Battery

swnoel · 04-30-2021, 07:44 AM

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.

If you've never had a problem before, why do you think you will now with the same battery?

Patofnaud · 05-01-2021, 03:41 PM

One of the rare times I fully agree with an FLL post, but yeah, Walmart for the batteries. Cheap and I've run them for years. Had 4 years on my last boat's batteries and they were still strong before I sold the boat and upsized. Then when I added a 2nd battery to the new boat, straight back to WallyWorld.

Now to the tech stuff. Like the chart shown above shows, on a boat that has a lot of electronics and does more sitting at the sandbar or low-speed cruising than it does on a high plane,,, you will kill your battery after a few weeks because it will never ever get changed more that used.

Case in point, my 'toon has 6 speakers with a 6 channel 540 watt amp plus a separate 10-inch sub with its own amp. Then toss in some rgb lighting and I would drain down a 'house' battery after a few day's use. Even though I was making sure to flip the A/B/Both switch to let it recharge every time I ran the engine.

(And nooooo, I'm not one of 'those' guys going through the channel rattling windows, power makes sound better even at lower levels.. )

What I ended up doing is mounting a decent solar panel on my stern wall and that trickle changes my batteries any day I am not using the boat, and while I am underway. No more need to plug into shore power to top the batteries off anymore. Ever.

This one I have been running for over 4 years.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Stay away from the Harbor Freight cheapo's. You need to spend about $100 for a decent array/controller.

fatlazyless · 05-02-2021, 05:58 AM

You know this 50-lb, $69.87 Walmart boat battery at the Gilford Walmart usually costs $79.87 and is now on sale, reduced by ten dollars, but you gotta bring in the old dead battery otherwise price goes up by twelve dollars.

05-02-2021, 05:58 AM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,764 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,016 Times in 740 Posts	You know this 50-lb, $69.87 Walmart boat battery at the Gilford Walmart usually costs $79.87 and is now on sale, reduced by ten dollars, but you gotta bring in the old dead battery otherwise price goes up by twelve dollars. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

05-01-2021, 03:41 PM	#2
Patofnaud Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Tilton/Paugus Bay Posts: 239 Thanks: 13 Thanked 64 Times in 45 Posts	One of the rare times I fully agree with an FLL post, but yeah, Walmart for the batteries. Cheap and I've run them for years. Had 4 years on my last boat's batteries and they were still strong before I sold the boat and upsized. Then when I added a 2nd battery to the new boat, straight back to WallyWorld. Now to the tech stuff. Like the chart shown above shows, on a boat that has a lot of electronics and does more sitting at the sandbar or low-speed cruising than it does on a high plane,,, you will kill your battery after a few weeks because it will never ever get changed more that used. Case in point, my 'toon has 6 speakers with a 6 channel 540 watt amp plus a separate 10-inch sub with its own amp. Then toss in some rgb lighting and I would drain down a 'house' battery after a few day's use. Even though I was making sure to flip the A/B/Both switch to let it recharge every time I ran the engine. (And nooooo, I'm not one of 'those' guys going through the channel rattling windows, power makes sound better even at lower levels.. ) What I ended up doing is mounting a decent solar panel on my stern wall and that trickle changes my batteries any day I am not using the boat, and while I am underway. No more need to plug into shore power to top the batteries off anymore. Ever. This one I have been running for over 4 years. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Stay away from the Harbor Freight cheapo's. You need to spend about $100 for a decent array/controller.