12v gel batts: are these dead?

[videonerd]

I have a box of 12v lead-acid/gel batteries in storage in a cardboard box on a wood board on a cement floor in the basement for about 5 years now. I just opened them back up and they all read between 2-6v each, well under the 1v/cell limit. Are they dead dead? These are (were) new batts!

5x Portalac 12v, 7.2Ah (PE12V7.2)
8x Yuasa 12v 5.0Ah (NPH5-12)

Anybody want a whack at 'em? Free to anyone otherwise I'm bringing 'em to the toxic garbage depot. Yes I can ship, you pay actual charge.

[matkun]

If they were stored flat or without any 'topping' up for a long time, they've likely Sulfated and are near useless now, unless you want to invest time/money into desulfating them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfation

[videonerd]

Nuts. That's what I thought. Thanks!