10 Best Marine Batteries In 2023

For starting the engine on your boat, Optima Red Top 35 is the best cranking marine battery that you’ll be able to find. It’s packed with 720 cold-cranking amps, which is enough starting power even for larger motors. And, thanks to the recognizable Optima quality, you can count on this battery to give you the same top-level performance in all weather conditions.

Design and Construction

While the capacity is pretty good (44Ah), Optima Red Top 35 shouldn’t be used as a deep cycle battery. These AGM batteries are designed strictly to provide starting power, so it’s best to get one more battery if you need to power appliances. Red Top 35 is a mid-sized battery, with a tough polypropylene casing that is fifteen times stronger than other cases.

Use and Performance

Red Top 35 battery has more than enough power to be used even on larger boats. Still, as we’ve pointed out, you should only use it for cranking the engine. Finally, to further boost reliability, this battery comes with a reserve capacity of 90 minutes.

Optima Blue Top D34M battery is a great option for those of you who don’t have the space to keep several batteries on the boat. If you’re looking for versatility in operation, it’s probably the best marine starter battery that you’ll get in this price range.

Design and Construction

Packed with a capacity of 55-ampere hours, it will provide your devices with plenty of juice in deep cycle operation. On the other hand, its 750 cold-cranking amps will be more than enough to start pretty much any engine. Combine this with an extra-tough casing, and you get a truly high-quality battery for all purposes.

Use and Performance

While the Blue Top D34M battery isn’t the smallest one around, the fact that you can mount it however you want makes it great for pretty much any boat. Finally, it comes with a reserve capacity of 120 minutes, and you can count on it not to let you down regardless of the weather conditions.

A great thing about VMAX V35-857 marine batteries is that they fit perfectly on all smaller vessels – from boats to kayaks. It’s the perfect option for powering trolling motors between 18 and 35 pounds, and has excellent compatibility with many different trolling motor brands. However, while smaller in size, this trolling motor battery packs a lot of punch inside.

Design and Construction

Considering that it’s among the smallest batteries on our list, its 35Ah capacity seems even more impressive. It has a great deep cycle operation, with the ability to power your motor or electronic devices all day. It’s also worth mentioning that it uses heavy-duty lead tin alloy in its construction – a feature that significantly increases the number of cycles it can go through.

Use and Performance

Since the battery is fairly compact, you won’t have any problems with installation or with connecting it to the trolling motor. Of course, these are AGM batteries, meaning that you don’t have to place it horizontally to work. As for performance, it can power a trolling motor up to nine hours with 50% depth of discharge, which is a very good result.

If its price was just a bit lower, Optima Blue Top D31M would be in tight competition for the best marine starting battery on our list. This dual-purpose battery is an ultimate performer that can do any job you need on the boat – from starting to powering pretty much anything you want.

Design and Construction

With up to 900 cold-cranking amps, Optima Batteries Blue Top D31M has the highest starting power on this list. At the same time, it has a 75Ah capacity, meaning that it has plenty of juice for anything you need plugged in while on the water. Lastly, it’s worth noting that it comes with 155 minutes of reserve capacity, further boosting performance.

Use and Performance

As you can see, it’s a battery that can do it all, regardless of the conditions. However, it’s fairly large, requiring you to plan ahead where you’re going to put it. Still, despite the larger size and a higher price tag, we would argue that it’s worth the investment (even better if you can find it on a battery sale).

The thing we like most about the UPG D5722 battery is its low weight that makes it perfect for smaller vessels and kayaks with trolling motors. It’s an AGM deep cycle battery with a very steady output that is perfect for anything that needs constant power, from lights to small devices on your boat.

Design and Construction

From a technical standpoint, it’s a very decent mid-sized battery boat power supply. It has a capacity of 35Ah, which is complemented with very good depth of discharge. Furthermore, this UPG battery uses AGM technology which means no leaks, and the casing is strong enough to withstand shocks.

Use and Performance

The biggest selling points of this battery are ease of installation and steady amperage, which is why boaters love it so much. Keep in mind that these are deep cycle batteries only, and that they don’t have enough cranking power to be used as a marine starting battery.

Perfectly balanced between cranking and deep cycle operation, Optima Yellow Top D35 might be the best dual purpose marine battery on the market. It’s a true multi-purpose battery that can do pretty much anything you need on the boat. It has plenty of cranking power for any engine, while simultaneously providing excellent deep cycle and battery longevity.

Design and Construction

Boosted with 620 cold-cranking amps, the Optima Yellow Top D35 won’t have any troubles regardless of the engine size. And, while the capacity (48Ah) isn’t as impressive as some other models we’ve featured, it has an exceptional depth of discharge. Everything is packed in a tough casing that is very rigid and resistant to all types of damage.

Use and Performance

Using this battery is very enjoyable, regardless of the weather. In relation to this, its 98-minute reserve capacity won’t let you down when you need a steady power supply. Lastly, it’s tested to over 300 discharge cycles, so you can count on using it for a long time before it needs replacing.

Unlike the other Blue Top models we’ve talked about, the Optima Blue Top 34M isn’t a dual purpose battery. This model is specially made for starting engines, and it does its job really well. Packed with fantastic cranking power (800 cold cranking amps), it’s able to power up the motor in both very warm and very cold weather.

Design and Construction

Even though it has pretty good capacity (50Ah), this battery shouldn’t be used for deep cycles because the structure inside might get damaged. As for the design, it’s a medium-sized battery with a polypropylene casing that makes it fifteen times tougher and more resilient than other batteries in its category.

Use and Performance

If you’re looking for consistent performance, Optima Batteries Blue Top 34M has a reserve capacity of 100 minutes. It’s easy to install and connect in any position and, with this one on board, you can rest assured that your boat will always start easily.