Trolling motor battery help

[zac221]

Recently had two 27 series optima blue tops go out on my boat. One was stickered 6/17 and the other 5/15 so they’re out of warranty. I have a Champion 203dc with a 36v 112 minn Kota fortrex (ultrex someday). I obviously need to replace two and the third will come shortly after. I also want the biggest battery I can get, thinking the bigger the longer it’ll last while fishing.

My question is, the battery tray had a spacer that says th marine 31. My thought process is since the optima is shaped weird there’s an adapter for a traditional wet cell battery tray that a 31 series battery will fit but it was a 27 series optima adapter. Can I put a 31 in this tray or does it have to be a 27. I’ve measured the battery tray and took some pics. I know this sounds weird but I don’t want to replace the trays and want to fit the biggest in there.

As much as I’d like to replace with an optima blue top, I simply can’t afford 3 new blue tops at $225 a piece when I can get the deep cycle interstate from academy for $100 each. Anyone with experience please help me with this dilemma haha.


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[zac221]

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[adam_p]

You're thought is right. I put a TH 31 tray in mine to get a bigger cranking battery in it.

[adam_p]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/T-H_Marine_Narrow_Battery_Holder_Tray/descpage-THBATHO.html

[pervis]

Optimas are junk. I had about 5 fo bad in my mastercraft xstar. Get the interstate batteries or if your gona go deep again, look at the brand odesey extreme. The oddesey extreme brand has one w cca of 1200. Ive heard good stuff about delstar batteries which are rebranded sears batteries so ive heard, but i cant find em. Boat dr in Louisiana told me about them. They have one w a cca of 1000.

[zac221]

So at the base of the battery that spacer is just simply an adapter for a 31 series battery. And since the actual tray itself says 31 it’s a series 31 tray. My friend swears that adapter just holds the optima battery and I should put a 27 back instead of going to the 31. He’s usually pretty squared away, I just don’t want to have too small of a battery for those long trips and lots of TM use days.


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[hunter1313]

This info is off the Interstate web site.
SRM-27 12 3/4" L x 6 3/4" W x 9 1/2" H
SRM-31 13" L x 6 11/16" W x 9 5/8" H
Hope this helps.

[LFD2037]

Optima is a no longer a good battery since they moved manufacturing to Mexico. You can get 195 RC from a Northstar 27M AGM or 205 RC from a Northstar 31M. Northstar is the same as X2 Power, FYI. $100 whatever battery is nowhere near in the same ballpark for trolling as these AGM’s I’ve listed.

[Quackerbox]

Academy batteries have lasted just as long as optima,trojan,interstates and Trojans for me

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[Texas Grown]

Academy batteries have lasted just as long as optima,trojan,interstates and Trojans for me

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Which is the better battery? Trojans or trojan?


I've been using Duracell with good results.

[scotth89]

Sams club Duracell agms are the best bang for your buck. Wrong time if the year but they do run a sale on them for $20 off in the summer.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-agm-deep-cycle-marine-and-rv-battery-group-size-31dtmagm/prod3590232?xid=plp_product_1_1

[RattlesnakeDan]

The Interstate batteries are garbage too nowadays, lucky to get a year or two and they no longer prorate anything from what I understand. At least no warranty on mine I was told. Trojan can't be beat and should last 5-7 years.

[Quackerbox]

Which is the better battery? Trojans or trojan?


I've been using Duracell with good results.

I could only get them to last a few minutes. But, hey I ain't mad about catching the first one

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[zac221]

I appreciate the battery suggestions but ***** they’re higher than the optima. I’d love to go to an agm type battery, but I don’t think it’s possible right now. First baby in a few months and re painting the house and new flooring in preparation for the baby. And missing a crap ton of work cause of a dwi driver tearing up my knee last year and just had 3rd surgery.

Is there a particular wet cell to stay away from? Or any better than the other?


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[Calihunter1]

I have a 36voly fortrex on my bass cat. I run the Duracell bci 31 from batteries plus. There like a 125 bucks. But online you get a 10% discount from batteries plus. The optimas are trash. I did a bunch of research, and for the money I don’t think your gunna find a better battery.


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