Marine deep cycle battery STX

Probably Budget Marine. I would never buy anything from St Croix Marine, they WILL rip you off in a heart beat. I usually buy from Interstate Battery in Ft Lauderdale and ship via VI Cargo.

Colorama in Castle Coakley says they are an Interstate dealer but probably don't carry Marine Batteries.

When i checked, back a year or so, H&H had the best price.

Many thanks!

STX Marine had the Yellow Top Optima AGM (dual purpose deep/starting) at 275.

STX Marine had the Yellow Top Optima AGM (dual purpose deep/starting) at 275.

http://www.amazon.com/Optima-8014-045-FFP-YellowTop-Group-Battery/dp/B006QH561E

It has been my experience that STX Marine charges full retail plus a 20% markup for almost every thing that they sell.

Yep - could have gone the Amazon -> VI Cargo route and saved probably $40. But convenience has a price. A little money in their pockets now and then means if I really need something in an emergency, in all likelihood they will still be in business.

Yep - could have gone the Amazon -> VI Cargo route and saved probably $40. But convenience has a price. A little money in their pockets now and then means if I really need something in an emergency, in all likelihood they will still be in business.

In my case I had them quote me on 8 marine batteries. Big ones. They quoted me $665 each for a total of $5320. I bought them for $250 each for a total of $2000. Plus $160 shipping on VI Cargo. $5320 - $2160 is a savings of $3160. Let them go out of business.

Mr Ballard,
Please refrain from your continued bad mouthing of St Croix Marine. It is verging on a legal issue and what you are saying simply is not true.
I am happy to sit down with you or anyone for that matter who has a legitimate complaint against my business and sort it out.
We do not charge retail plus 20%
The batteries that you purchased state side and brought down yourself were lead acid batteries not AGM batteries - You sir are comparing Microsoft to Apple! Big Difference!
We are a 35 year virgin islands based business employing local people and contributing to the local community, if you choose to try to bypass customs duties and Gross Receipts tax etc by "importing your own marine equipment that is your business.
You will find that our prices are comparable to stateside prices plus approx 15-20% because we do pay the shipping duties and taxes as good members of the community.
Further my understanding is that we saved you from quite a costly expense and fine as we towed your derelict boat that was leaking diesel fuel into the sea hauled it out and helped prepare it for a sale we did this for you based on the promise of a certain amount of work, which you did not seem so interested in doing once your boat was safely hauled out in our yard.
Again I am happy to speak with you or anyone else face to face regarding any complaints with services or goods in our facility.
Sincerely
George Custer
Managing Partner

Mr Ballard,
Please refrain from your continued bad mouthing of St Croix Marine. It is verging on a legal issue and what you are saying simply is not true.
I am happy to sit down with you or anyone for that matter who has a legitimate complaint against my business and sort it out.
We do not charge retail plus 20%
The batteries that you purchased state side and brought down yourself were lead acid batteries not AGM batteries - You sir are comparing Microsoft to Apple! Big Difference!
We are a 35 year virgin islands based business employing local people and contributing to the local community, if you choose to try to bypass customs duties and Gross Receipts tax etc by "importing your own marine equipment that is your business.
You will find that our prices are comparable to stateside prices plus approx 15-20% because we do pay the shipping duties and taxes as good members of the community.
Further my understanding is that we saved you from quite a costly expense and fine as we towed your derelict boat that was leaking diesel fuel into the sea hauled it out and helped prepare it for a sale we did this for you based on the promise of a certain amount of work, which you did not seem so interested in doing once your boat was safely hauled out in our yard.
Again I am happy to speak with you or anyone else face to face regarding any complaints with services or goods in our facility.
Sincerely
George Custer
Managing Partner

Mr. Custer,
Please refrain from making threats. I never compared lead-acid batteries to AGM batteries. When I asked Casey Carr for a quote for batteries for my boat I told him that I had owned the boat for a very long time and had replaced the batteries many times. I told him that I wanted a quote on the same batteries that were already on the boat. The quote that I mentioned was the one that I got from Casey Carr. I have the email quote if you would like for me to post it. The quote was for ROLLS 8HHG25 batteries, I do not believe that these are AGM batteries. I was not happy with the quote so I got the contact information from a tag on the batteries on the boat and ordered a set which was exactly like the ones on the boat, just like I had asked Casey. After the batteries arrived I was required to pay St Croix Marine a 20% fee for receiving the batteries at St Croix Marine.

I also have a quote from Casey for tenting and fumigating the boat. When I showed up to pay the bill he had added a 20% markup to the quote explaining that the quote was from Oliver and did not include your markup. I asked that future quotes state the amount that I was expected to pay.

As for my boat, you have no idea what you are talking about. At the time the boat was towed to St Croix Marine the boat was not a derelict, it had been berthed at Green Cay for many years and the batteries were dead and the engine didn't run. There were no fines that you saved me from. In fact when I was having a dispute with Larry over Storage fees, I checked with Martin at Green Cay and was told that he would be happy for me to come back. I had initially requested the monthly storage rate but had never been billed for storage, Larry then had me billed at the Daily rate because I bought the batteries myself instead of accepting the outrageous quote that I got. I have receipts for this as well. Once I paid the 20% charge for the batteries he went back to the monthly rate.

I have receipts for all of this as well as voice mail and email from Casey Carr about these issues.
I have not even gotten into the fuel tank issue.

I was a customer of St Croix Marine and was not happy with the service or the prices charged. I have every right to voice my complaints as any customer does. I have receipts and quotes to back up my claims. Anyone who wants to know more can contact me.

Edited to add: I never talked to Mr Custer. All of my dealings were with Casey Carr and Larry Angus.

We are a 35 year virgin islands based business employing local people and contributing to the local community, if you choose to try to bypass customs duties and Gross Receipts tax etc by "importing your own marine equipment that is your business.
You will find that our prices are comparable to stateside prices plus approx 15-20% because we do pay the shipping duties and taxes as good members of the community.

Sincerely
George Custer
Managing Partner

As an example of the markup charged by St Croix Marine, on my final invoice they charged me for a 50 Gallon fuel tank which they installed in my engine room and put one gallon of diesel fuel in it. This because the onboard fuel was contaminated with algae and they decided that the only way to test the engines was to permanently install a new fuel tank.

They charged me $449.00 for the tank. A Moeller Marine Products 50 gallon tank. All that was needed was a temporary tank which would hold the 1 gallon of diesel fuel which they put in it and for which they also charged me.

As you can see from the links below, the Stateside street price varies from $275 to $329. So if they charge Stateside plus 15%-20% what would that come to? $275+20% = $330 or $329+20% = $395 But they charged $449. This is a markup of either 63% or 36% depending on whether you use the low price or the high price. Maybe they used the MSRP + 20% as I said above but I can't find an MSRP for this tank.

I have the invoice for this plus other items if anyone wants to see them. This is only slander if it is not true and I have the invoices to back this up. I never signed a non-disclosure agreement with St Croix Marine. This is St Croix Marine Invoice #100557339.

Feel free to Google "Moeller 50 Gallon Marine Fuel Tank" to see more STATESIDE prices.

This is the tank that they installed:
http://www.perfprotech.com/50-gallon-permanent-fuel-tank-moeller-marine-products-pn-032550-mo032550/product/386695

http://www.amazon.com/Moeller-Marine-Below-Permanent-50-Gallon/dp/B000MTB7OM/ref=sr_1_57?ie=UTF8&qid=1365288359&sr=8-57&keywords=moeller+fuel

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Moeller-50-Gallon-Marine-Fuel-Tank-12-5W-45L-22D&i=39544&r=view&aID=506N2&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3339353434&s_kwcid=goobase_goobase_filler&cID=GSHOP_39544

http://www.marinepartssource.com/newdetails.asp?mfgno=032550&pnumber=MO032550&mfg=MOELLER%20MARINE%20PRODUCTS&desc=50%20Gallon%20Permanent%20Fuel%20Tank

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=11809&familyName=Moeller+Below+Deck+Permanent+Fuel+Tank

STX Marine had the Yellow Top Optima AGM (dual purpose deep/starting) at 275.

http://www.amazon.com/Optima-8014-045-FFP-YellowTop-Group-Battery/dp/B006QH561E

It has been my experience that STX Marine charges full retail plus a 20% markup for almost every thing that they sell.

Compare AGM to AGM ie Apples to Apples.

The Amazon price is $185. Add 20% and you get $222. STX Marine price is $275. This is a markup of 49%. A far cry from the 15-20% over stateside prices. And while your savings might only be $40-$60 after shipping on VI Cargo, this is per battery. It has been my experience that very few people buy only one marine battery unless it is for a dingy.

All that I can relate is my own experience with St Croix Marine, which was not good. Some people might have had good experiences, if so then I invite them to share here as well. All that I am suggesting is that you compare prices before shopping there. Especially on big ticket items.

I have 9 months worth of invoices and quotes to draw my data from.

And unlike Mr Custer implies there was no sneaking the batteries in to avoid paying taxes. The batteries were shipped via VI Cargo which cleared customs and collected taxes from me.

IslandHops are you affiliated with St Croix Marine? If not then please post your experiences with them.

Go through Budget Marine.
It's not always worth going through the cheapest place.

Their people are honest and want their customers to be happy with the services they provide.

Purchased 2 batteries from St Croix Marine and I am not happy with that purchase.

neither Rolls battery nor Optima are made in the USA...so duty is not a problem if properly documented as to point of manufacture on the bill of lading...for which all importers must pay the customs fees.
I know from past use, Optima is marked very distinctly MADE IN MEXICO on their packaging, where as most ROLLS coming to the islands is supplied out of North Miami distributor warehouse, due to large size is only on a pallet, not individually packaged...and also marked that way, although made in Nova Scotia, Canada!
I am sure most Rolls Batteries slip through the VI Customs inspectors while the Optima, clearly marked MEXICO don't.
If shipping from the states to individuals on island, most Optima will probably slip through our customs inspectors...especially if not marked on the bill of lading or marked as Ford Motor Company, who uses Optima exclusively in their 2013 smaller preformance cars, also made in Mexico..."MADE IN NORTH AMERICA"!
In my 45 years working in batteries; Rolls is the best of all commercially available batteries made in the world for flooded acid design...excellend design and tons of engineering information available to proper use, installation and service, although there are a couple of other traction-motor cells, only available to industry that are very similar.
Optima is designed for limited usages...automotive starting, minimum deep cycle discharge, marine engine and generator...minimul due to capacity...three different 12 volt sizes...compared to over 50 different sizes and options in normal configuration of cells in Rolls.
Lots of "car music" people who like large stereo systems in their cars all use Optima...almost exclusively due to mounting positions!
Optima are also very good to me mounted in any direction, Rolls cannot.
Optima are also very vibration free, and not troubled with over voltage or current charging.
AGM is Optima style while Rolls is flooded led acid.
I know of Rolls batteries that are over 30 years old and still very operational...while Optima has been a relative newcomer into the battery field..they are over 35 years in existance...mostly overseas in Scandanavia and northern Europe...via Denver and now into Mexico...bullet proof but limited in operational usage unless in group series or power banks!
Optima batteries make good back up for small UPS's and environmental control applications...thus their being owned by Johnson Control Company!
You cannot compare AGM for Flooded cell design...AGM is always less maintenance...usually maintenance free...but also out of sight out of mind...problems can occur without proper full time maintenance like the Rolls.
Optima can really crank and engine...for a couple of tries...a Rolls will crank a huge diesel many times...many many times!
All depends what you want the batteries to do.
Whatever an Optima will do...a Rolls will outdo...plain and simple.
Grapefruit or grapes!
Size really does matter for the power necessary!
I have used Rolls for years in solar and marine power distribution systems, power backed up inverters in industrial power applications up to 3 phase 240volt...and I'll still take Rolls over AGM for continuous power supply systems like large solar array for residence or industry.
When I go off grid and away from WAPA...Rolls is the clear winner for the task...may have another Optima for my back up generator!
As to how the batteries shipped-in are cleared in customs...by law (either USVI or USA), it is the consignees requirment to legally declare the point of origin, not the shipper...!
From my understanding, Customs here in St Croix or elsewhere in the territory is obligated to the USVI government, not the USA government...since the organic act, customs job here is to put revenue received funds into the USVI general fund...not the the USA revenue collectors! Customs is "leased service" to the :USVI revenue general fund...not the USA government!
So I am sure we all feel happy when those Chinese and other non American goods we purchase and we ship into the islands are not charged duty or fees...!
PS. I have been both a factory certified Optima and Rolls battery reseller, installer, and service center engineering consultant for more than 25 years!

...Maybe they used the MSRP + 20% as I said above but I can't find an MSRP for this tank...

Maybe so. The numbers match up. MSRP/MAP Price $374.99

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Moeller+Fuel+Tank+Below+Deck+50+Gallon.html

I became aware of the very high prices at St Croix Marine after my boat was hauled. In the small print of the haul out agreement for STX Marine you are required to purchase all parts/materials used on your boat from their Marine Store. If they do not carry something and you purchase it elsewhere you are required to pay them a fee of 20% of the purchase price for the privilege of buying parts for your boat while hauled out.

Even after explaining to them that I was planning on selling the boat and didn't want to put the best possible parts and materials on the boat, I only wanted to get it seaworthy so a buyer could drive it away. Their quotes always seemed high. I sat down with each of their quotes and bills and compared their prices to what I could have purchased the item for elsewhere. Apples to Apples.

I am sure that Rolls batteries are very good, I am also sure that they are some of the most expensive around. Why would they quote them to me when I asked for exactly the same battery that was already on the boat? And the batteries on the boat had a tag with contact information on it.

I also asked for a quote for bottom painting. The quote they gave me priced bottom paint at $345 per gallon. I can post the quote for anyone interested. Is this inexpensive bottom paint? What does bottom paint sell for in the states? Is this a reasonable price?

Once you are hauled out you are a captive customer. It is too late to comparison shop at that point.

Man this forum is brutal on local businesses.

I'm not affiliated with STX Marine at all - although I did sleep in a holiday inn once. 😎

As far as batteries are concerned I purchased 4 Trojans from them years for my last boat. Overpriced and I'm not certain one might have been older than the rest as it was the first to give me a problem. I never had my old boat hauled there as for most of the time I owned it they couldn't accommodate it - too wide for the lift. Then when they got the railway working again they won't let you do any work on your own boat with that system, and their quotes for bottom jobs were over the top - (plus over $300 a gallon for paint - crikey!) I've heard too many horror stories from those that have hauled there that I don't think I want to have the pleasure myself. With my current boat being trailerable I no longer have a need to haul out.

I always hauled my old boat over at Nanny Cay. I would sail over one weekend, ferry/fly back, have the work completed, then fly/ferry back the next weekend and pick her up. With all expenses, including Seaborne and an awesome dinner at Peg Leg, it was still cheaper than a bottom job at STX Marine. Plus no problem doing some work yourself while in the yard, and a well stocked chandalry on site too.

Being in the process of refurbishing my current (was near-derelict) boat, I got the Optima Yellow Top from them knowing full well I was probably being reamed a bit (I hear rumor little vasoline appled to the credit card makes it less painful?). It was a convenience item as I had ramped up my plans to finally get the boat in the water. I do like the fact that I can stop by and have a 50% chance of finding the part I need. The odds used to be better than that but I think they have cut back a lot on spares/parts stocked. Plus for the most part the folks that work there are pretty good to deal with (Winston and crew). I think they missed me when I was boat-less. I've found out out that Budget Marine is now owned by my old mate Steve and, great news, they will be relocating the store soon so I don't need to drive all the way out east. They will certainly be seeing more of me after the move.

I think we all need to patronize local businesses wherever possible but only where it makes economic sense - in a fair and balanced approach to pricing. The marine industry in general has a storied history of scraping the barnacles off anyone's wallet. Most products are overpriced to begin with because it is a 'luxury' industry for the most part. When business push the envelope without competition then they alienate customers. With the advent of convenient online shopping (I have my favorites) and local competition, businesses either need to adapt or lose customers. The work in the yard at STX Marine has never had a sterling reputation for value and quality, but for now to haul a large vessel, that yard is still the only game in town. Just telling it like it is.

Of course after this diatribe I'll probably be blacklisted anyway. 😎

I'm gonna go totally off the wagon and say something nice about a local business: St. Croix Marine -- thank you for your sponsorship. I don't want to say more because I'm not sure how much they want it publicized, but they did a good, local corporate citizen thing, and maybe it was small for them but it made a big difference for a number of people who are very important to me and, I for one, am grateful.

Athough I REALLY wish you'd been open on April 1st.

Thank You IslandHops.

I also prefer Nanny Cay for haul outs. But if you must use St Croix Marine I would make the following suggestions.

1) Comparison shop for any big ticket items before your haul out. Add these items to your spares stores. That way you can avoid $665 each batteries and $345/gal bottom paint, etc.
2) On the day of the haul out, be there with your camera. Take lots of pictures. You are required to purchase haul out insurance so best to document the "haul out" experience.
3) When you fill out a work order be very specific about the work you want done. Do not leave any room for interpretation. When you sign and date the work order make sure that you get a copy of the work order. Do not get lazy or complacent about this.
4) When they offer to put things on your bill and settle up at the end, I would suggest paying as you go to avoid surprises. Totally up to you.
5) On the day your boat is launched, be there. See item 2 above. I sold my boat before it was launched.

These are simply my suggestions, and are good suggestions no matter who is doing your haul out.