My wife is handicapped and I buy new power wheelchair and mobility scooter batteries every 2 years. She uses 2 55 amp hour and 2 75 amp hour sealed Gell Cells. When they hit 80% of capacity, we replace them,
If you know anyone that is handicapped, they also do the same sort of thing. You can usually get these 'used' batteries for free. Since they are sealed, they are not issues with the environment. a fully charged 55 amp hour (used) battery will run 2 1000 GPH bilge pumps for 15 to 20 hours (both pumps at the same time). I give my used batteries away when I don't need them (My current used batteries are all spoken for when I change out them next summer). These batteries set me back $150 to $200 each, and they always need to be replaced in the near future.
You might want to befreind some handicapped people with power mobility units - you should be able to find them all over. Please note, people don't advertise the used batteries, you have to know the people to get them.
Amazingly, most people treat people in wheelchairs and power mobility scooters like they have some contagious disease and often avoid eye contact, or act like they don't even exist - So, be nice to some of these people, and maybe you'll end up with a new friend along with some free high capacity batteries. My wife prospects with me even though she can't walk anymore - Her big 4 wheeled power scooter can carry a lot of heavy gear - at 11,000 feet above sea level, where we prospect, this is a wonderful thing. She is better at panning than I am.
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