when is it time to change my batteries
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If they charge up to the right density of the liquid in each cell then they should last you a while longer. If you are concerned that they won't last the season they buy a new battery.
I'll give you this tip. The new Spiral Wound type Batteries (Optimas) will hold a full charge for a year or more. And you can turn them upside down and they won't leak. They charge up faster than regular lead acid cell batteries and the Optimas are much more resistant to vibrations. Vibrations in a boat going over the water hard and fast can destroy the lead hanging in a regular lead acid battery. But the spiral wound design of the Optimas prevent them from moving much and thus increases their life expectancy.
I am going on my sixth year with two Optimas. And I used them exclusively for my boat. One to start the motor and run the accessories like the live well pump and the bilge pump and depth Sounder while the other Optima was used for the trolling motor.
I have a Min-Kota 50 lb thrust All Terrain Electric Trolling motor that pulls a lot of amps. I had to install a 30 amp circuit breaker in the wiring as it uses a lot of juice. The 20 amp fuse holder melted so I had to replace that with the heavy duty circuit breaker.
My optima deep cycle blue top battery has allowed me to use this trolling motor for 8 hours of fishing on a electric trolling motor only lake may times. It got me to the fishing spots and back. I went all the way down the lake and back which is over 2 miles in total distance easily. And I fished several bays along the way there and back. The only thing I had problems with was when the winds got up to over 15 to 20 mph and that's because my small light weight aluminum boat's square bow doesn't cut into the wind or the waves at all. It's a square bow John Boat style. This boat was made before they started to modify the bows in the aluminum bass boats. That's the only bad thing about my boat. It's a Fisher marine Water Strider III bass boat.
Thankfully now the lakes I fish allow me to use a gasoline motor at idle speed. That helps me fish when the winds blowing hard.
I would think that a good battery that's maintained well would last at least three years. I expect my Optimas to last for six years. This will be the sixth years that I have had them and if they get me though this season I will be very pleased.
I have the Optima D34M 55 Ah battery that I purchased in Jan 2003 for $184.99 and then the Optima 34M 50 Ah battery that I paid $159.99 for in Jan 2003.
Now the really powerful Optima Blue top is the D31M which puts out 75 Ah or power (C/20). It's reserve capacity is BCI 155 minutes (25 amp discharge, 80 deg F (26.7 C) to 10.5 Volts cut-off) Power is CCA (BDI 0 deg F): 900 amps
MCA (BCI 32 deg F): 1125 amps.
This last Optima weights 59.8 lbs and is 12 13/16" by 6 1/2" by 9 3/8" in size. It was more costly than the D34M battery that I purchased. I didn't write the price down for the D31M battery but it was over $200.
I figure If I paid $75 to $80 for a good deep cycle and it only lasted me 3 years that I would be saving money if I spent a little more on an Optima that would last twice as long as the regular type lead acid batteries on the market.
This season will tell me if I made the correct decision.
Originally Posted by shaner
