AGM batteries, worth the cost over wet cell?

This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 2 months ago by Shap from La.

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April 14, 2009 at 11:24 pm #409735

MossBoss
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Have a 2003 Pantera IV with a 200 Opti. Running a 36V trolling motor and only 3 batteries in the boat. Got one bad one and two decent wet cells right now. Im thinking of going to 3 AGMs (sears diehard platinums), but $750 is a big pill to swallow, when 31 series Dekas wetcells are about $100 a piece. I would LOVE the no mainteance, and the extra cranking power would be REALLY nice, but we are building a house so I feel pretty guilty about the money. Will these outlast typical wetcells (2-3 years)? Help me justify this buy please!!!!

April 15, 2009 at 12:13 am #409739

smbass
Participant

ive used my agm batteries since 06 but that dont mean they will last u that long ive had 2 blue top optimas drop dead early but they came with the boat and the guy that had them let them go dead and didnt charge them after each use that killed them but caution charging those batteries use only the recommened charge per brand usually not over 10 amps

April 15, 2009 at 12:21 am #409742

MossBoss
Participant

Both Sears and Dual Pro claim a Dual Pro 3 bank at 15 amps per will be just fine?

April 15, 2009 at 12:28 am #409746

smbass
Participant

but its not a full 15 amp constant charger will charge in stages and then maintenance with around 13.8 v

April 15, 2009 at 1:01 am #409749

Bama96
Participant

Cabelas AGMs, period end of story. The best built and worth every penny. Heck you can mount them upside down. Pro pack charger plays nice with them as well.Last edited by Bama96 on April 15th, 2009, 2:10 am, edited 2 times in total.

April 15, 2009 at 2:17 am #409752

smbass
Participant

Bama96 wrote: Cabelas AGMs, period end of story. The best built and worth every penny. Heck you can mount them upside down. Pro pack charger plays nice with them as well. cabelas doesnt even build batteries. if u want the best battery buy Deka AGMs they build and warranty them and are the best

April 15, 2009 at 2:19 am #409755

Bama96
Participant

I think they are the same battery. One of the major manufactures builds them and slaps the Cabelas label on them. And yes Cabelas does warranty them and has great customer service.

April 15, 2009 at 2:26 am #409757

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

never had any problems out of deka they know me when i go in there and have for over a decad. there are alot of good batteries out there, but start picking them up one in each hand and then you will notice the difference not shinny , pretty spiral cells with alot of advertising but alot of meat on the bone for go all day performance

April 15, 2009 at 3:38 am #409760

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Johnson Control was building those batteries, we are not sure who is now. Though the national warranty on Sears has some value, and the price is a bit steep. They are pretty aggressive and have been trying to market batteries for a couple of years now. The AGM batteries are usually better, and we are not fans of spiral cell technology in some AGM brands. Though the standard plate styles seem to work well. First do you keep it from freezing and/or put the batteries inside. In other words take care of them when you are not fishing or do you fish all season long. If you do then you definitely are a candidate. If you dont fish all year long, then maybe not. If you plan on keeping your boat, then you might try them. If you are not going to keep it for three or four years, then opt for lesser batteries.

April 15, 2009 at 1:24 pm #409763

Shap from La
Participant

Just to chime in. I use an AGM for my starter and the other 2 are wet cell interstates for the troller. I find the same size AGM handles the load much better than the normal wet cell. My last AGM lasted me 7 years and that includes being used as the 3rd troller as well. Id say they are worth the money. I bought a Cabelas AGM this time around so the jury is still out on how long it will last. Its 1 year old now. With the price of the AGMs it was hard to justify buying all 3. Ive gotten 4 years out of each set of my Interstates and Im happy with that in an 80 dollar battery. Hard to argue though with the AGM performance and no Maintenance. Im just a tight wad!!! Chris Coupel Paulina, La.Chris CoupelPaulina, La.
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