Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

While down at Walmart I was looking at marine batteries,one for $80 104 ah or was it 109 ah 12 month free replacement and the other $100 114 ah 24 month free replacement is that extra $20 really just for the added free replacement ?

I'm unable to find the difference between "marine" and regular car batteries. I do understand that starting batteries (marine or car) are not the same as a deep cycle battery. I also here companies call some "dual purpose" which they claim do the job of both starting and deep cycle.

They're deep cycle, or they're not. Deep cycle are of course used for trolling motors and recreational vehicles.

I actually prefer a regular car battery to power the engine on my boat. They're cheaper in the long run due to their having a longer lifespan. I had one last over 10 years running my old Yamaha 115 hp 2 stroke as it required little power to start it.

Yes, there is $20 difference between the Everstart and the Everstart Maxx, but the Maxx will last longer. I've used both, and I go with the Maxx because when you calculate the monthly cost over it's actual life, the Maxx is cheaper.

I just bought a rural king deep cycle marine rv battery, but I am considering taking it back in favor of the walmart battery. In fact I was in wally world this morn, and I too noticed the better warranty, and $30 bucks cheaper than R. King, and much cheaper than any other place.

It all comes down to the math....

I have a '96 3/4ton chevy with a bit of a short issue that bleeds the battery dry when I don't drive it. I change the battery about once a year, but I haven't paid for a battery in 7-8 years. Sometimes warranties are worth a little extra.

I went 11 years with my 94 Dakota with Everlast batteries, they would die just before two year full refund period and I'll get a new one every two years for free

Walmart has tightened up considerably from what their battery warrantee's used to be a few years ago... Not as good as it once was. Costco is still lose as a goose about bringing stuff back (IMHO).

Rascal

I took another look at the marine batteries and realized they weren't sitting in the proper bin.The $99 dollar battery is 122 ah with a 24 month warranty. A 5 amp load 122/5= 24.4 hrs. it is suggested not to discharge the battery more than 50% to prolong battery life,that would give me 12.2 hrs before needing a recharge which is more than enough for my purposes I will use a separate cranking battery for the 90 Suzuki which has it's own charger.

I have had good service from advance auto, they keep track of the warranty time periods and no questions or hassles on exchanges lol and the store is 100 feet away. So its convenient.

I wouldn't claim to be an expert, but i had a customer who owned a auto electric business. He was a very articulet man. Spotless organized shop, pilot, etc. He used to teach battery tech to the largest tire chain in the northwest. He talked battery tech to me for over an hour to me one day and I'm guessing I retained about 10 mins of the conversation. He was all about Calcium-Silver grid battery's. The only battery's he would sell were Deka, East Penn. He bought them and put his own private label on them. I know Carquest for sure and maybe NAPA and Delco are Deka's. Calcium silver battery's won't "gas". I had a large saw mill that would only buy Deka's after a worker received a chemical burn from a lead battery when he leaned over the battery. They had used Deka's in the past and never had the corrosion build up on the terminals and the seepage from the vents. They bought cheaper battery's to save money and ended up with a workers comp claim.

The original batteries were Autocraft sealed marine batteries and they lasted for years. I like the idea of sealed batteries but I'm mainly concerned with reliability and warranty . Never had a problem with Walmart replacement,never took the Autocraft back since they came with the boat.

I have 4 y/o Interstate batteries that are holding up very well - one cranking, one group 27 deep cycle. I have an onboard charger (6amps/bank) that I am diligent about using as soon as the boat is back home. They get a full recharge ASAP and then the charger goes into maintenance mode. Chargers (and their use) are an important part of battery life.

I recently needed to add a 3rd for a stereo upgrade, and after shopping what is locally available I bought the Walmart Everstart Maxx group 31 for $100 with a 2yr replacement warranty. It has a replacement warranty 1 full year longer than most, cost much less than a comparable size other brand, and Walmart's are plentiful if that warranty is needed.