It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great suggestions.... Thanks Duff.

Going to give the Deep Cycle Interstate batteries a try this year... They have an outlet right in Keansburg.

[Irish Jigger]

One thing I have used with success on the pitting is Mineral Oil, NOT Mineral Spirits, Mineral Oil and Bronze Wool. Obliviously won't help the pitted metal but it cleans out the corrosion and makes the actual marks a lot less visible while protecting them from further damage. Can find it in a grocery store and the bronze wool anywhere. Also use the 3M as well Gerry always spent endless hours with the Colonite but find the cleaner wax then a few coats of their polish do just as well in half the time. If compounding is needed the 3m is just as good for me as well.

[henro]

Bargainshore.com has some great deals right now on VMax batteries. Free shipping and $25 off plus discounts when you buy higher quantities. The VMax batteries have a lot of great options and some with really serious amp hours ratings. I just ordered a pair of their MR137 AGM’s to go along with a pair of Lifeline GPL-31XT’s I already have. The Lifeline’s cost me $790 shipped for the pair in 2017 with 125AH. I got the 2 VMax’s for $515 shipped from bargainshore and they have 120AH. They also carry lower capacity and some much higher capacity versions and lithium’s($$$) as well.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by henro

Bargainshore.com has some great deals right now on VMax batteries. Free shipping and $25 off plus discounts when you buy higher quantities. The VMax batteries have a lot of great options and some with really serious amp hours ratings. I just ordered a pair of their MR137 AGM’s to go along with a pair of Lifeline GPL-31XT’s I already have. The Lifeline’s cost me $790 shipped for the pair in 2017 with 125AH. I got the 2 VMax’s for $515 shipped from bargainshore and they have 120AH. They also carry lower capacity and some much higher capacity versions and lithium’s($$$) as well.

Thanks Henro - Those VMAX batteries look great and people give them very high marks. They always seem to make the list when you do a google search for "best deep cycle batteries". My one concern is they are AGM...I do have an onboard charger so need to check and see if my charger has an AGM setting since I believe the charger requirements are a bit different then lead acid batteries... My other concern is charging them from my boat engines alternators where I have 2 lead acid starting batteries as well.. Wondering if I should be concerned about putting an AGM in the mix or would I be better advised to keep everything lead acid?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Irish Jigger

One thing I have used with success on the pitting is Mineral Oil, NOT Mineral Spirits, Mineral Oil and Bronze Wool. Obliviously won't help the pitted metal but it cleans out the corrosion and makes the actual marks a lot less visible while protecting them from further damage. Can find it in a grocery store and the bronze wool anywhere. Also use the 3M as well Gerry always spent endless hours with the Colonite but find the cleaner wax then a few coats of their polish do just as well in half the time. If compounding is needed the 3m is just as good for me as well.

Thanks.... Going to give the bronze wool a shot this year Jigger... I've read people are using it with the Colonite metal polish.

[Capt. Debbie]

I second that suggestion.

My 14 footer crab boat before the O/B motor upgrade w/ alternator I used(for decades) to run all electronics on this all day long with no re-charge for FF, VHF, Plotter and AM/FM when Yankees were on. Yes- overly done for just crabbing in rivers. Running (discharging) 6 or 7 hours each trip with no charge.

I CONSISTENTLY got three years out of them. Then tossed the deep cycle after three seasons. Charged them after use and left until next use. That was since 1984

Winters were spent on a automatic charger 5 amp setting simply running on a 24 hour mechanical timer for 1 hour per 24-hour day.

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Great suggestions.... Thanks Duff.

Going to give the Deep Cycle Interstate batteries a try this year... They have an outlet right in Keansburg.