Marine Batteries Shipped to Chicago, IL
Chicago has one of the largest municipal harbor systems in the country, with a string of harbors along its Lake Michigan shoreline, and thousands of boats spend the summer in them.
Boaters in Chicago order from us online and we ship to them. Every lithium battery over $150 and every lead-acid or AGM battery ships free by curbside freight anywhere in the lower 48 states, and parts and chargers ship free on orders of $150 or more.
Fishing near Chicago
Sailing is huge, and the Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac is a famous long-distance race. Coho and chinook salmon and yellow perch are fished on the lake.
The water around Chicago
Harbors like Montrose, Belmont, Diversey, Monroe, DuSable and Burnham line the lakefront, and the Chicago River runs through downtown, where bridges lift for sailboats moving to and from winter storage. The Calumet River, on the South Side, is an industrial waterway.
The lake can get rough fast, so batteries need firm mounts. Boats are stored for winter. Most Chicago harbor slips are run by the Chicago Park District, and the season generally runs from late spring to mid-fall, with boats hauled to storage yards along the river and in the suburbs over winter. Fall salmon fishing near the harbor mouths is a local tradition.
Choosing the right battery
Sailboats
Many sailboat owners around the Chicago River stay with AGM or flooded batteries for simplicity and cost. Whichever you choose, keep the house bank and starting battery separate, and replace all batteries in a bank at the same time.
Offshore center consoles
Offshore boats depend on their batteries more than any other boat on Lake Michigan: radar, sonar, chartplotters, livewells and VHF all draw power while drifting over a ledge. Size your house battery for a full day of electronics with the engines off, and keep it isolated from the cranking batteries with a switch or combiner. A multi-bank onboard charger keeps every battery topped up at the dock.
Pontoons and party barges
Most pontoons on Lake Michigan run a single 12V battery for the engine, stereo, lights and maybe a small trolling motor. That works until the music runs through a long afternoon at anchor. A dual-purpose battery, AGM or lithium, handles both cranking and accessory loads better, and a second battery on a switch keeps starting power in reserve.
Keeping batteries healthy in Illinois
Sailboats need house banks sized for instruments and autopilots.
The Great Lakes have a boating season from spring to fall, with cold, icy winters. Most boats are hauled and shrink-wrapped. Before storage, charge batteries fully and remove them or connect a maintainer. Lithium batteries hold their charge well over winter, but standard lithium should only be charged above freezing.
Great Lakes water can get rough fast, so secure batteries well and use vibration-resistant AGM or lithium batteries.
Shipping details
- Free lithium freight: lithium batteries over $150 ship free, curbside, to the lower 48.
- Parts and chargers: free shipping when your cart subtotal is $150 or more.
- Lead-acid and AGM: free curbside truck freight to the lower 48, the same as lithium.
- Scheduling: the carrier calls the delivery phone number you give at checkout to set a delivery window. An adult needs to be there to inspect and sign.
Recommended products
All in stock now. Prices and stock update live on each product page.
- EPOCH 12V 300Ah Essential Series LiFePO4 Battery (3.84kWh) (12V 300Ah LiFePO4, Group 31 footprint, 58 lb, internal heating for cold charging)
- Interstate 31M-AGM 12V Group 31M AGM Dual Purpose Marine Battery – 925 CCA (12V 100Ah AGM, 925 CCA, Group 31M footprint)
- Dakota Lithium DL+ 12V 60Ah Dual Purpose, 1000 CCA LiFePO4 Battery (12V 60Ah LiFePO4, 1000 CCA, Group 24 footprint, 16.5 lb)
- Battle Born 100Ah 12V GC2 LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Batteries (12V 100Ah LiFePO4, Group GC2 footprint, 31 lb)
- Interstate 27M-AGM 12V Group 27M AGM Dual Purpose Marine Battery – 850 CCA (12V 85Ah AGM, 850 CCA, Group 27M footprint)
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EPOCH
EPOCH 12V 300Ah Essential Series LiFePO4 Battery (3.84kWh)
$1,249.00or 4 interest-free payments of $312.25
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Interstate
Interstate 31M-AGM 12V Group 31M AGM Dual Purpose Marine Battery – 925 CCA
$459.95or 4 interest-free payments of $114.99
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Dakota Lithium
Dakota Lithium DL+ 12V 60Ah Dual Purpose, 1000 CCA LiFePO4 Battery
$599.00or 4 interest-free payments of $149.75
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Battle Born
Battle Born 100Ah 12V GC2 LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Batteries
Price range: $799.00 through $1,049.00or 4 interest-free payments from $199.75
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Frequently asked questions
How should I store my battery over a Illinois winter?
Charge it fully first. Lead-acid and AGM batteries should stay on a maintainer or be topped up every month or two, because a discharged lead-acid battery can freeze and crack. Lithium batteries hold their charge for months; store them around half to full charge, with the battery switch off, somewhere they won’t be charged below freezing.
Who schedules the delivery?
The freight carrier calls the delivery phone number you enter at checkout to set up a delivery window. Someone needs to be there to inspect the shipment and sign.
Do you have a store or installer in Chicago?
No. We ship to Chicago from our store. Professional installation is a flat $99 per battery ($249 for a 24V or 36V lithium bank) anywhere from Venice to Gainesville, with no travel charge.
Is lithium shipping really free to Chicago?
Yes. Lithium batteries over $150 ship free by curbside truck freight to addresses in the lower 48 states, including Chicago.
Nearby locations
See every Illinois location on our Illinois shipping page, browse all shipping locations, or shop lithium, trolling motor, cranking and charger categories. Full terms are on our shipping policy.