How many years are you getting out of them now? I used to buy new ones at the 5 year mark no matter how good they still were. Lately I am lucky to get 3 years before they go belly up. Last time out my trolling motor quit after one hour. I had the batteries checked on the way home and two of them were graveyard dead. They are barely 3 years old.

Additionally the batteries I have been using are now $450 each. I am definitely switching brands.

How is your luck with batteries?

Right now I'm using Duracells AGM and they are going on 5 years. After that I will switch to Lithiums.

To keep it brief, I now use a battery service company. They rebuild batteries and distinguish the difference for me between what they call thin plate batteries and thick plate batteries.

The thinner plate batteries don't hold up as well as the thicker plate batteries do. I was told with the thin plate batteries that holes can be burned right through the plates inside the batteries.

Point is, we out here in the consumer market can't always tell what we are buying. So I no longer buy new retail. Using the battery company puts me into the better quality batteries, and mine are all reconditioned batteries now.

Battery companies like the one I use service commercial accounts like forklifts, bulldozers, dump trucks, etc. so they deal with heavy duty batteries every day and that is basically what I want in my cars and boat. And they are much cheaper than new retail too.

I get on average 4 good solid years on a reconditioned battery. And the auto batts are only $50 and the marine trolling motor larger batteries are only $60 each so I can't beat the price for what I am getting.

And they pay me for all my old batteries so that saves me even more. And they also have become a free safe battery disposal place for me for batteries like lithium ion, etc.

I run Optima Blue tops.

5 years is about average when I'm on the water my normal amount.

I think the charging system is important as well as how far they get drawn down each time. Recharge quickly and maintain properly is about all we can do.

I have 36 v plus the starter all maintained by a 10 yr old Dual Pro Quad.

Sadly I'll be due for battery replacement next year.

A-Jay

Got just over 3 years out of Duracell Platinum AGM's, but I ran them hard....under 30% frequently on an electric only lake. Made the switch to LiFePO4 after.

Learn how to check your own batteries. It’s not difficult. You can get an ohm meter at Bar or Freight for under $20. No more guessing at the condition of your batteries

I've got 3 years on my Dakota 100Ah in my kayak that gets ran hard all year round in a variety of conditions and it will still run my motor for a couple days without charging.

I always replaced my trolling motor batteries at 4 years old with ones I bought at Walmart

Duracell agm 110 ah agms are what I bought for $279.99 @ with 30 m warranty installed by Batteries Plus for free. That way beat what I would have paid for my usual + $100 for installation and only a 24 m warranty.

I'm on year 4 on a set of Interstate's and will definitely go lithium when these expire.

Have always gotten 5 - 7 years service life out of deep cycle batteries when properly maintained and as long as the charge is not deeply depleted.

12 hours ago, Reel said:

Right now I'm using Duracells AGM and they are going on 5 years

I'm using these too. I bought them in Nov 2024 so they are still plenty good. I expect to get at least 5 seasons out of them.

My cranking/starting battery is a year newer but that one is a standard lead acid version.

My closest lake is electric only and I brutalize my batteries. I run them to 20% or below weekly. I have a 24V Ultrex that runs on two 4yr old Diehards and they still charge fully and last all day. I have an 9 year old Interstate that starts my 115 Merc and powers my Garmin 93SV on the console and Lowrance Eagle Eye 9 on the bow. They are charged with an on board Dual Pro Professional. I keep them properly wet and if the boat is not in the water, they are on the charger all year long.

I run two 100Ah 12v Weize LifePo batteries on my kayak. One is for the motor while the other runs electronics and serves as a backup if I run down my trolling motor (which does happen now and then). I swap places with them every trip so they alternate between powering the kayak motor and the electronics.

I've been running them for 3 years with no issues until recently. I don't have a meter, but it seems like they are not holding a full charge.

My new rig will require a 24v battery and I will probably go with a LiTime battery to power the trolling motor.

I’m on 4 years for the current Walmart batteries. I usually get 5 and change out of a set.

I have wanted to go lithium, but am concerned that cutting the weight in back by 30-50 percent might have an adverse effect on performance, given that my hull was designed before lithium batteries were ever a thought.

I ran my interstate batteries (trolling & starting) for seven years. They were still performing for me but I replaced them rather than trying to push my luck too far. I went with interstates again.

I had 2 interstate group 27 batteries for my 80 thrust trolling motor. I had those batteries for 6 years ( 2020-2026). The batteries were still technically fine but, if I was on the motor a lot. I could drain the batteries in 8 hrs. I bought the batteries from my brother at the family discount. There was a couple winters I didn’t pull the batteries and I’m sure if I had done that I could have gotten a year or two out of my interstates.

Not knowing when exactly I’d be up north to buy them from my brother. I found a local guy ( he fishes a lot of walleye tournaments) and he was selling group 27 FVP batteries for $100 a piece. Doing research FVP batteries are made in Tennessee I believe. From what read FVP is the OEM battery for one if the Japanese auto makers. Menards was the only U.S. supplier selling FVP’s but, from what I’ve read the company wants to increase its U.S. foot print.

There are only a couple actual battery mfg’s almost all batteries on the market come from 3-4 different mfg that just slap what ever name IE Ac/delco, Interstate, bass pro, etc, etc

I’m sure when I have to replace these batteries in 4-5 yrs lithium’s will have probably come down more in price and I’ll have to seriously consider them. My only real hang up is I do fish for other species in late winter and early spring if there is soft water. These days could be 33-35 degrees and I just have to see if lithium is worth the extra money at those temperature ranges.

I use the good ol' Pro guides for the trolling motor and usually get 4 or 5 years out of them. I did go to an AGM for the cranking battery but that's about as high tech as I care to go.