I've got two Optima blue tops that are going on just over 4 years old now. Do you guys just run them until they die? I definitely don't want to get to the lake one day and the boat won't start, but I also don't want to replace them until I have to. Thoughts? I've never charged these batteries once as I use the boat nearly year round. <BR> <BR>-Thanks

I don't have a blue top, but I have a yellow top deep cycle that started it's life 7 years ago in my S10 pickup. I sold that truck, but kept the battery and put it in my wife's tahoe where it stayed for two years. We sold it and, again, I kept the battery. It has now spent a season and a half as the only battery in our Supra 21V. It stayed in the boat all winter long and was expecting to have to replace it this spring, but it kept its charge and fired up with no problems. Every time I moved it was supposed to be temporary. If your blue tops are anything like my yellow top, it is just getting broken in! <BR> <BR>(Message edited by cocheese on June 24, 2009)

I put a sears deep cycle marine battery in our boat about 9 years ago. I take it out in the winter, charge it a few times.....still cranking strong.

Go and have them load tested at Sears.

7 years?! Wow, that's awesome. Thanks...it does seem like a good idea to go have it tested.

I had a 2 year old car battery tested at a shop because my car wouldn't start. They said it was bad. I bought a new battery and found out that the battery wasn't the problem. 90% chance the first battery was fine, so I don't know how much I trust those load testers or the people who use them. Just a point of info.

Just take care of your batteries and replace them when they die