Battery Reccomendations

[UnorthodoxCreations]

I'm looking to update the aging batteries on my 2005 AR230. One battery is an Interstate 24 Dual Purpose that came with the boat when I bought and the other is a Diehard 24 Deep Cycle that I put in soon after buying the boat. I don't really care about brands but I don't know if I would be better off with both batteries being a deep cycle or a dual purpose or one of each. I don't have a big stereo or run power with the boat off much. I just want 2 good batteries for redundancy. I do have a dual battery charger on board that I plug into when the boat isn't being used for awhile.

 

[Babin Farms]

This is what I went with and so far so good

 

[DRock3d]

northstar/odyssey/x2 power are all great thin plate pure "virgin" lead batteries with good warranties. They aren't the cheapest but they charge up fast off of our weak stators

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I'm looking to update the aging batteries on my 2005 AR230. One battery is an Interstate 24 Dual Purpose that came with the boat when I bought and the other is a Diehard 24 Deep Cycle that I put in soon after buying the boat. I don't really care about brands but I don't know if I would be better off with both batteries being a deep cycle or a dual purpose or one of each. I don't have a big stereo or run power with the boat off much. I just want 2 good batteries for redundancy. I do have a dual battery charger on board that I plug into when the boat isn't being used for awhile.

You should plug your charger in as soon as you get home from an outing on the lake every single time.

@Babin Farms suggesting is great, FLA batteries are battle axes that can be beat up pretty good and will come back every time as long as you do not leave them in a state of partial discharge.

I have an Interstate Group 24 AGM dual purpose battery for my start battery. AGM batteries are good in that they are non maintenance, but, they generally have less amp hours and less cranking amps than a similar less expensive flooded lead acid batteries . The trick I’ve found, the hard way, to having a great Relationship with flooded lead acid batteries is to not over water them. There should be about 1/8th to 1/4” of “water” over the top of the plates, by watering them this way the likelihood of there being acid on the outside is very small.

 

[typhoon]

You should plug your charger in as soon as you get home from an outing on the lake every single time.

Why? My boat is stored in dry stack, is over three years old, and I have never had an issue with low batteries.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Because your boats charging system cannot charge the batteries properly. By not charging your batteries properly, it dramatically reduces the performance of your batteries, mainly your house battery, and also shortens their life span.

 

[typhoon]

Because your boats charging system cannot charge the batteries properly. By not charging your batteries properly, it dramatically reduces the performance of your batteries, mainly your house battery, and also shortens their life span.

Amazing how all of us that dry stack our boats don’t have these issues….

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Amazing how all of us that dry stack our boats don’t have these issues….

You do, you just haven’t realized it yet.

There have been multiple issues with “all of us that dry stack our boats” with low battery issues, poor battery performance and shortened battery life.

All I’ve done is bring you and others here a wealth of information from the battery manufacturers. If you choose not to follow the recommendations of the manufacturers that is your prerogative and will eventually become a “you” problem.

 

[Beachbummer]

I think it greatly depends on how much you draw the battery down and how many hours you run your boat between uses.

I would challenge the wording and say It's not a dry stack problem as much as it is a "More draining than charging problem."

 

[typhoon]

You do, you just haven’t realized it yet.

There have been multiple issues with “all of us that dry stack our boats” with low battery issues, poor battery performance and shortened battery life.

All I’ve done is bring you and others here a wealth of information from the battery manufacturers. If you choose not to follow the recommendations of the manufacturers that is your prerogative and will eventually become a “you” problem.

Doubtful. Sounds like typical “lake folk“ wives tails. There are over 500 boats in my stack, and I have never seen anyone leaving with their batteries to charge them while the boat is in storage. I’ll take my chances.

 

[WiskyDan]

I had my boat in a dry stack for four seasons and the deck hand who ran the stack said the most common issues were battery related. I’m pretty sure I shortened the life span of a $300+ Odyssey battery because I ran it down too low a few times but I guess that’s debatable.

FSH 210 Sport has given a lot of good advice about batteries and has a wealth of real-world knowledge when it comes to this topic so to compare his opinions to “lake folk wives tales” borders on stupidity.

 

[drewkaree]

Doubtful. Sounds like typical “lake folk“ wives tails. There are over 500 boats in my stack, and I have never seen anyone leaving with their batteries to charge them while the boat is in storage. I’ll take my chances.

"I've never seen it, so it's not an issue" seems like a valid theory in the face of information that can be found in spades on this very forum from any number of knowledgeable members. ?‍

@UnorthodoxCreations how old are the batteries that you have? It sounds like you bought the boat used, but how long ago?

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

 

[typhoon]

"I've never seen it, so it's not an issue" seems like a valid theory in the face of information that can be found in spades on this very forum from any number of knowledgeable members. ?‍

The Yamaha sites seem to be full of “knowledgeable“ members that don’t know squat about boats that are not used off of trailers in a non fresh water environment. I stand by statement , we use our boats all year long, there is no need to charge a battery while it is in short term storage.

 

[WiskyDan]

The Yamaha sites seem to be full of “knowledgeable“ members that don’t know squat about boats that are not used off of trailers in a non fresh water environment. I stand by statement , we use our boats all year long, there is no need to charge a battery while it is in short term storage.

OK, well now my interest is piqued - a few questions for you:

- What batteries do you have in your boat?
- Do you float often and crank up the tunes or put other stress on your house battery?
- Do you have extended periods of high throttle on the way back to your marina so the batteries have sufficient time to charge before it is put away?

From what I've read on the interwebs, you can damage a standard lead acid or AGM battery if they are consistently left in a partial state of discharge:

You should not leave an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery partially discharged. AGM batteries need to be fully charged to 100% to maintain their capacity. If you partially charge them, they may lose their ability to charge to full capacity over time. Regularly undercharging an AGM battery can also prevent it from recharging fully in the future. For example, if you consistently charge a 120Ah battery to 80%, it may never be able to fully recharge to 100% again.

Do you agree with this or do you have some expertise that would lead you to believe otherwise?

Signed,
Elderly Lake-Folk Wife

 

[drewkaree]

The Yamaha sites seem to be full of “knowledgeable“ members that don’t know squat about boats that are not used off of trailers in a non fresh water environment. I stand by statement , we use our boats all year long, there is no need to charge a battery while it is in short term storage.

Again, logic disagrees with your view, with nothing to back it up other than "dude, trust me", while arguing against information from manufacturers, brought to you by members here.

You've mistaken passing along manufacturers information as if it were opinions, from members here, yet double down on your own opinion, blind to the irony of knocking "knowledgeable" members, while posting unfounded theory.

You're clearly hell bent for election, digging your heels in on this, and I suspect we'll never hear from you if and when you have battery issues. The search function works, and would show you what you're looking for, but you don't lack for certainty of your opinion, so godspeed. ?‍

 

[MilesPrower]

The Yamaha sites seem to be full of “knowledgeable“ members that don’t know squat about boats that are not used off of trailers in a non fresh water environment. I stand by statement , we use our boats all year long, there is no need to charge a battery while it is in short term storage.

I drystack my Jeanneau in a marina with hundreds of other boats. It has five SLA batteries for various functions. The boat's twin F200 Yamaha outboards don't put out enough current to keep all five batteries charged when I'm using the boat as an overnighter. Therefore, I have to plug the boat into shore power in between uses. Before I got into the habit of plugging in my boat, I had to replace 3 out of 5 batteries because I'd run them down too low too many times — and my boat is less than 2 years old. I have Victron SmartShunts on the batteries now, so I can keep track of incoming and outgoing current, charge state, etc. Similar to what @WiskyDan stated above, the dockhands at my marina told me that they're often having to emergency-parallel the batteries to start some boats, because their batteries have become so depleted.

I also have SmartShunts on the two batteries of my 255 FSH, which I keep on my backyard lift. When I return to my dock after a fishing trip, I can see that my batteries are undercharged. On any given fishing run with my 255 FSH, half the time I'm running on my trolling motor (with its own bank of LiFePO4 batteries that are independent of the boat's stator-based charging), while my live wells, VHF+AIS transponder, radar, sonar, and other electronics are running on the engine batteries. My run back to my home dock using the FSH's engines doesn't provide enough charge to top off the two engine batteries, so I plug into shore power to charge the engine batteries first, and trolling batteries after that.

My 255 FSH, by the way, didn't come from the factory with separate Start and House batteries. It did come with two batteries, but both of them are Start batteries — one for each engine. And to operate the crappy factory stereo, I have to have both battery switches enabled.

 

[drewkaree]

Why? My boat is stored in dry stack, is over three years old, and I have never had an issue with low batteries.

Rereading this, I'm seeing this as possibly or probably the only thing you're focused on. "Low batteries" seems to be your concern, which makes sense about your stance.

It seems you aren't understanding/concerned with longevity, durability, ability to maintain a larger percentage of charge over time, avoiding loss of potential in batteries, etc, although these are all factors in reducing the chance of "low batteries". All of these things combine as "battery health" and contribute to the length of time before replacement is needed. Perhaps you're not concerned with having to replace batteries after a few years, or seeing the value in trying to maintain them in optimal health for as long as possible.

The information and steps members here are offering, often backed by or taken from battery manufacturers, are to help get the most or best performance from the setups on our boats. This will also lessen or eliminate either the number or frequency of "low batteries" that ARE an issue for other members.

Unless you happen to be a dockhand at a dry stack, it's highly improbable that you keep tabs on 500 boats, or are privy to such information. Info IS, however, readily available from battery manufacturers, as well as a whole internet full of useful information that isn't just hearsay in either direction. Paying attention to this when it's given, even if it comes from people you deride, may help you in the future. Your methodology is suspect, and others should give it the weight you put into backing it up with data.

 

[Beachbummer]

....Perhaps you're not concerned with having to replace batteries after a few years, or seeing the value in trying to maintain them in optimal health for as long as possible.
...

I consider a battery a wear item. I pay < $100 if they last 4 years I'm happily surprised. Normal age for replacement is 3-6 years for me.

What do you pay and how much do they last for you? This would be good info to grasp what others are losing by not following your strategy.

Thanks,

 

[drewkaree]

I consider a battery a wear item. I pay < $100 if they last 4 years I'm happily surprised. Normal age for replacement is 3-6 years for me.

What do you pay and how much do they last for you? This would be good info to grasp what others are losing by not following your strategy.

Thanks,

My AGM's for my cars run about $300 if I buy them myself and install, add another $100 if I take the car dealership up on their offer. I'm looking at doing a dual setup with another FLA that was offered to me, and replacing with 2 AGM's after current projects and purchases are funded and installed. I've heard from someone here doing lithium for their boats, and that price made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. My FLA and the one offered to me have been taken care of well, so if I can put off dropping $600 for another year, that would be great. If I can put that off another year, I'd be looking at Northstar AGM's, which are around $400+/each at this time. There's a high likelihood that I'll end up doing that.

The AGM's are supposedly going to give you 3X the life. My experience thus far in all the cars I've had is between 6-10 years, if taken care of. I can go direct to an Interstate battery dealer for free install vs the car dealership, and they also will check it for me periodically (it's between the house and work, so not out of the way for me). The 6 years is ongoing, and the wife's car is 8-9 years. The 10-year is in the truck that my kid now has, with no issues. I expect him to need to replace it, since he doesn't do squat to it. Past AGM's were easily 8+ year batteries, but I'd have to track down those cars to see how much longer than that.

I expect when I go to AGM's in the boat, either I'll die before they have to be replaced, or they'll go with the boat if I ever sell it, at the cost of a little maintenance and care.