OPTIMA battery worth the extra $$$

[thorJ30]

Hi
I am considering replacing ONE of my two deep cycle batteries with a Optima deep cycle...

Are they worth 3 times the money than a regular walmart deep cycle ?

If I go that route, can I still charge both batteries with the same charger?

Just in case they are that great . should I replace both ?.....

Or be real adventourous and use only one to save weight ???

The other question is that for the starter battery, wouldnt it be better to use a regular starter battery anyhow ? ( which happens to be only double as expensive as a regular battery )

Please consider that I am Lake sailing and have shorepower, I am not cruisng in some far away places.

lets hear it ....

Thorsten

[jbanta]

Thor

Lake sailor, what lake? I am really not sure how to answer you till I know just a bit more. What are your loads? Do you do alot of overnight crusing? Do you anchor out? Most day sails I would say just get a ordinary deep cycle/starting battery. IF you anchor out alot you might want to add a starting battery. If you have heavy load such as refrigeration you want 4 high quility deep cycle 6 volt batteries. See it all depends..

[thorJ30]

Lake Carlile in Illinois ....

yes we do "cove-out" .... during the season
dont have a fridge or air or anything like that ... just instruments a couple lights, fans etc
we do sail at night in the summer.....

[windship]

Go online and compare the specs. I havn''t done this yet with the Optima but I think you''ll find that they are not worth the price.
Stick with Interstate or Trojan 6V flooded batts.
And yes, change all batts in the bank at the same time or the weaker one will drain into the stronger one and you''ll wind up with two weak batts.

Dennis

Dennis