Quote:
Originally Posted by MotorHead
Thank you for all the suggestions, I did not think it would be this complicated. I have no clue what CCA is 😊
You are 100% correct, application matters. This is a valet (in and out) boat that rarely may get trailered to a different lake.
I just want to make sure the boat and the bilge pumps start and run after an all day adventure on the lake listening to the radio, CD etc. Entertainment center and Garmin would be the only drain when the boat is not running.
Current battery 4+ years old, still holds charge though it is not giving me the warm and fuzzy feeling. Considering all the expenses, battery is a cheap item. I am curious about the brand and amp I should purchase. I have had good luck with Interstate and West Marine in the past but I have a feeling they are not the best.
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If your battery is not providing as much power as you need, the problem could very well be your charging system, not your battery. Boat engine alternators are notoriously under-sized and you may not be running your engine long enough at a fast enough speed to bring your battery up full charge. When this happens, the battery state of charge slowly drifts in a downward trajectory over a long period (see attached image). This not only reduces the amount of charge you have available, it also causes sulfation that decreases the total capacity of the battery overall.
The fix is to make sure the battery is fully charged after each outing. If the engine has not done the job, a charger can. I suggest adding a built-in marine charger and a shore power connection so you can plug the boat in now and then when it's rack stored. A battery state of charge monitor would tell you all the battery data you could ever want to know, but they are not cheap and would be overkill in a typical valet boat.