Do I Need Two Batteries For My Boat
Many boats use a starting battery and a house battery in conjunction to power all the electrical loads out on the water.
However, keeping two heavy and bulky batteries on your boat is not always feasible, especially if your boat is too small. For these situations, there is an alternative solution to your needs of electrical power on the water:
Dual-Purpose Batteries
As the name suggests, dual-purpose batteries are capable of powering your starting as well as your electronics. These batteries include active lead paste chemistry and thicker and larger plates that contain more antimony than other types of batteries.
The construction of these batteries allows them to undergo deep discharge cycles that other starting batteries simply dont handle well. Thus, you can use them to start your boat engine AND power all your electronics.
The drawback to dual-purpose batteries is that they are generally more expensive than either starting or deep-cycle batteries. They also have lower power capacity than a similarly sized deep cycle battery.
However, despite the drawbacks of dual-purpose batteries, they offer an extremely valuable power solution for certain applications. If you have a small powerboat like a runabout, space is of primary concern.
Think About The Warranties Included
You also have to think about the included warranties when purchasing the power cell. Aside from it can keep you from buying incompetent batteries that wont be able to keep up with your needs. It will also help you save a lot of money in the future because it can reduce the maintenance cost and then it can provide a lot of benefits like manufacturers support, free repairs, and even replacements.
Following this guide will help you come up with a smart decision and pick an excellent investment for your boating needs. It will make sure the battery you are going to purchase can keep up with the demands of your boat as well as its applications. It will also make sure that you are going to get the best suitable power cell for your boat which you can consider as an excellent investment. So keep these significant aspects in mind because it will help you a lot if you are going to look for a new power cell for your boat or fishing vessel.
Determine The Needs Of Your Boat
If you are trying to find the right suitable power cell for your boat, you first have to determine the entire electrical load of your boat and the current that it needs to start its engine. As we mentioned above, your marine battery will have to handle two tasks. Starting your boats engine and running its entire electrical grid. If you have an estimated value of these two things, then you will have an idea of what kind of battery you need to handle these two crucial tasks.
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Best Overall: Odyssey 31m
Courtesy of Amazon
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Expensive
For bigger engines that require extra cranking power to get started, choose Bass Pro Shop’s X-900 Pure Lead AGM Battery in the Group 31 size. A dual-purpose battery capable of deep cycling to run your trolling motor and electric appliances once the engine has started, it stands out for its high CCA rating of 1150 amps. In warm weather, it can provide up to 1370 amps of electrical current. It has a 220-minute reserve capacity, keeping you out on the water longer, and a shock-resistant AGM design that works well in rough conditions.
Lab testing has proven that the battery is capable of 900 recharge cycles at a 50% depth of discharge. It can be stored for up to a year without recharging, and when you do charge it, it charges five times faster than regular wet-cell batteries. It is protected by a reinforced plastic housing and a three-year warranty.;
Dimensions: 6.77 x 9.78 x 13 in. | Weight: 65 lbs.
What About Trolling Motors
If you have a trolling motor on your boat, you will require usually two to three deep-cycle batteries to power it. Unlike gasoline-powered engines, trolling motors run on stored battery power.
To keep your boat running throughout your adventure on the water, you need to buy those deep-cycle batteries with a large enough storage capacity.
And have the trolling motor wired up separately on its own circuit.
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Deep Cycle Marine Battery Design Features
Thats where deep cycle marine batteries come in. A deep cycle marine battery, or trolling battery, has several design differences. One key difference is the battery plate: It has fewer, thicker plates allowing the battery to provide continuous power output over long time periods. Deep cycle batteries can be entirely drained and recharged many times over,; where as cranking batteries can’t. Deep cycle marine batteries are; much less likely to overheat since their thicker plate construction can withstand high temperatures during heavy currents.
Understanding The Different Types Of Batteries
For marine use, always purchase marine batteries. They can be charged and drained multiple times and when buying, ask your retailer how many times they can be recharged. Battery efficiency is the batterys ability to deliver high current without drop offs. That is a strong criteria for purchase in my book.;
Lead acid or flooded-cell batteries were the norm for years, but have a much shorter life cycle than newer technologies and can be extremely heavy. Flooded-cell batteries have to be checked routinely for fluid levels and can be filled using distilled waterthey are typically filled with sulfuric acid initially. Caps should be securely placed on the cells and compartments should be vented due to gases they produce when charged. ;
New technology includes Deep Cyle AGM batteries; these are built much differently. They utilize an ultra-fine glass mat between two plates, theyre heavier for deep cycle batteries and theyre saturated in battery acid and are practically immune to vibration issues.;
Lead acid batteries are not as effective because they can have issues with vibration. Gel cell batteries are similar to the AGM, but utilize a dense gel paste instead of an electrolyte liquid.;
Deep cycle batteries simply have heavier plates.;
Lithium ion is a new addition to the marine industry. Many come with a lifetime warranty which certainly adds to the price. Most anglers who go this route will move their batteries boat to boat when buying a new boat.;
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Optima 34m Bluetop Marine Starting Battery
The Optima 34M BlueTop Marine Starting battery has a 100-minute reserve capacity in addition to a CCA rating of 800A, which is more than enough to start most engines even on cold days.
Just like the Optima 31M, this battery features the same Spiral Cell technology used in the Optima 31M battery, delivering more power than other flat-plate batteries.
It also takes less time to recharge. Its self-discharging rate is quite slow and it can hold for quite a while.
This makes the battery suitable for infrequent boaters.
Lastly, they do offer a warranty.
What We Like
We’ll Get You Up And Running In No Time
With Ionic deep cycle lithium marine batteries powering your boat, you’ll be able to spend more time on the water doing the things you love. No more worrying about whether your lead-acid battery is charged and ready to go or wondering what level the charge is at. Lithium marine deep cycle batteries are fast, efficient, lightweight, and easy to use.
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How To Use And Setup The Bass Boat Battery Correctly
Understanding how to use and set up the bass boat battery is crucial. The batteries undergo chemical reactions; therefore, always set them up very carefully. It is advised to use a tutorial and read the battery manual before putting one in the bass boat. Here is a checklist on how to use and set up the bass boat batteries:
Keep the Batteries Fully Charged
Even when the batteries are not used, you must keep them fully charged.
Make Sure That You Have a Breaker
When you install/setup a Bass Boat Battery, check that every trolling battery has a breaker. You can use a breaker with 50 amp power. Some bass boat batteries have a pre-installed breaker. Thats why you should check it first. In case your battery already has it, look for the negative and positive leads.
Attach the Negative & Positive Leads
If you are using multiple batteries, say three batteries, attach the positive lead of battery 2 with battery three and its negative charge to battery 1. Then take a pre-made jumper and hook the battery two positives with battery three negatives using the jumper. Take another jumper and attach it to battery one positive and battery two negatives. In short, you will make six connections for three batteries one being the host, the other being the lead.
Install a Precision Charger with Four Banks
Faqs About Marine Batteries
Q: What type of battery do I need for my boat or vessel?
A: Marine batteries have two major applications: starting batteries deliver power for starting the engine, while deep cycle batteries power up devices and appliances onboard.
These two uses have different needs, which is why there are distinct battery designs. Starter batteries serve the purpose of cracking and getting the engine running with a burst of Cold Cranking Amps .
They are then quickly recharged by the alternator, but are not meant to be discharged deeply as it could cause damage. Deep cycle batteries on the other hand serve to deliver power over a longer period of time and can be discharged far more.
They are recharged by shore power, solar power or using a generator.
Q: Can a deep cycle battery start an engine?
A: In theory, yes, depending on the engine and the battery. Typically, deep cycle batteries deliver less cold cranking amps, but might still be sufficient to start an engine with their current.
However, deep cycle marine batteries are not designed for this task and you would not be wasting a good battery. If you have room for only one battery on your boat, you should get a hybrid or dual purpose model.
Q: Do I need more than one battery?
A: If you want to power up appliances onboard, you require at least a starter battery and one deep cycle battery. According to your power needs, you can add more deep cycle batteries.
Q: How do I store marine batteries?
Q: Is there any battery maintenance required?
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Picking The Correct Size
Having an underpowered or overpowered battery for your marine vessel can damage your electronic equipment. Choosing the correct size based on the manufacturers recommendations is always the go-to route.
First, you need to determine the exact amount of power requirements for your boat. There are two different types of batteries for your marine vessel, the starting battery, and the deep cycle battery. The standard is one engine that takes one starting battery and one deep cycle battery; if you have duel engines, then it adds one deep cycle battery.
To figure out your boats Amp Hour requirement, you are going to need to create a spreadsheet using the formula W=IV or Watts is equal to amperage multiplied by voltage. ;To figure out the amp hours required, you take the average amps per hour used.; ;A 10-watt appliance on a 12-volt system would need 1.2 Amps and, if turned on for 10 hours, would require 12 amp hours to run.
The Battery Council International has provided a class chart for battery sizes to pick the correct one for your boat. ;You need to select the battery setup based on the maximum estimated amount of AH that you will need to operate your boat. Totaling your AH that need replacing, will help you figure out how many deep cycle batteries you need to be wired in parallel to run the sailboat.
Thin Plate Pure Lead And Lithium Batteries
New technologies will require new ways of thinking about your boat’s battery system. NorthStar TPPL batteries are among the most advanced AGM batteries in the world. They’re made from 99.99% pure lead that’s rolled into thin plates. Combining the pure lead’s low electrical resistance and greater surface area from more and thinner lead plates, they can accept much higher charging amperage than typical AGM batteries. Not only do they charge incredibly quickly, but they’re capable of 400 charge/discharge cycles with an amazing 80% depth of discharge.
These batteries add intriguing options for long distance cruisers. Instead of installing a 1000Ah battery bank and running your diesel for six hours, you can install a 500Ah TPPL bank and charge more frequently, but faster. Or you can forego a genset and install one or more very high-output alternatorsturning your propulsion engine into a high-output charging machine. Your diesel will run for short periods but with a high load .
Lithium/nickel/cobalt/manganese batteries, like those used in Torqeedo electric outboards, weigh less than lead acid batteries, can be discharged 800 times to 100% depth of discharge, and can be recharged in a little over an hour. They excel as battery banks in electric boats, as well as for other high-performance battery tasks.
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What Size Battery Do I Need For My Boat
If you are a boat owner, then you are probably wondering. What type of marine battery do I need or What size of battery do I need for my boat? Selecting the right type and size of battery are crucial to making sure that it can keep with all of the boats needs. It will make sure that the battery is capable supplying enough power to the boat to allow it to function the way you like it and the way it is expected to be.
However, selecting the right type and size of the battery can be an overwhelming task due to the wealth of available choices in the market today. If you have the knowledge about batteries and if you know what want, looking the best suitable battery can make it easier. But if you dont have any idea of what to look for in battery, then you might be in trouble. Fortunately for you, this guide will provide you all the information you to walk you through the process of picking the right marine power cell for your boat.
You have to keep in mind that, marine batteries dont last forever and at some point, they will lose their capabilities to store charge. In cases like these, you will only have two options, purchase a new replacement or try to recondition your battery.
Now to help you in your search for the right battery for your boat, you may want to stick around and continue reading through this guide. It will feed you all the details and information that you need to come up with a smart decision and pick the right suitable battery for your needs.
Volt Trolling Motor And Starter Battery
Lets say you need to power a 36V, 112lb thrust trolling motor , and youre looking for a lithium battery for starting your 250hp outboard and running two large depth finders as well. Heres your best options:
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For 36V trolling systems, the majority of our customers use our;Ionic deep cycle 12V 50Ah lithium marine battery,;which provides plenty of reserve energy. But you can also use our;36V 50Ah battery.;The choice is yours!
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For the starter battery, our bass boat customers typically go with our recommended;Ionic deep cycle 12V 125Ah lithium marine battery.
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How To Choose The Best Cranking Battery For Your Bass Boat
AubreyBass Boat accessories, Bass Boatsbass boat accessories, bass boats, best cranking battery, canoe accessories, cranking battery, Cranking Marine Battery
You need the best cranking battery for your bass boat. Why? It is an essential asset to your fishing expedition, as without you cannot even begin.
An excellent cracking battery offers the much-needed power in uncommon weather conditions. However, if you are unsure where to start, continue reading the post to learn everything you need to know about cracking batteries. Bossed, you get to choose one among many for your bass boat.
How To Hook Up Dual Batteries In A Boat
Sometimes, there is such a huge power requirement on your boat that you simply cannot fulfill it with just one battery. You have to connect two or more batteries instead to sufficiently power the boat. You usually come across this issue with bigger boats that have more than one engine or lots of electronics.
Connecting two or more batteries to your boat engine is simpler than it sounds. The procedure is the same for connecting two batteries, or three, or more. You just have to follow these simple steps.
- Secure all batteries on your boat.
- Take a heavy gauge wire like a 4 or 2 GA, and bridge all of the negative terminals of the batteries together.
- Install the switch in a suitable location, and then connect each positive terminals of the batteries to the switch. One positive to terminal 1 and one positive to terminal 2. Make sure that the switch is in the off position.
- Take a wire, and connect the output of the switch to the positive terminal of your engine.
- Use another wire to connect the negative terminal of your engine to the negative terminal of any of the batteries. .
There, you are done! It is really just as simple as that.
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Lithium Benefits For Your Bass Boat
Lithium batteries have a number of advantages making them the perfect choice for the avid angler
RELiON lithium batteries provide more power than lead-acid batteries and are typically half the weight. Boosting both performance and agility on the water.
Time to charge is a major factor of each and every battery. Lithium batteries charge significantly faster than lead acid. Plain and simple. Our lithium batteries can be charged in as fast as an hour, but we recommend using a charge rate that charges them in 2-5 hours.
No longer do you have to worry about fully charging your batteries before use. With lithium power a partial state of charge will not damage the health of your battery or its long-term performance.
Lithium batteries have more hours of power. With 25-50% higher capacity than lead acid batteries with full power throughout discharge lithium batteries eliminate the voltage sag that is all too common with lead acid and will keep you on the water.
Lithium batteries can handle a wide variety of conditions and are even 2.5x more efficient at low temperatures than lead-acid while being able to safely operate up to 149°F .
Lithium batteries are maintenance free. Lithium batteries last up to 10 times longer than their lead acid counterparts while still providing 80% capacity after 2000 cycles.