Trolling Battery

[techo]

DISCLAIMER: I know there had to be discussions about this in the past and I did a search.....but did not find it. I also know there has to be a better forum to post on, BUT this is the one I get the most info on.

I Have always bought the Pro Series trolling batteries. It seems they only last a year. Center City Marine is where I purchased my boat, and usually purchase my batteries there. I think they either are going out of business or went out of business. Shame to see anything bad happen to anyone.

I went to Bass Pro and purchased their 185. No matter how much skin I take off mu knuckles...they wont fit. The Pro Series are 8 inches tall and the 185 is 8.75 inches tall. It won't fit in my little Skeeter as the fiberglass wont bend.

Reilly's has the same battery BPS has, but about $30.00 cheaper. Still to tall. Any suggestions on a battery that lasts more than a year or where to get one? Wal-Mart was a no go too.

Thanks for sharing your time and wisdom.

[Bill Babler]

Have you looked at Pro-guides out of Golden?

[rangerz20]

interstate... buy them at springfield tire exchange. i have a new ranger with pro-guides and they are junk, i have replaced every battery twice in 14 months. they all have about the same warranty so that is basicly a non-factor

[champ187xr6]

Babler is right. I get mine there and sometimes they have blems that are cheaper and I have got 2+ years out of them.

[Dutch]

It doesn't make any difference what battery you buy if you don't take proper care of them they won't last. If you keep them clean, keep the plates covered with distilled water, keep them charged within 24 hours after each use and don't over charge them they will last for 4-6 years of good old hard use fishing (except for Wally World).

[Bill Babler]

I guess Buster, Bill Beck, Tim Paige, Tim Sainato, Pete Wenners, Chris Tetrick, Myself or about 90% of the area fisherman that fish 300 plus days a year, from daylight to dark have not tested them properly. Interstates, I can get free. I still pay for the Pro-Guides, but I'm probably confused.

Here is a tip. If you are counting on your boats 10 or 15 amp charger to maintain and keep your batteries of any make running loud and long, you are making a huge mistake.

About every 14 charges put your trolling motor batteries on a 50 amp charger the kind used for a quick start. You can buy one of these little chargers at Walmart or any auto parts for about 50 bucks.

Keep it full of distilled water and boil it on the 50 amper until it registers full and shuts off. Usually about 20 minutes per battery. You won't believe the difference.

My batteries are over a year old, and I can run them all day in any wind. A couple of weeks ago I used them on two trips in a howling wind. One a 6 hr. and the other a 4 hr. trip. I had to run my trolling motor on high just to maintain in the wind on the points I was fishing and did so the entire time, and at the end of the day I was as good as at 7 AM.

Just a thought.

[Jackie D]

I second that Bill. My brother and I have been using Pro-Guides since 1992 and they are as good as they get. I use a charger that puts 20 amps per battery in them that I bought from Lane at Shumaker battery called Deltran.

[snakem]

I second that Bill. My brother and I have been using Pro-Guides since 1992 and they are as good as they get. I use a charger that puts 20 amps per battery in them that I bought from Lane at Shumaker battery called Deltran.

I got mine at mo. battery on karney in springfield i think thats the name. Last spring with a 3 year warrent . they are great 4 about 67 bucks a pop. And they do hold up very well.

Snakem Out

[Sam]

I like Delco Voyager marine batteries real well.

I don't fish for a living, and I'm not saying they're the best ('cause I don't know) - but I've been real satisfied with them. That's what I've used for about 15 years now, and I've never got less than 3 years out of one. They'll last all day with my trolling motor on high speed when I'm fighting the wind.

Bumper-to-Bumper Auto Parts carries Delco Voyagers. They have them on sale every spring through April, and the regular price is about $90. On sale, they're $70-something.

[techo]

Thanks for the help! I had no clue where to go, now we have three avenues. My friend has a battery tester and we are going to check the fluid level. If it needs some we are going to add the distilled water and use the big charger and give it a go. If that doesn't fly I will check out the place on Kearney (it is way closer) and see if they have Pro Guides. I read a number of great reviews about Trojans too. If they don't have it I am heading to Golden Saturday if the fixed batteries don't hold up.

This place is a great resource. Thanks again for the great info.