Gel Cell Batteries and Chargers
 

I have a 70# thrust minn kota riptide on my 19ft bay boat. I just put new gell cell batteries in and from a full charge with my on board charger they were almost completely dead after about 3 or 3 and a half hours. Are some chargers not compatible with gell batteries? or is it just that maybe my charger is old and needs replacing (its about 12 years old)? or does it sound more like maybe a short in the wiring is possible causing the batteries to drain?

Yes, Gel batteries do take a different charger.. Most new chargers have settings for the different batteries and will charge Flooded,Gel and AGM batteries. Be careful you can damage gel batteries on the wrong charger..
Good Luck

Yes your not getting the right amount of volts ..

You will mess those batteries up

thanks for the info. I just bought a new minn kota charger that is compatible for my batteries.

The sealed gel cell batteries also have a poor temperature threshold. High temperatures like 95 will deplete the battery life.