

I will add that a couple of super critical things that will always extend the life of a battery is to have a high quality smart charger/maintainer on it as much as possible, to check the battery fluid levels at least once a year (if not twice), and because their are el cheapo - don't be afraid to pull them in the off season and have them tested. If one goes bad, it could very easily pull the other down as well. The battery bank is literally only as good as your worst battery in the bank.

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

I rarely venture into the Vista forum but wanted to throw this out there. No SLA battery has ever impressed me as much as the Interstate 27M-XHD. These were supplied when my boat was delivered. For five years they sat in mostly freezing temps for 5-6 months of the year with no charging, and always fired everything up like they were brand new in the spring. They've run lights and the stereo/amp for hours at a time and still acted like they had a full charge. When I do put a charger on them in the spring, they come to full charge within a very short time, indicating they didn't discharge much.

I could almost certainly get another year or two out of them but I believe in replacing boat batteries every five years - so I just bought two more of them.

I know the bigger boats have very different battery needs but thought I'd add this to the database.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

the 318 came with the same batteries - Interstate 27M-XHD

They still work great for cranking batteries for each motor for us. It just didn't cut it for a house bank.

It's a great battery!

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

Update:

I called Batteries Plus and their prices are better now than they were two years ago when I bought from them.

Their best marine starting battery, Group 24 - 800 CCA (part number: SL124MHP) - $79.99
Their only Deep Cycle Group 27 (part number: SL127MDC) - $85.99

Starting tomorrow, there are rebates being offered on these two batteries. So, not sure how much, but might end up saving a good deal more.

I will look at Walmart and the Deka place that PartyCove posted for me (thanks). However, I think these prices will be hard to beat.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I hate replying to my own post, but Batteries Plus just called. The rebate is $15 PER BATTERY. Since I am purchasing 3 ... that's a $45 savings. So, two Deep Cycles and a High Yield Starting Battery for a total of $206.

If any of you need new batteries, might want to contact BP. Might save you some moolah.

No ... I'm not affiliated with BP. Just found a good deal and wanted to pass it on ...


Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I know you aren't 'drinking the koolaid' with Optimas so I'm not trying to convince you or anyone to buy one but here's a data point: I have 8 full seasons on three D31M batteries (original) and they are all still performing great. I have never pulled them out and really don't want to. Other than an indicator of the quality of the battery, I don't care about the warranty because I don't want to use it. I want the battery to be the absolute best so I'm not doinking with battery problems during the season. My $.02.

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2014 Vista V435
2011 Glastron GT180
2013 Sea Doo RXT-260

I feel the same way.