Cranking Battery – Recommendations

I am looking for recommendations for a dependable maintenance free cranking battery for my 1650 Fish Hawk with a 60 HP Mercury motor. The MCA for the main motor is 465 and the CCA is 350. I will also run my T-8 kicker motor, navigation lights, and new Hummingbird 998C HD SI off of it. Previously I have tried Interstate and a few other brands but I never get more than 2 years of use out of any cranking batteries I buy. I know some guys like the Optimas or Sears Die Hard Marine and I am willing to pay a little more for a dependable, longer lasting battery. Any help is appreciated.

The biggest bluetop Optima that will fit in your compartment. Well worth the extra $$

John S.

Ever consider running a deep cycle? I’m using a 31 series exide and it has plenty of CCA for the Yamaha 150 4stroke even in 20 degree weather. Lots of run time for all the gadgets too. Only on the second season, but still running strong.

Two words. ODYSSEY Batteries
Expensive but worth the money!!

I have been running Interstate. I had my first set for 6 years and just changed them out…

I love the guys that spend the big bucks on batteries, it really helps to keep the economy going. Me personally I would rather my money for more tackle or boat gas. I’ve tried most batteries and now I’m back to cheap fleet farm batteries. I run a 31 dual purpose. I need to replace mine this spring but I figured 6 full seasons is pretty good.

Something’s wrong if you’re only getting 2 years out of your battery. Even Wal Mart and Fleet Farm batteries should last longer than that. Get a quality onboard charger,keep the connections and posts clean, and check the water level monthly.

With todays big screen electronics and all the other electrical needs in your boat your starting battery is getting a lot more demand than in years past. I had a less than two year old Interstate group 29. Last Labor day I was on Devils Lake and all three days 8-10+ hours later my starting battery failed to start my F90. Had to use the rope which was actually quite easy. Had the battery tested at two different shops including an Interstate store in Fargo. Both said the battery was fine but they also said that even at two years the battery can be weak towards the end of a long day of use. I switched out to a Sears Die-Hard Platinum Marine group 31. Never a problem since. Also the Sears will give me a much better starting power even if its getting weak by the end of the day. I guess that is one of the advantages to an AGM battery. I was able to get it on sale for about $180. Well worth it IMHO.

AGM is the way to go with a quality onboard charger.

It takes a lot of cranking amps to start my Mercury Optimax. It seemed like I was going through a battery a year especially the one’s with the lower end cranking amps. One thing I do now is keep a trickle charger on the battery year around. When I come back off the water it takes the trickle charger half a day to bring the battery back up to full charge. I think I’m on my fourth year with this Interstate battery.

I agree about not tossing out good money on a starting battery. I have a good quality, regular marine starting battery from Batteries Plus, 6 years, just had it checked and it is good to go. As mentioned, the real need is for an on board charger… many of us don’t simply run a charging motor enough to off-set what will be drained over a couple days. I plug mine in when off the water… take care of it, and it is fine.

This said, I keep a cheep, medium duty set of jumper cables in the boat… if I run all the accessories all day while drifting around pan fishing, and ever did drain my battery, the cables can jump off a large trolling battery. Never had to do it… and I have used them for others several times. It is a piece of mind thing… I never want to have to try and pull start my big motor.

Point… get a good charger, decent battery, and there you go.

I also have on board chargers for all my batteries. Fresh batteries every morning but I still want a good AGM for my starting battery. If you don’t put long days on the water using electronics, bilge pumps, live wells lights ……. then a standard marine cranking is just fine. I found out the hard way.

Your should have no trouble with a deep. Cycle. It has high max Amos then most stating plus with the electronics it will be a better fit. Odyssey the best IMO but probably not needed. It will also be kept up with the alternator.

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I also have on board chargers for all my batteries. Fresh batteries every morning but I still want a good AGM for my starting battery. If you don’t put long days on the water using electronics, bilge pumps, live wells lights ……. then a standard marine cranking is just fine. I found out the hard way.

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X2 I’d cheap out on trolling motor batteries before I’d get a cheap starting battery. That is the one that will help get you home at the end of the day.

Ps. People don’t realize how much juice livewell pumps use during a day.

Do you use the Blue top AGM battery?

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Two words. ODYSSEY Batteries
Expensive but worth the money!!

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Which Odyssey are you referring to?

Honestly, though I agree Odyssey are the best, the average guy doesn’t need to spend that much money to get a really good AGM battery. A blue-top Optima costs twice as much as a lead-acid but it gives at least twice the life and runtime. Odyssey cost twice as much as Optima because it uses higher quality lead, but the average guy isn’t going to notice the difference between Optima and Odyssey.
The main rule remains the same – charge your batteries after using.

John S.

I pick up my starting batteries at Sams Club. My boat is 12 years old and I have replaced the starting battery once and the deep cycles twice. The starting battery (29 deep cycle/starting) starts a yamaha 150.

Keep your battery charged and it should last a long time.