LI ION is the way forward the day they are decent price I am in. They charge faster than any other and you can discharge 75% before they stop and loose power. I am trying to get a second hand Li ion yacht battery as they are amazing. They are much smaller, lighter and have more capacity than gel or acid lead.
I have friend servicing catamarans in U She was telling me how they can reduce 1000amp hour batteries by 60 % of the weight of a 800amp hour battery bank. and give double the useable power. His web site is Just Catamarans take a look at the video of the fit.