What do you guys think of the Optima batteries?

[Chris Droke]

Need to replace my trolling battery. Anyone have any comments on the Optima batteries? Any suggestions on a good sealed gel battery for trolling motor? Thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

You will get a lot of opinions. Can't go wrong with 2 brands in my book...Delco and Trojan. Priemum price but very good reviews from all that use them. Personally, I don't like Interstates but a lot of people have good success with them. I got burned on 3 sets in 1 year and that was enough for me. I've heard good and bad on the Optima's but I would spend that $$ on a Trojan or AC Delco myself.

 

[TOMMY RICH]

You can get bad ones with any of them but, like Tox I think the Optimas are a little expensive. Too many other good brands. Myself I've had pretty good luck with Interstates BUT, you're not gonna' beat the Delco for the bucks.

 

[Herndonpro]

I've had good luck with Optimas. The set in my boat now has been in there three years + with no issues.



Steve

 

[Wayne P.]

Just look at the capacity of those batteries (about what a regular group 24 deep cycle battery has). Not enough for me, I fish more than I ride around and I fish a long day.

Their lifetime is longer, they recharge faster, but don't have the capacity for serious fishing.

 

[Jim B]

Im with Tee, Tox and Wayne on the Optimas. They just dont have the reserve capacity that other batteries have and cost way too much. I know a few guys that have run them and were pretty disapointed when their $600 pair of batteries croaked 6 hours or so into a windy fishing day.



If your dead set on a sealed AGM type battery take a look at the cabelas advanced anglers batteries. They are good batteries for a decent price(as far as AGM's go) and they have good capacity as well. I have one of them as my start battery and have since the interstate that came in my z7 croaked only a few months into owning the boat. I have personally not tried them yet for the trolling motor but i might when i need replacments. I run trojans now and love them but they are very hard to find in my area now since the place i got mine from went out of business.

 

[Carl S]

I am going into year 8 on my 3 Optima D34m's in my PT185. But, they are not heavily used all year and only get put to the test twice a year when I go to Ky. Lake for a week at a time.

 

[Texas Transplant]

Loved the Trojans I ran. They were great.



Tex

 

[Chris Droke]

Thanks for the advice. I will look into the Trogan's and Delco's.

 

[Outtaline]

i will never spend money on Optima batteries again. they last just as long as others costing alot less. the only difference in a starting or trolling situation i have found is the Optima just costs more. Stick with Trojan or Delco and by better bait instead.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Just replaced my Optima cranking battery with a Sears PM1 it's a beast at 75lbs but 1150 MCA and 205 reserve is the best you can get.

 

[Major Mark]

I put 2 of those beasts in the bow of my 1648 two years ago for my 80# Terrova Ipilot. I got mine from BatteriesPlus. Last year Cabelas started offering the same battery (labeled for them of course, like Sears now does). Truly monsters that don't know when to quit. I can launch in the Wisconsin River, fight the current for 4-5 days without ever plugging in the charger & never lose more then one light on the Terrova battery test light. I am always using the auto-pilot & SpotLock so they get a huge workout every time out. Biggest difference between retailers on that battery is price ($290 at Sears, $360 at Cabelas, $370 at Batt+) is warranty. Sears=3 yrs, Cabelas=4yrs, Batt+=FIVE yrs!!. That's a non-prorated warranty, FULL replacement! Let's see Optimas beat that..LOL

My brother runs a Batt+ so I got mine for $305@ and can guarantee you, they will be found "weak" at 4.5yrs and replaced under warranty so they were a 9-10yr investment..LOL. Best damn battery/warranty going. BPS & Cabelas standard AGM warranties are 6 & 9 months last I checked. Plus at 75# each, they do one heck of a job keeping the jon boat bow down at takeoff..I usually fish alone with my 280# carcass on the 25hp tiller so bow lift "was" an issue in shallows, not anymore!

 

[Herndonpro]

I've had the same Optima's in boat for four seasons with no issues. I fish 1 to 2 days a weeks in alot of wind and current. I would buy another set if I had to, but as of now I don't see why these won't last another season.

 

[Erik Lunde]

Although they are not AGM, I personally like the Wally-World Everstarts for my TM batteries. They are inexpensive, run the whole day just fine, and you can find a Wally-World just about anywhere if you have a warranty issue.

I looked into the DieHards recently for my starting battery that I need to replace, but will likely go with a Deka Marine Master. I personally can't justify spending that kind of money for the level and amount of fishing I do.

I've been thru way too many Interstates in the 4-years I've had my boat to give them another shot. It came with a slightly older set and they died not too long after I got it. Probably not the battery's fault, but that of the previous owner. Since then I rifled thru 2 cranking batteries (1 failed at 11-1/2mo) so the 2nd was free. It's right at 3-yo and its done. The TM batteries did not last as long as one cracked after about a year and a half, and the other just gave up the ghost at 2-years.