Exide batteries short life?

[Rounded_nut]

I do have an apu, cables look good, charges at 14.0 volts, I use a start capacitor so I can't say if they were getting weak. I was planning on replacing them in awhile with deep cycles but have not looked into it enough. When the batteries were replaced I did disconnect the line for the jump posts, don't know how much truth there is to it but I've heard they can short.