The 'you get what you pay for' hold true. However, I get my batteries from Sam's at half the cost of the marina. I have dual batteries with the contoller, I usually switched it to off, when I am gone for a few days. The bilge pump is on a seperate circuit so that is never without power.
In the winter, I store it on a piece of lumber in the cellar and trickle charge it once a month. I usually get 6 years out of the start/deep charge batteries. I'd like to try the battery protector mentioned above and see if I can get more years out of it.
