Hello, I got my first boat which I am very excited about but it didn't come with any batteries. It looks like it is fully wired for two. One for the Main Motor (40HP Mercury) a fish finder.   And Nother one for the trolling motor.  The boat is a 94 Starcraft Fismaster 160c.

My question is I have no idea what kind of batteries to get.  Can someone help me out here?  Should I just be going to Walmart to get these batteries?

Any help will be really appreciated.

Thanks

Harpoon

Get the Wal-Mart Maxx batteries. I run 3 of them .They are great and the price is right.     Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A>~

What's your budget?

There are three primary types of batteries

1. Wet Cell

2. Gel Cell

3. Absorbed Glass Mats

Each have certain advantages, with wet cell's being the least expensive.  If I were you I would go with Walmart'  Everstart in 27 or 29 series.  For the money they are great  and with proper care, charging, and draining they should last you at least 2-3 years, depending on usage.

Gel and AGM batteries are great, but significantly more expensive and in my opinion not worth the money.  

What's your budget?

There are three primary types of batteries

1. Wet Cell

2. Gel Cell

3. Absorbed Glass Mats

Each have certain advantages, with wet cell's being the least expensive. If I were you I would go with Walmart' Everstart in 27 or 29 series. For the money they are great and with proper care, charging, and draining they should last you at least 2-3 years, depending on usage.

Gel and AGM batteries are great, but significantly more expensive and in my opinion not worth the money.

Interstate are all so very good batteries but cost a bit more

Good Luck on your new rig :o

Go to WalMart, buy two Everstart Maxx Marine Group 29's (should be around $80 each).  

If you can find a dealer, Deka's will give you the most bang for the buck.  They are not a cheap battery, not even an inexpensive battery but will out live two of those Wally World batteries, if charged and maintained properly.

Now, with all the battery recommendations, if you don't have a high quality charger, don't waste your money on a high quality battery.  If it's one of those Automatics with a big transformer in it that Sears and most parts stores sell, don't consider that a good charger.  A good charger is going to be a logic controlled, three stage charger with a good maintenance mode like a float mode so you can leave it connected 24/7.  

I'll be the first to say battery brand recommendations often come from experience.  And my experiences with (n)everstart aren't good. So I wouldn't touch them myself.

Personally, I use AC Delco.  My last set lasted 6 years of heavy use. But I've used Sears in the past without problems, and I've heard good things about Interstate.

Regardless of brand, get marine deep-cycle batteries.  A minimum of series 27, the larger, the better.  I also recommend getting maintenance free batteries.

Then, be sure to charge them as soon as you can after each use.  Leaving them uncharged for long periods of time can shorten the life of any brand.

Hope that helps!

Deka's are very good batteries if you want to spend the money I have had great success with Optima's if you are inclined to spend that much.

Thank you all very much.  as usual you are a great help.  

Harpoon

As far as brands, nowadays one is about the same as another . . . IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED!!  Buy the best battteries that you can reasonably afford, to start with.  You can always upgrade the next time around!

As for MAINTENANCE . . . get a good 2-Bank on-Board Marine Battery Charger / Maintainer, such as Pro Mariner.

When you return from a day's fishing or boating, plug it in and forget and fuggaboutit 'til it's time to take the boat out again!

Cal