Where I live the jell cell and/or Optima batteries cost $200 plus and reportedly last about 5 years. The better flooded cell batteries cost just over $100 and last 2 to 3 years. So where is the advantage in buying the Optima type battery? The Optima cost twice as much and only last two times as long. Where is the savings?
IMO, the Optimas are only worth it if you are forced to abuse them because of lack of charging facilities. They are extremely tolerant of abuse in the form of poor charging practice. They charge fast and tolerate neglect.
The downside to them, besides price, is that they have a very small capacity compared to other batteries that are much cheaper, The biggest Optimas have a 155 minute RC, compared to 205 minutes for the Everstart group 29 (less than $100), 225 minutes for the Trojan SC 225 (similar in price to the Optima) or around 180 minutes for virtually every Group 27 deep-cycle made.
I've looked at them, but have been using grp 27 and now 29 Delco
Voyagers for nearly 20 years now and they work so well, I just can't
see paying more.
I am only a weekend fisherman tho, can't speak
for how things would work/last if you fished nearly every day - maybe
someday I can tell you about that I hope
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Shoals Area Crappie Association
I struggled with the same question and ended up getting the Duralast that had better ratings and combined starter and deep cycle less than one Optima. They also had better ratings than the Interstate they were replacing. No problems with the Interstate (except they failed) for the 5-years that they lasted.
I had 3 opti s; they were lite in weight and did not run as long per charge. My battery dealer told me they have a lot come back. I went to the AGM 10 or so years ago and won't buy anything else. I buy bass pro brand but they all seem to be the same. they last me 4-5 years as compared w/ wet ones that i always had to replace the next year. with the AGM's you don't have to keep charging them in winter, you can run them down w/o destroying them, you can lay them on there side, mail them, but most of all I get more than a year out of them.
I had 3 opti s; they were lite in weight and did not run as long per charge. My battery dealer told me they have a lot come back. I went to the AGM 10 or so years ago and won't buy anything else. I buy bass pro brand but they all seem to be the same. they last me 4-5 years as compared w/ wet ones that i always had to replace the next year. with the AGM's you don't have to keep charging them in winter, you can run them down w/o destroying them, you can lay them on there side, mail them, but most of all I get more than a year out of them.
JB... define AGM for us
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The C.c-er formerly known as
"PaddleFishing"
Are Optima batteries worth it?
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