Take them back to Interstate and see if they are worth anything for trade.

 

They do have some LONG pro-rated warranties on ALOT of their stuff

 

Whatever you end up getting, buy deep cycle RV or marine batteries next time. They are more forgiving when it comes to complete drain before recharge.

Charging even for short periods during the off season will eliminate the problem for you!

I have my boat with on board charger and de-icer for the pier on the same circuit at the house. When I get ice forming on the water I flip the switch inside the house when I get up and turn it off when I leave the house, about 2 hours. During the winter here in Maryland there could be a couple weeks in between charging.

Been doing it that way for many years without any battery problems!

Any kind of intermittent charging will work. Someone on here in another thread on this subject said they had their battery charger plugged into the light socket for their garage door opener. When the door is opened it charges the battery for about 10 minutes, several times a day.

Get a timer that will let you program a week of time. Have the timer turn on the charger once or twice a week for a short time.

Bottom line is, charging can be automatic, no need to make it a chore!

Oh, one more thing, don't store your batteries on a cement floor! Concrete will drain a battery while it sits.

Put a board under the battery and you'll not have this problem. :bigsmile:

 

Anyone know what the specs are on the deka batteries in the 292?

 

I put Sears Deep Cycle batteries in my boat. This will be the fifth year for them, no problems, many long days with the stereo cranking and overnights with the fridge on, always starts.

 

Anyone know what the specs are on the deka batteries in the 292?

Disregard the specs!

Just replace your dead batteries with the highest capacity deep cycle batteries that will fit in the space you have for them.

Also, I assume you have a battery isolator switch. If you don't, install one!

 

One more thing about winter charging. If you seem to forget maintaining your batteries during the off season. Buy an inexpensive solar charger. They are simple to use, fully automatic and wont overcharge or fry your batteries!

You can find them at any marine or RV supply store and they are available on-line.

 

I don't need a deep cycle. The only accessory I have is the stereo & a GPS. A cranking/starting battery will do fine. My dad recommended Sears Diehard batteries, he's got one in his dump trailer, 4 years, charges it occassionally. Sat all winter with no charger, hit the switch yesterday the thing lifted right up. The batteries the guy had in there weren't necessary. He had two interstate XHD batteries. 850 CCA 1000MCA and 182 reserve. A little overboard, the only thing is the batteries aren't marked so I don't know how old they are.

 

I don't need a deep cycle.

If you had a deep cycle battery in your boat and it went completely dead over the winter, you could charge the battery and bring it back, unlike your current battery which is useless after it was completely dead.

That is the only reason to have a deep cycle, but it is a good reason to have it!

 

Anyone suggest using anything else, boat is a 292 Fastech?

If you want a good inexpensive battery,

Walmart,- "Deep Cycle Everlast", But whatever you do, get an deep cycle.

 

Re: Re: Batteries?

If you want a good inexpensive battery,

Walmart,- "Deep Cycle Everlast", But whatever you do, get an deep cycle.

I wasn't going to be the first to admit, but now that you mention it.......

I bought all three new batteries (two starting, one house) at Wal-Mart.

They all have 3 year FULL replacement warranties, the house battery is pretty impressive, 130 AMP hours is plenty for my boat.

Had about $260 into buying all three including the marine style terminals, and a battery box for the new deep cycle.

 

Talking about deep vs. cranking,.......

They do make dual purpose batteries now. If you are not into getting a dedicated "deep" cycle, get once that do BOTH!

 

Talking about deep vs. cranking,.......

They do make dual purpose batteries now. If you are not into getting a dedicated "deep" cycle, get once that do BOTH!

I have 2 batteries on my boat, the exide nautilus 625 dual purpose and the agm deep cycle 175...LOVE THEM BOTH!!!! I run 2 fans and a stereo over night and could still crank the boat if I wanted to on it.

 

You will need a deep cycle/cranking battery. I assume your set up is the same as mine. My port battery is the house/starting battery for the port motor. My starboard battery is starting for starboard motor. I belive the port is a group 27 and starboard is group 24. I will look Thursday, I was too dirty to climb into the boat today...

Honestly, I am a fan if Interstates...

Also, buy yourself a battery tender, best (IMO) battery maintainers out there...plug them in in the fall and do not touch them until spring...

 

Oh, one more thing, don't store your batteries on a cement floor! Concrete will drain a battery while it sits.

Put a board under the battery and you'll not have this problem. :bigsmile:

Sorry Ghart, have to call BS on this one! I'm cut and pasting right off of the Interstate Battery website.


Will storing my battery on concrete drain the charge?

No. Regarding today's batteries, this is a myth. A battery placed on concrete will not discharge any faster, but a battery will discharge over a period of time wherever it is placed. If the battery has a surface layer of acid or grime which is conductive, the battery will self-discharge more rapidly than if it were clean and dry.



This myth does have some historical basis. Many years ago, wooden battery cases encased a glass jar with the battery in it. Any moisture on the floor could cause the wood to swell and possibly fracture the glass, causing it to leak. Later came the introduction of the "hard rubber" cases, which were somewhat porous. A current could be conducted through this container, which had a high carbon content, if the moist concrete floor permitted the current to find an electrical ground. The wise advise of the old days to "not store batteries on concrete" has apparently been passed down to us today, but it no longer applies.

 

Sorry Ghart, have to call BS on this one! I'm cut and pasting right off of the Interstate Battery website.


Will storing my battery on concrete drain the charge?

No. Regarding today's batteries, this is a myth. A battery placed on concrete will not discharge any faster, but a battery will discharge over a period of time wherever it is placed. If the battery has a surface layer of acid or grime which is conductive, the battery will self-discharge more rapidly than if it were clean and dry.



This myth does have some historical basis. Many years ago, wooden battery cases encased a glass jar with the battery in it. Any moisture on the floor could cause the wood to swell and possibly fracture the glass, causing it to leak. Later came the introduction of the "hard rubber" cases, which were somewhat porous. A current could be conducted through this container, which had a high carbon content, if the moist concrete floor permitted the current to find an electrical ground. The wise advise of the old days to "not store batteries on concrete" has apparently been passed down to us today, but it no longer applies.

Thanks for posting that!! From what I have been told, the battery on concrete is not true...

 

Hey guys, I'm older than Henry Ford!

Back in my day concrete would drain a battery! :blush:

Just ask Jake, he's older than me! :bigsmile:

 

Hey guys, I'm older than Henry Ford!

Back in my day concrete would drain a battery! :blush:

Just ask Jake, he's older than me! :bigsmile:

Ghart, your not older than ole Henry.. :laugher:

But I remember that too, we always used to put them on wood.

 

Also, buy yourself a battery tender, best (IMO) battery maintainers out there...plug them in in the fall and do not touch them until spring...

Gotta agree with Shameless on this one . Got two in mine for the past 5 years. Plug it in and fuggetaboutit. Got one on my F350 PSD that doesn't get used much all winter.(one tank of fuel lasted from Nov till March) Always starts like springtime

 

Gotta agree with Shameless on this one .

Man, do I see a trend here. I have seen you type this a couple of times in the past 6 months or so!!!!

:laugher: :laugher: :laugher:

 

A couple speedwake members told me about these.
Smaller in physical size but bigger in amps.

AGM (absorbed glass mat ) technology

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

 

Man, do I see a trend here. I have seen you type this a couple of times in the past 6 months or so!!!!

:laugher: :laugher: :laugher:

You must be getting smarter , after all you finally dumped Fountain for Formula :laugher: :laugher:

I mean I wasn't the one who switched to Fountain

 

MoPower- what brand of batteries do you have. I've heard good and bad things across the board. I've heard people hype up deka's but my dad battery lasted two years, he's replacing it this year. The reason mine weren't on the charger was because his were. I've heard interstate sucks, diehards are good. Don't know which route to go.

 

last spring we were forced to buy a cheapo walmart marine battery as we were stranded. It didn't last a season! they did replace it...so we'll see how this one lasts.

 

When I bought my 206 in 2002 it had a pair of Autozone Duralast marine batteries. Replaced one of them last year. Not sure when they were installed, but they lasted at least 5 years.