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[bigjc]

Have any of you used optima batteries in your boat?  Are they worth the big bucks??

Putting all new batteries in my Legend in the spring and needing some batteries that will last beyond a season or two.

[dartag]

Maybe i am wrong but Deka batteries seem to be the same quality but much better price. 

[red68prostreet]

Batteries are like tires. Not all offer the same quality or last as long. Deka batteries are made by East Penn which produces batteries for many companies. East Penn has a great reputation as a battery producer but they produce batteries to each customers specification. Do your research. For me CARQUEST has a great battery and it is made by East Penn. I have been using their top of the line batteries for 30 yrs. I bought my Ranger in the spring of 2010 and it came with 4 Battery Source brands that I had nothing but trouble with. They would warranty them but I finally said enough is enough so in the spring of 2012 I put all new CARQUEST units in. 3 full summers so far and I'm confident I'll get 2 maybe 3 more summers before I need to replace them. I hope by them a 36 volt lithium ion battery is cheap enough to try as they should last 7-10 yrs.

[Manxfishing]

I haven't hit the Lotto yet
So no

I hate the store
But I've had great luck with the Wallmart Ever start
Group 29's are 99 bucks with a 2 year replacement

[bigjc]

i like the idea of the durability of the gel cel batteries, but I don't like the idea of $225 a piece or higher.

[Manxfishing]

There both a wet cell

One has lead plates held in place with tabs
And the other has tabs and fiberglass to keep the plates from touching

In the old boat
I fished Erie allot, and I ran on days when the charters stayed in
Never had a batt go bad from the plates touching. And that boat took a beating

Yes, there more durable. But bottom line is if you don't need it. It's wasted money
Batt's will charge xx many times, and then you need to replace them
For both types

[Waterfoul]

Go with Deka batteries.  I just finished my 4th season on my group 27's (24 volts) and they still pull strong.  I fish 2-3 tournaments a week in the summer so my batteries get discharged and recharged often.  You can buy Deka's at Batteries Plus, West Marine, and a couple other places I'm sure.