Hello Joe and all other interested marine battery users. I am the product manager for Optima Batteries and I recently read the message about Optima Batteries. The battery limitation information you refer to Joe (14.4V at 12Amps)is not relative to Optima Batteries. You are mistaken in the brand of battery you are referring to and using. The brand you have is the Orbital battery by Exide. The technology between Optima Batteries and Orbital is similar, but the manufacturing process, the internal chemistry, and the internal components are very different. Therefore, your information is incorrect and misleading. Please check your boat battery and you will see that it is not an Optima Batteries brand.
Optima Batteries offers a specific starting battery and two other deep cycle batteries for the high cranking demands of today's technologically advanced marine outboard engines. Optima Batteries has verfied battery compliance with the help of Honda outboards and Mercury Marine outboards and sterndrive/inboard engines. Please see our web site (
www.optimabatteries.com) for models and specs.
As for charging Optima Batteries, they are capable of recharging much faster than traditional wet lead-acid marine batteries. Optima Batteries are capable of a rapid recharge of 15.6V constant with NO current limit within an air temp. of 125F. This is a big difference from the battery you are using and really sets the Optima battery apart from other batteries. Optima Batteries are a true maintenance free, non-spillable battery that will last you 2 times longer than traditional wet lead-acid batteries.
I'm done with my sales pitch now, but it is such a great product that it is hard not to keep going on all of the benefits. Please watch for print ads in popular fishing/boating magazines and TV ads on national cable TV. Try an Optima battery. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Thanks, Tom - Optima Batteries