i have 2 trojan scs225 batteries for trolling motor, 24v. system in my tuffy 1760 osprey. they are about 5 yrs. old. i left them in the basement close to a running dehumidifier and it drained most of the water out even with the caps on tight. i refilled with distilled h20 and they recharged about 3/4 full or so. let them sit a week and they drain down less than 40%. i think their shot. i was never totally happy with them and wondered if a gel battery would last longer trolling or is there something better out there. i bought these two from gander and wondered how old they were when i bougtht them. i looked at dekas also, would these be better than what i have been using? need some direction i guess. thanks

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173327&highlight=Trolling+motor+batteries

This thread might help you decide...

Juls

If they gave you five years of service, they were good batteries. I like to replace mine every three years, just for safety's sake.

Just go to your favorite battery store and pick up some nice fresh - i.e. manufactured within the last 30 days with group 31 standard deep cycle batteries. They will typically give you 4-7 years of service with few issues and with the group 31 batteries will give long service life.

REW

i did some research and the deka's is 225 res. min. and so is the trojan group 31's. the deka is $15 less. interstates which a lot of guys like are less $ but are only group 29 with 210 res. min. i don't no if this is a huge diff. but am leary of a smaller group battery. the trojans that i drained did last me a long time but the trolling time never seemed to be long enough.

I used to work at Golf course and batteries are big buisness spending $250k every 4 or 5 years. Trogans were the best and some lasted 50plus holes of golf while everstarts and cheaper brands lucky to get 36holes. Trogans are like $200 a pop now back in day $75 would get them. I would get dekas and report back on there performance. Batteries plus has them and Cableas offers $125 same group 31 but they have been sitting awhile make sure then fresh. I ended up getting Walmart $75 battery group 29 $34 less than 31 group add another $41 and I can get 2 of those so? Deka must be rated at 20 amh for the 225 reserve rating. Some like the trogan 25amh big difference.

I to had a trojan battery and it was the best one ever. I had it for 5 or 6 years and sold it with the boat I had. I would not have a problem with them again if I were in the market for batteries.

I buy the cheapies at Walmart because my batteries usually die from lack of use.If you run your trolling motor everyday for long periods then I would invest in the higher end.

I use Delco Voyagers. I will take them out of the big water boat after 5 years and put them to use in puddle jumpers etc. I am at the point where I am rotating the oldest still working ones out and giving them away to friends and family. With that kind of success I will continue to buy Voyagers.

i did some research and the deka's is 225 res. min. and so is the trojan group 31's. the deka is $15 less. interstates which a lot of guys like are less $ but are only group 29 with 210 res. min. i don't no if this is a huge diff. but am leary of a smaller group battery. the trojans that i drained did last me a long time but the trolling time never seemed to be long enough.

Deka's RC225 is at 23 amps, they have an RC 185 at 25 amps. Interstates SRM-29 is 210 at 25 amps (like most other manufacturers).

The size of the Intestate SRM-29 is the same if not bigger than Deka's group 31. Also, interstate SRM-29 is 61 lbs, vs Deka 31 at 59 lbs.