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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Since seeing that commercial one million times, where the guy uses the Optima battery all night to run his fan, then slaps it into his rig for the day, I finally decided to check into buying one for my Minkota 65 needs. And thank God I don't have a 24 volt system, as the sticker shock on just one was a little like buying a new home. And being my first born is to old now to trade in on this battery, I'm looking for one of you guys (preferably non sponsored people) to convince me I should buy one Optima versus 3 Chuck Yager Voyagers.   |
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| How can you ask for a "non-sponsored" opinion, when you always input on conversations related to some of your sponsors.For the record clarify your sponsors so we know. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | fair is fair - 1/8/2006 10:49 AM
How can you ask for a "non-sponsored" opinion, when you always input on conversations related to some of your sponsors.For the record clarify your sponsors so we know.
Fair is Fair????
Sponsor: One who assumes responsibility as surety for, or endorser of, some person or thing. 2. A business firm ect. that pays in part or whole the operating expenses of its endorser.
Now, for the record I have ZERO sponsors in my charter business. I do not fish tourneys, so add another ZERO from that end. I can buy most of the lures and terminal tackle I use usually at a wholesale or a slightly reduced retail price from the few Pro Staffs I'm on. But I get no kickbacks or operating expense money of any kind from them. Talking about or endorsing these Pro Staff products to induce more sales for them is something I'd do anyway to help them (and only God knows why) skeptics like yourself to catch more fish, because they simply work. If they didn't I wouldn't say they did at any price, nor buy them at any price to use myself. Its simply bad business sense. So add yet another ZERO for the freebies you assume I get. Now lets add it all up together shall we. ZERO+ZERO+ZERO = ZERO. Now, if you have any relative answers to my question, and Optima isn't paying part or all of your fishing expenses and/or entry fees at all the major tourneys, I'd like to hear from you on their advantages over a regular battery.
Edited by walleye express 1/9/2006 10:25 AM
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| Dan:
I have two of them so I know what sticker shock is.The pair that I have will start their 4th season this spring,most other batteries have lasted for me at least three years ,so I can't tell you how long they will last.I installed them in the boat and to tell you the truth I almost forgot about them,There is no checking the water or acid in the trays,no green junk on the posts.When they die I will replace them with the same because of the low maintenance.And now for the disclaimer for Fair is Fair,nope I'm not sponsored by Optima.Paul |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Uncle Paul - 1/8/2006 7:06 PM
Dan:
I have two of them so I know what sticker shock is.The pair that I have will start their 4th season this spring,most other batteries have lasted for me at least three years ,so I can't tell you how long they will last.I installed them in the boat and to tell you the truth I almost forgot about them,There is no checking the water or acid in the trays,no green junk on the posts.When they die I will replace them with the same because of the low maintenance.And now for the disclaimer for Fair is Fair,nope I'm not sponsored by Optima.Paul
Thanks Paul.
If they were only twice as much, I might be tempted for the features and added life expectancy. But 3 times as much plus shipping, whew. I'm kinda hoping its going to be like PC's and other newer items, that tend to get in line price wise when the technology catches up. |
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Location: Berlin | Optima's are awesome and I will never be without them. The price is way worth it. They have what seems to be unlimited power. They charge extremely fast. If anybody from Optima reads this, SIGN ME UP:) |
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| Dan,
I guess I'll be the first to post a negative opinion about Optimas. I didn't go cheap and buy the smaller Optimas. I purchased two 31T yellow top Optima batteries to run a 24V 74# Autopilot on the front of my glass boat in May of 2004. I have been less than pleased because during an 8 hour tournament day, I run out of power. This has not been when running the trolling motor wide open all day. It has happened running at around 4-6 on the sliding adjuster. At this setting, the two 31 series Optimas are good for about 6 hours. I purchased my two Optimas from an outfit in Milwaukee, Remy Battery, at a much reduced price of $140 each. Don't know what Remy is selling them for now. I am seriously considering putting two Trojan 31 series batteries to replace the Optimas when they get even weaker. The other potential development is to add a "Stay-n-charge" (spelling?) to help keep the two trolling batteries up a little longer.
Bottom Line: I don't see that they are worth the extra $ |
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Location: Westland, Mich. | dan:
i put 4 in my boat last spring. 2 deep cycle and 2 cranking(1 for the motors the other for acc). they worked great. netminder gets a pretty good discount. i'll check with him to see where he is in his purchasing cycle. he can get two a year. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Rod Holder - 1/9/2006 10:50 AM
Dan,
I guess I'll be the first to post a negative opinion about Optimas. I didn't go cheap and buy the smaller Optimas. I purchased two 31T yellow top Optima batteries to run a 24V 74# Autopilot on the front of my glass boat in May of 2004. I have been less than pleased because during an 8 hour tournament day, I run out of power. This has not been when running the trolling motor wide open all day. It has happened running at around 4-6 on the sliding adjuster. At this setting, the two 31 series Optimas are good for about 6 hours. I purchased my two Optimas from an outfit in Milwaukee, Remy Battery, at a much reduced price of $140 each. Don't know what Remy is selling them for now. I am seriously considering putting two Trojan 31 series batteries to replace the Optimas when they get even weaker. The other potential development is to add a "Stay-n-charge" (spelling?) to help keep the two trolling batteries up a little longer.
Bottom Line: I don't see that they are worth the extra $
Thanks for the honest/helpful answer Rod Holder.
The prolonged use question, is exactly what I was looking for. When I'm trolling in current at night on the rivers I fish, I often go for hours on the 6 or better setting. I've been using the Voyagers now for years, but even they tend to make me nervous as I watch the little red Minkota power indicators lights slowly go down in numbers as the night wears on. I used to carry 2 batteries all the time, but really never seemed to need the extra. So why make the room or carry the extra weight? I'm also wondering if that new Co-Pilot I bought is drawing any extra juice. I know I dearly love that thing.
Edited by walleye express 1/9/2006 10:46 AM
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | JAKE - 1/9/2006 11:37 AM
dan:
i put 4 in my boat last spring. 2 deep cycle and 2 cranking(1 for the motors the other for acc). they worked great. netminder gets a pretty good discount. i'll check with him to see where he is in his purchasing cycle. he can get two a year.
Thanks Jake.
That would be sweet. But before you check with netminder, you better let me check with Fair is Fair first, to see if it's all right. 
Edited by walleye express 1/9/2006 10:51 AM
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| Dan
Mine are the blue ones and I also have the 74lb motor.I don't know how long they will last in a day but I can say that I have yet to run them down in a hard day fishing,I can't say that about other batteries that I have used.I got mine at a local Farm an Fleet |
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Location: Westland, Mich. | dan:
i put a call into netminder. i'll be in touch. as for fair is fair; i'm not one of dan's sponsors. you will have to make your own deal. besides, if i read you right, you would't take a deal if you had one.
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Location: Annandale, MN | Dan,
I had a Ranger 681 console for years with the blue top Optima driving a MinnKota 55PD and it was a great combo on the Mississippi river here in MN. I would take people for a full day of fishing and easily have enough juice at the end of the day to still pull the boat up river.
I'm seriously considering one for my new Blazer jet since I will be using that rig on the river too with that same trolling motor. And "no" fair is fair, I'm not on their pro-staff either. Just an opinion from a user. JN
Edited by JonN 1/10/2006 10:18 AM
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| I thought I would give yet another perspective: Optima doesn't really make a true deep cycle battery. They make starting and dual purpose. The yellow top D31T Optimas I got are Optima's equivalent of a 31 series battery and the reserve capacity is just 155 minutes. Compare this to a Trojan 31 series (true deep cycle) SCS 225 with 225 minutes. These figures come right from the two companies websites. The D31T's that I bought have the same specs as a blue top D31M which is listed as a marine dual purpose; only difference between the two is that the blue top D31M's have both posts and terminals where the D31T has terminals only. Last I looked the SCS 225 Trojans at Gander Mtn ran $79.99 It is all about having some head room, unused capacity at the end of a tough day. I think I fell for the hype and no doubt, I do like the feature of them being spill proof and vibration resistant but no matter, the next new pair of deep cycle batteries, I'm going for the larger reserve capacity. If you do go for Optimas, don't say I didn't warn you. I think Mexico on another site had them and he isn't too positive on them either. I could have bought two Trojans and kept $120 in my pocket. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Rod Holder - 1/10/2006 11:46 AM
I thought I would give yet another perspective: Optima doesn't really make a true deep cycle battery. They make starting and dual purpose. The yellow top D31T Optimas I got are Optima's equivalent of a 31 series battery and the reserve capacity is just 155 minutes. Compare this to a Trojan 31 series (true deep cycle) SCS 225 with 225 minutes. These figures come right from the two companies websites. The D31T's that I bought have the same specs as a blue top D31M which is listed as a marine dual purpose; only difference between the two is that the blue top D31M's have both posts and terminals where the D31T has terminals only. Last I looked the SCS 225 Trojans at Gander Mtn ran $79.99 It is all about having some head room, unused capacity at the end of a tough day. I think I fell for the hype and no doubt, I do like the feature of them being spill proof and vibration resistant but no matter, the next new pair of deep cycle batteries, I'm going for the larger reserve capacity. If you do go for Optimas, don't say I didn't warn you. I think Mexico on another site had them and he isn't too positive on them either. I could have bought two Trojans and kept $120 in my pocket.
Firstly Rod Holder.
Thank you. In just your very short 9 posts, you've given more information than some snipers haunting this board have ever given. I want to thank everybody for their honest comments. And after weighing the options (and hoping I'll never need to use my electric for a hotel fan), I think I will take your advice and make a trip to gander this week. I wonder if they take in used batteries?
Edited by walleye express 1/10/2006 11:01 AM
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Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | So pro-staffers are honest but guys with sponsors are not?
Optima batteries re-charge quickly and maintain their "new" power a lot longer than any other battery I have used. I don't know if that is because of me not maintaining my other batteries or if this is because of the Optimas performance. Mine have worked very well for 5 years when all others starting failing after 2 or 3 seasons. Personally, I think the extended life has as much to do with its resistance to vibration as to my poor job of maintaining the other batteries.
They are not some unlimited supply of power - an amp is an amp is an amp; and the amp-hour rating is what it is. If you NEED to run your 70 thrust-pound motor for 8 hours wide open, a pair of the blue top optimas WILL NOT cut it. Its not that difficult to determine how many amps your trolling motor will draw and how many amps you would use under normal conditions. For example, I looked up my trolling motor and it pulls about 42 amps per hour when running full out. Since an optima battery has a reserve capacity of 120 minutes, (25 amp draw would kill batteries in 120 minutes) I know my batteries will only last about 2/2.5 hours if I'm running at 100%. Since I rarely run over 30%, I know I'm good for 5/6 hours of use most days. Further, I have always had to buy a battery with a larger capacity in the past, knowing that to reach the third season of use that I need a little bit more. Unfortuneately, my boat has a rather small battery compartment which makes installing and maintaining larger batteries difficult at best.
Why will my next set of batteries be Optimas? Because this last set has lasted over 5 seasons, because they permform just as well today as the day I bought them, and because a maintenance free battery is worth a little more to me in both time and aggravation.
Edited by Brad B 1/10/2006 11:25 AM
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Brad B - 1/10/2006 12:20 PM
So pro-staffers are honest but guys with sponsors are not?
Now Brad, old arguing buddy. I think you know there is a difference. Sponsors give you a job, Pro-Staffer count on your loyalty to their product after the results. Tell you what, you pay for my boat slip and gas this coming season, and I'll sell your line of little pink dresses off the back of my charter boat after every trip out. Now, make my boat payments as well, and I'll wear one while doing so, and tell people that's the only reason I catch fish. And this was only meant to be a metafore. And thanks for the info on the batteries, it is indeed appreciated. But in my business, its still the bang for "MY" buck.
Edited by walleye express 1/11/2006 9:11 AM
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Location: Westland, Mich. | dan:
you have mail
bill
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Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Just hacking on ya Dan...
Again, IMHO, start with your amp needs. Figure out which batteries will provide that power to you and then go from there.
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Optima Battery question.