OPTIMA Group 34

[Great Scott]

Anyone have any experience using this
battery for your TM ?? They are @ Academy
for $199.00.. LDS

[BigJfrank]

AGM or lead acid?

[Skeeterbait]

A group 34 is actually a pretty small battery.

[Great Scott]

Its an AGM and weighs 44LB VS a Group 27 Optima that @54lbs and costs
a lot more. LDS

[CatFan]

A group 34 is actually a pretty small battery.

Very small. 100 minute RC compared to over 200 for a 29/31 TM battery.

[Skeeterbait]

Just putting it out there, there are a LOT better batteries for the money out there than the overhyped Optima. A BCI 34 is around the capacity of a BCI 24, That is a very light capability for a marine application.

[Great Scott]

I ran 2 wet cell 24s on a 12/24 OMC TM and also these wired wired to start my big engine
Never had a problem. I did this for yrs when I fished a lot. Of course I didnt run LW pumps
or a mass of electronics. When running 2 batteries when most use 3 for the TM and starting,
you can't let either of the 2 drop power on one or more cells.
I am now a 1/2 day fisherman so I dont want to carry the weight or spend for bigger batteries
that most use because they fish long and maybe even rough water days.
These will go in the rod compartment of a Lund. If I was 30 yrs old it would be no big deal
to unload in order to ck the water level a couple times a yr, but at 72 I dont want to go there.
Thats why I want some brand of AGM. Whats your opinion now, for maybe a good GRP 27 or
even a strong Grp 24 ???? LDS

[Skeeterbait]

We have had a lot of members here express that they were very pleased with these for the money. There is a lot of good batteries out there though. The secret is to find fresh batteries that havent sat discharged for a long time. A maintenance free AGM that isnt as critical as a standard battery. An AGM less than a year old will be good. A standard battery dont buy one more than 6 months old.

https://m.samsclub.com/p/marine-27ma.../prod21234614#

[poleNhand]

I have run a pair of Optima D34M batteries for longer then I care to mention. I keep waiting for them to die but they keep on going. Now my conditions may be a lot different then others but I can't say anything bad about them. Note I have upgraded to OVER sized wire some years back. I think it has helped.

[GeauxTide]

We have had a lot of members here express that they were very pleased with these for the money. There is a lot of good batteries out there though. The secret is to find fresh batteries that havent sat discharged for a long time. A maintenance free AGM that isnt as critical as a standard battery. An AGM less than a year old will be good. A standard battery dont buy one more than 6 months old.

https://m.samsclub.com/p/marine-27ma.../prod21234614#

I noticed that my 2nd Gen Helix 7s ran my old 27 Interstate down quick. Got a 31 AGM for the Engine/Elecs, and two 27 AGM for the Ultrex. Just outstanding.

[Great Scott]

I think I have decided on a grp 27 AGM Duracell from Sams. Price and
reviews on the Duracell brand are good. Its a compromise weight between
grp 34 and 31s
Will an AGM battery build a memory like a wet cell battery ??? LDS

[CatFan]

I think I have decided on a grp 27 AGM Duracell from Sams. Price and
reviews on the Duracell brand are good. Its a compromise weight between
grp 34 and 31s
Will an AGM battery build a memory like a wet cell battery ??? LDS

Neither has any memory effect. That is a myth.

[Panama]

I think I have decided on a grp 27 AGM Duracell from Sams. Price and
reviews on the Duracell brand are good. Its a compromise weight between
grp 34 and 31s
Will an AGM battery build a memory like a wet cell battery ??? LDS

I think that is a good decision and it's the same thing I did. The Optimas seemed to be losing a little stamina toward the end of the trip. I put them in the little Cherokee and put the Sam's Duracell AGMs in the RT. I have been very happy with them and if you watch they put them on sale every once in a while. One reason I changed brands is that I believe Optima moved production to Mexico. I have used the Duracells a lot and had no problems. They are just heavier, but more power longer. I don't fish long days anymore but I stay on the TM a lot. Usually I drive the Yamaha about 10-20 minutes and them run the TM for hours.

[Skeeterbait]

Will an AGM battery build a memory like a wet cell battery ??? LDS

They don't actually build a memory. What happens is if you do not keep a regular wet cell fully charged, and charge them frequently, sulfur will come out of suspension in the acid and will form a coating over the metal plates. This builds up and is initially soft so frequent charging will melt it back into the acid. But if neglected, it will crystalize and cannot be reversed. It actually insulates the plates increasing the internal resistance of the battery and reducing its capacity. It may seem like a memory but in actuality the battery can retain less charge due to increased internal resistance. This is called sulfating. AGM can still sulfate. But it takes more neglect over a longer period of time for it to occur. So they are more resistant to sulfating.

[gatorglenn]

I’ve run a Duracell 29 for motor and 2 Carbon 9” units. With two 27’s for the TM every scene I got the boat done.
Been super impressed with how quick they charge back up after a 6-7 hour trip. Like 15 minutes. Never lost any power even on a long weekend.

Ive been told the 60 hp motor. Doesn’t have a large enough charging system to run a AGM on the motor. But no issues so far.

[Panama]

I’ve run a Duracell 29 for motor and 2 Carbon 9” units. With two 27’s for the TM every scene I got the boat done.
Been super impressed with how quick they charge back up after a 6-7 hour trip. Like 15 minutes. Never lost any power even on a long weekend.

Ive been told the 60 hp motor. Doesn’t have a large enough charging system to run a AGM on the motor. But no issues so far.

Same here. I cannot believe how fast they recharge. I put a 12 hour countdown timer on my plug and when I plug it in. I turn it to about 2 hours and it turns the charger off. Always full charge. I like to get the electricity out of the gas area unless I need it in there. These batteries also hold their charge a LOT longer than wet cells. And I dont have acid and fumes back there. I had a wet cell TM battery blow up when I was up front fishing. I am a big fan of AGM batteries.

[Great Scott]

The problem I find w/wet cells they discharge fumes
that will attack bare metal, and any non synthetic cloth/clothing.
I had a boat that had a LARGE front compartment, that carried my
trolling motor battery. Being roomy I put a set of cotton coveralls
in the compartment, needless to say the next time I opened the hatch
I found my coveralls were ruined by the acid fumes. LDS

[BigDozer66]

I use the big Optima's in mine and am happy with them. The guy we bought it from had installed them a little before we got it.

[CatFan]

The problem I find w/wet cells they discharge fumes
that will attack bare metal, and any non synthetic cloth/clothing.
I had a boat that had a LARGE front compartment, that carried my
trolling motor battery. Being roomy I put a set of cotton coveralls
in the compartment, needless to say the next time I opened the hatch
I found my coveralls were ruined by the acid fumes. LDS

Acid fumes would indicate a pretty serious problem. Normally you get hydrogen, oxygen and water coming out. You were likely getting splashout from a battery in the front.

[n2ratfishin]

I think I have decided on a grp 27 AGM Duracell from Sams. Price and
reviews on the Duracell brand are good. Its a compromise weight between
grp 34 and 31s
Will an AGM battery build a memory like a wet cell battery ??? LDS

I think you will be pleased. I switched over to two group 31 Duracell AGM's for the trolling motor and a 27 AGM for the 115 ProXS4s and two HDS7's earlier in 2019. No issues and I fish a LOT of current in the winter plus heavy cover in the fall. I've never had trolling motor batteries last me over two years and I've ran all kinds. Time will tell if these AGM's actually last longer.