who makes the best batteries

[spell7246]

time for new batteries fore my 898, any suggestions

[GotstaFish]

An engineer once told me that all batteries are made the same. The heaviest one will always last the longest if your looking for maximum time between charges. Y'all can raz me all you want about brand name's I'll take this guys word as he has a colledge degree in this stuff. He said there is no difference in a $120 Group 27 to a $79 Group 27 if they weigh the same except the price. Its all just lead, acid and water in a housing.

OK, Let the bashing begin, I can take it   

[astrocrazy]

Trojans, IMHO.

Jeff

[Basscat7]

An engineer once told me that all batteries are made the same. The heaviest one will always last the longest if your looking for maximum time between charges. Y'all can raz me all you want about brand name's I'll take this guys word as he has a colledge degree in this stuff. He said there is no difference in a $120 Group 27 to a $79 Group 27 except the price. Its all just lead, acid and water in a housing.

OK, Let the bashing begin, I can take it   

No Bash Karl
He was right in telling you the heavier batteries are usually better, but there can be a big difference in how a battery is made even in the same group size.
Cheaper batteries will use thinner lead plates.  Within a BCI group size, the battery with higher ampere-hours or RC (reserve capacity) will tend to have longer lives and weigh more because of thicker plates and more lead.
You generally get what you pay for in marine batteries.

[Stan]

I've never had a battery last longer than, Interstate.

[spell7246]

i have Interstate batteries there 3.5 years old. most likely going back with same

[225RUDE-Triton]

NAPA BATTERIES......5 yrs 2 Months no Lie Alot Better price than interstate and the same weight call napa and ask them for a part number 8270 battery.....interstates are good to just watch some prices

[bassincali]

find the battery dealer in your area and ask for factory rejects same battery just a scratch or 2 half the price i get blue top optimas for $79 they have interstate there too. they are not defective just cosmetic damage scratches and the like.

[nmanley]

MAXX batteries from Walmart. They have group 29 batteries. You may have to ask them to go check in the back storage as my store had none on display but plenty in the store room. $81 out the door.

If one goes bad there is always a store nearby and they have a 18 month free replacement. 

My oldest one is 7/07. Still charges to 100% but it takes a little longer than the others.   

[rjn cajun]

I use optima batteries for everything even my vehicles. But if your trying to find a good price optima is not the way to go. I found an optima dealer up here. I can get blue and yellow tops for a hundred bucks.

[CatFan]

An engineer once told me that all batteries are made the same. The heaviest one will always last the longest if your looking for maximum time between charges.

That pretty well says it. 

There are only a few manufacturers out there, and they produce most all the labels. 

NAPA is Exide. 

Everstart, Delco, Duralast, Motorcraft, Diehard, Interstate and Optima are all made by Johnson Controls.  Walmart no longer offers the warranty on the marine Everstarts.

Pro-Guide is Trojan

This kind of stuff changes frequently.  Everstart and Diehard have been back and forth from Exide to Johnson controls over the last several years.  Specialty batteries like AGMs are often made by a different company.  For example, the Diehard AGMs are made by Odyssey.

I never buy anything but Everstarts.  They are a great deal for the price.  If I fished everyday, I'd run Trojan SC225s or Sears Diehard PM-2s.

[Sig Equinox]

Deka Dominators Group 31 Gel Cells .I got them as warranty replacements for free when we were replacing ones for one of my customers Tiaras. It's been 7 years now. When i do have to replace them i think i'll go with Walmarts maxx for $88 i need 3 of them and thats about all i can afford. best bang for the buck.

[Plugger]

Just a comment to cause more debates.  Most batteries with the same weight are about the same.  The biggest difference that I have experienced is the quality of the charger you have on board to charge the batteries.

Plugger

[bassindude]

I would think there has to be a difference between the Gel cells and the regular lead acid type.  The cylinder type Optimas have to behave differently also I would think, but I have no PHD or anything. 

[CatFan]

I would think there has to be a difference between the Gel cells and the regular lead acid type.  The cylinder type Optimas have to behave differently also I would think, but I have no PHD or anything.

They do, but the Optimas being much lighter than other batteries have a much lower capacity.  An Optima is about 15% smaller capacity-wise than a typical group 27 wet cell.

As for plate thickness, higher CCA usually means a lot of thin plates.  That's the only way to make the battery work faster, which is what CCA rating really indicates.  Deep cycle batteries need to have thick plates, and not as many.  That's because they don't have to source 800A, but they have to withstand numerous charge cycles without deteriorating.

Either way, more lead usually means a better battery.

[bassindude]

Makes sense.  Could we then conclude that the heavier the battery, the better it will last?