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  1. #1
    Member
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    Sep 2017
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    Minnesota
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    299

    Interstate agm 31 sucks !

    I run a minnkota 4 bank smart charger

    Top off batteries every night before I go fish

    Today being nice go for 4 hours

    only had 2 helix 12 g2n on and no pumps

    trolled around for a bit started engine to get away from dock

    trolled with front ulterra for 2 hours

    went to start engine and click click click graphs shut off

    glad i had me jump pack, but man this battery sucks being 1.5 years old

    I bet the interstate center will say it tests fine

    Anyone have experience with them ? tempted to run the battery down before I go in for warranty

  2. Go With God ! scotti509's Avatar
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    Jan 2008
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    Spokane, Wa.
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    378
    #2
    I bought a pair of Cabelas best AGM's and the lasted 18mos. Got them replaced a total of 3 times in 4yrs. They told me it looked like I was abusing the warranty. I brought it up on this board and a few said just get Walmart Everstart Maxx 29's. Granted, these were for the TM batts, but my point is AGM's are questionable at best. By the way, my Walmart Maxx batts are 3yrs old and still fish a long, windy day without an issue. My cranking batt is a Deka. Also never an issue and BBC guys recommend. I don't have big graphs though.
    Scott Inman

  3. Member
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    Nov 2007
    Location
    Republic, MO
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    2,910
    #3
    I have found that modern chart plotters are juice hogs. No matter whether Low or Bird. I’ve had both and battery troubles. The North Star X2 is all I have found that will last with them.

  4. Member
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    Jun 2004
    Location
    Flowery Branch, Ga.
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    5,990
    #4
    I've had quite a few interstates over the years, and have never had one go beyond 1.5 years. They are junk.

  5. Member Capw's Avatar
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    Mar 2006
    Location
    Plymouth, Ma
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    6,755
    #5
    My opinion is, Interstate is garbage.
    2017 Ranger Z520c "Blackout Edition"
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  6. Member
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    Jun 2008
    Location
    Whitehall Wisconsin
    Posts
    491
    #6
    Easiest way to check a marginal battery or problem battery charge, check voltage let it sit for 2-3 day with nothing hooked to it, and if voltage drops battery is bad. Many times when they do a crank test the battery will show as good.

    I just went thru 3 Deka batteries in 18 months in my vehicle each one would drop voltage when it sat.

  7. Member
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    Apr 2012
    Location
    Minnesota
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    117
    #7
    I second that opinion. 1.5 years and Group 31 Agm died recently and was maintained 100% correctly.

  8. Member
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    Jan 2019
    Location
    Edina, MN
    Posts
    476
    #8
    I was lucky to get 1.5 years out of my Interstate G31 batteries in Vegas. Usually only got a year. Heat kills, especially there :)

    Have had very good luck, so far (knock on wood) with the Sam’s Club Duracell G31 AGM batteries, but that’s up here in MN now.

  9. Member
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    Dec 2014
    Location
    Uniontown,Ohio
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    1,777
    #9
    Wal mart's 29 series deep cycle batteries are by far the best. At $106. With a trade in,you can't go wrong. I believe that quite a few people are sucked in, by thinking the higher end batteries must be the best.

  10. Member
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    Feb 2018
    Location
    SD
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    13
    #10
    Still running a 2016 Interstate 31AGM cranking a 250 verado and running lowrance hds 12"x2 and 9"x2, pumps, etc. If you have a 1, 1+2, 2 battery selector switch make sure your trolling motor isn't also pulling on the cranking battery. Charge the batteries with the battery compartment lid open.

  11. Member
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    Apr 2012
    Location
    Insomnia, near Seaford Delaware
    Posts
    35,511
    #11
    All batteries are bad batteries, if it fails on you. I have had an Interstate that defied everything that should have sent it to the recycler and it just kept going and going. Once I went to start my boat and the Interstate was dead. I looked in the cells and it had run dry. I was too lazy to go back to the house for water so I took off the caps and held it overboard until it filled with creek (brackish) water. I let it sit 5 minutes and it started and ran another 3 years.
    Right now I use the Sam's Duracell and Everstarts.

  12. Member
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    Apr 2008
    Location
    Lakeview,AR.
    Posts
    7,994
    #12
    Now that's a manly fix! Must have been the salt in the water. Bob
    Tell me where has a slow movin' once quick draw outlaw got to go

  13. Member Fins's Avatar
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    Mar 2014
    Location
    Minnehaha Creek MN
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    1,499
    #13
    I just swapped out my 9 year old Interstate deep cycle wet cells. Awesome batteries.

  14. Go With God ! scotti509's Avatar
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    Jan 2008
    Location
    Spokane, Wa.
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    378
    #14
    I bet 9 years ago they were made better than they are now!
    Scott Inman

  15. Member
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    May 2014
    Location
    Northeast Michigan
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    860
    #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Capw View Post
    My opinion is, Interstate is garbage.
    I agree. I have NEVER had good luck with Interstate. I never, ever, got more than 1 summer out of them up here in the North. I will never purchase them again.

    M

  16. Member
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    Sep 2016
    Location
    Ruma Ill
    Posts
    803
    #16
    Buy a Deka 31 agm and forget about dead battery problems .

  17. Member
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    Sep 2017
    Location
    Minnesota
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    299
    #17
    well my new X2 had no issues running pumps graphs all day long and cranking with authority. big difference from this interstate agm crap the boat came with. before I could not start graphs up and have them networked online and start engine, i’d have to wait to start engine else they would blimp off sometimes

  18. Airborne/Infantry bassnman81's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Lake Norman NC
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    5,778
    #18
    Yep, I don't use them any more either. Deka is what is in the boat now and are terrific. Having batteries for x amount of years doesn't tell the whole story. Batteries can only be charged so many times and that's it. I too couldn't get more that 8-9 months out of a Interstate trolling battery. My boat gets used twice a week for 46 weeks a year with most of the time on the troller. The Deka's outperform the Interstates in every way IMO.


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