Will Need New Batteries

[RGrew176]

When I bought my boat last August I had no idea how old the batteries are. I knew one was weak and I planned to get new ones this year. Last Saturday I went down to the boat to start prepping it for spring launch. I turned on the battery switch and nothing, nada, batteries stone cold dead. Now which battery to purchase.

My last boat the 3055 had a 4 battery setup. When I bought the boat it came with a 2 battery setup. I had the dealer install 2 additional batteries so I had 4. My first battery failure happened late in the 2004 season. In the spring of 2005 I purchased 4 new Sears Diehard Deep Cycle Marine batteries. They were still going strong in August of 2011 when I sold the boat or almost 7 full seasons of use. When winter layup happened I just shut off both battery switches and I never had a problem come spring when I first fired up. I was mildly surprised in 2011 when the boat fired up on the first try.

I will replace the current batteries in the Carver before I take her out the first time. I went to Sears yesterday and I priced the Diehard Group 27 Deep Cycle batteries at $126 each.

Today I went to Sams Club and they have Duracell Group 27 Deep Cycle Marine batteries for $96 each. Has anyone tried or used Duracell Deep Cycle marine batteries and what was your experience with them. I am still leaning towards the Diehard because I had such a great experience the last time I bought them. I would consider the Duracell if they come with good reviews.

What say ye Carver owners. Duracell or Diehard or do you recommend another brand.

[Ramsport47]

At the marina I work at, we have replaced a lot of fairly new Duracell and Die Hard batteries. We use Vita Plate batteries...which should be available in your area, and Harris batteries. Vita Plate are probably the best I've seen and are priced similarly to the majority of batteries. I have also seen very poor performance out of West Marine batteries...my .02.

[Lyndon670]

I dunno Rick, you are only talking a $30 a battery for the confidence factor. I would gladly pay that for what I know and am comfortable with vs an unknown quantity....

[tonym]

As a builder of powered mobile equipment I can tell you we have tested a lot of batteries.
We use exclusively Discover(Harris) and PowerSonic for our deep cycle application. Not always the cheapest but darn reliable.

[bud37]

Heres another for ya, I have used Costco batteries ( kirkland) for years with great success,from what I am given to understand their batteries come from Johnson controls, good stuff, never had an issue and their stuff is fresh.....used in the boat( start and house) and cars....

[RGrew176]

[quote="Ramsport47"]Source of the post At the marina I work at, we have replaced a lot of fairly new Duracell and Die Hard batteries. We use Vita Plate batteries...which should be available in your area, and Harris batteries. Vita Plate are probably the best I've seen and are priced similarly to the majority of batteries. I have also seen very poor performance out of West Marine batteries...my .02.[/quote


I will check them out as I am still in the looking stage.

[AaHubb]

+1 on the Costco bats...make that +7 total. Although the start battery in my dingy is an Optima AGM dated 1995!
..Aaron