Boat Batteries

[PA FF]

What kind of batteries is everyone using? I have used marine batteries in the past and they only seem to last a season. I have been told to try a ?Yellow Top? battery made by Interstate. The yellow top battery is a dry cell and can be mounted even upside down. The Pontoon boats seem to use more battery power then other boats, due to all the accessories. I would also like to install a solar panel this year to try and keep everything charged up.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Boat Batteries

We have no idea what accessories you are running but the key to battery life is proper charging and maintenance (as in water level). If you have a lot of accessories on your boat you need lots of battery power and the better solution is to run all of the accessories from a separate Marine "Deep Cycle" battery and leaving the "starting" battery for the engine. Starting batteries are not intended to be routinely deeply discharged and no battery likes to be left in a discharged state for long periods. It is simply certain death for them. So, ideally you add a second battery, wire the accessories to it, and add an on-board "Smart Charger" that you can plug in at the dock. If you do not have shore power (house power) available you could add a solar panel but be aware they are expensive and large if you get one big enough to actually "charge" a battery. The engine will take care of the starting battery.
Most small solar panels do not have enough capacity to actually charge a battery and are considered battery maintainers. Large panels obviously take up a lot of real estate, are expensive and are a target for thieves. Depending on the size of the engine and its charging system capacity, the engine cannot generally be relied upon to keep two batteries charged up, especially if one of them is deeply discharged.

 

[mystro]

Re: Boat Batteries

Also consider what RV'er's learned years ago..2 6volt Golf Car batts wired to make one 12 have a massive reserve capacity--nothing else is even close for accessories, or trolling motors. The down side is they are very heavy (70lbs per) and alittle taller then conventional. Check out (as just an example) the Trojan T145 which by itself has 530 res min @25amps--now double that when you add the second to make a 12 volt system--- Trojans are just one of several excellent compaines that make GC Batts..so shop around.

 

[mystro]

Re: Boat Batteries

Also..you can get some nice Solar panels (for RV's) at Camping World..complete kits.

 

[Senderofan]

Re: Boat Batteries

I just received my three batteries from Sears. They are the Diehard Marine Platinum....two trolling motors ( 31M ) and one starting ( 34M ). I'm tired of having lead / acid batteries dying on me after a season or two...because they can't handle the vibration or bouncing from gravel roads or bigger waves.

The Marine Platinums are from the same company that makes Oddysee batteries. I've had two Oddysee's in my diesel pickup for four years....and they work fantastic!! Not affected by cold etc.

Good Luck...I'm sure there are many great choices out there.

Wayne

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Boat Batteries

What kind of batteries is everyone using?...

Well, I have to say that I have had great luck with Walmart Everstart batteries. I have a 500cca Cranking/Trolling that's over 6 years old (still will run the engine but won't go all night with lights and sonar anymore), and a group 29 deep cycle for the trolling motor. The price was right too.

Some people diss the Everstart batteries, but the cranking/trolling battery has been used hard and abused and took a lot of deep discharges before I got a motor with an alternator. Not saying the DieHard or premium batteries aren't good, but I am saying everstart has worked for me in my cars too.

I also don't buy the economy line batteries, either. The last 2-year battery I bought for my car almost made it 2 years. The higher-priced batteries are better.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat Batteries

I second that,
I have never had a problem with Wal-Mart batteries. I charge up my deep cycle that i use for trolling, when ever i use it a lot. The starting battery charges itself. One thing I did was hook up a switch to both batteries, so I can choose which one i want to start and be charged by the engine.
Always make sure you can not drain your starting battery with accesories, and then nothave enough juice to start your engine.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Boat Batteries

Not to steal the thread but does anybody know of/have a link to any 3rd party studies /tests that compare various brands of deep cycle batteries?
Consumer reports? Boating magazine? Somebody somewhere must have done one.

Sure would be helpfull to see actual stated specifications and test results side by side .

( I'm getting ready to buy a new DC too. Wondering on brand and if I should go with a single 34 or two 24 series to power my 55# troller.)

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat Batteries

I would just buy the cheap battery.
I don't think more expensive batteries will last much longer.

 

[PA FF]

Re: Boat Batteries

The problem I run into is that I don?t drive the boat very far before we stop, drop anchor and start to party. With the navigation lights on and stereo going, the battery drains pretty fast. I purchased a ?Battery Jumper Pack? and kept that onboard so we could start the motor and get back to land. I plan on putting a dual battery setup with a selector switch on this year. I hope this will help because I was towed in 2 times last year and that wasn?t much fun. The marina that I was at last year did not have electric so a charger was out of the question. This year I will be keeping the boat at home so I will just charge it prior to going out

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat Batteries

PA FF:
are you boating on the Susquhana above the conowingo dam?
That place has more pontoons than I have ever seen anywhere else.
I go to broad creek sometimes.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Boat Batteries

FF, you definitely would benefit from two deep cycle batteries.
The solar panel thing isn't going to give you enough juice to put a dent in things.
It sounds like you should check and charge the battery before heading out.
The radio isn't going to chew up that much unless you have a custom stereo with a jillion watt amp. You're only going to use lights while underway to and from. What else are you running? I can't imagine 12 volt appliances.

 

[PA FF]

Re: Boat Batteries

Bowman, last year we were on the Susquehanna River at City Island. That is were Interstate 83 crosses. This year we want to stay on the Susquehanna but down near TMI the power plant . City Island is getting very busy with boat traffic. When you are out during the 4th of July you can walk from shore to shore on boats and never get wet.

Mthieme, I keep my 1 white light on while we are sitting still, as bowman stated there are alot of boats so I don't want to get hit. As for the stereo, it isn't anything spectacular. I think my problem is starting and only running for about 5-10 min. then shutting it off. I try to take it for a good run about every 2-3 times I am out. The area isn't very good for running long distances but there are some fun islands and some good bars.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Boat Batteries

I night fish for crappies and my everstart battery never gave me problems.
I usually have my radio on and a little over 100 watts of light hanging over the side
I'm going to have to get a new one for this summer and when I looked the 75 amp and the 115 amp where within a few dollars of each other
and i only use the cranking battery for cranking, bilge pump, and running lights, everything else is the deep cycle.
jamie

 

[AngelC]

Re: Boat Batteries

I've had great luck with my Blue Top Optimas. They last all season and never die. I use one just for my stereo or any other accesories I want to use on the boat and the other is a starter crank batt. I've never had a problem with them "knock on wood"

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Boat Batteries

If the battery is topped off before you leave the ramp, the 5 min run is fine for replacing the juice you used starting the motor. Running it longer will not charge the battery any more. It has a fixed capacity. From the time you stop and power up lights, tunes etc, you are now draining the battery. A good series 27 or 31 deep cycle should support that small load for 1/2 the night anyway. 2batteries would get you fat. That said, the battery(s) will need to be charged fully ASAP after your night out. You can't run two trip on a battery and expect to hold a full charge when you get around to it. They get memory problems if discharged and left in that state.
If it were me, I'd invest in two brand new batterys (1 deep cycle, 1 duel purpose) in the biggest size I could fit. You know when you swith to the second/starting battery, the party is nearly over!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat Batteries

FF,
I have never been north of the Holtwood Dam.

South of there it is usually very dead, almost creepy.

But I am always looking for a new island to camp on.

 

[mystro]

Re: Boat Batteries

Cranking power is not what your looking for..it means nothing, to run a trolling motor and/or accessories..you want Reserve Capacity, the bigger the better..Golf-Car Batts are best because of their huge power reserve but whatever you get..don't use the starting batt for trolling.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat Batteries

bottom line, you need one battery JUST for starting the engine, nothing else. Buy other batteries for accesories. Don't hook up assessories to the starting battery.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Boat Batteries

You need to make sure that your charging system is working properly. Take the batteries in and have them checked to see that they are good. They should last a lot longer than you are saying. I run my stereo a lot longer and never have any problems. I do have dual batteries but the one is just for accessories and I have had my boat out of the water and buy the camper and listen to the stereo for hours. I get mime at Wally World.