Maintenance - Battery choices

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Battery choices

Printed From: Laser 28 International Class Association
Category: Laser 28 General
Forum Name: Maintenance
Forum Description: All the things to care for your boat
URL: http://www.laser28.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=704
Printed Date: 08 May 2024 at 4:42am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Battery choices

Posted By: Winner
Subject: Battery choices
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 9:36am

My batteries appear to be pooched, so will likely be getting new ones.

As a non-battery/electrical expert, I've so far done enough reading to sufficiently confuse me further (flooded, AGM, etc etc).

I'm wondering if anyone has specific recommendations for batteries? Specific types (are AGM worth almost triple the cost of traditional flooded?); do people buy a separate "starter" battery for the motor and a deep cycle battery for the house?

Thoughts welcome.

-------------
Chris
Eclipse #240
Thunder Bay, ON

Replies:

Posted By: fatjohnz
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 10:13am

there are a lot of opinions on this subject.... this is just another one.
- I had a pair of AGM which were a bit a heavier and more expensive than flooded. We drained them to death on a couple of long distance races and they never seemed to fully recover and had to be replaced after a couple years.
- After that, I switched my battery config to the smallest flooded batteries that my local marine store carries. I happen to run a pair but I know many racers just carry one. The engine starts easier on 2 and we use just one for the stereo and other accessories while racing.
- Since I do happen to carry a pair, I have thought about looking for a pair of smaller/ligher deep cell batteries but haven't done the research yet.
john

Posted By: Ron Waterson
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 11:03am

My personal experience with AGM is great. I have flooded on my Laser that came with purchase of boat, but my Cal has had the same AGM for 8 years. The thing with AGM's is they don't like to be lonely....so if you keep a trickle charge/solar panel on them almost all the time they hold up great. I've never taken mine off the Cal since I installed it. Mine is what some people call a "true" AGM, so no CCA to speak of. It's strictly a house battery.

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Hull 147 - Angel's Share

Posted By: Winner
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 2:18pm

I just had my batteries load tested at the local parts store. One of them is pooched (rated at 342 CA). The other is fine (rated at 754 MCA).

So now I have two questions:

1) I understand that AGM batteries are better than flooded lead/acid, but are they really worth triple the cost? I can replace the lead/acid battery twice as often and still be out ahead.

2) Is it OK to just replace one of the batteries at a time? I read somewhere that both batteries should be replaced at the same time.

Thanks.

-------------
Chris
Eclipse #240
Thunder Bay, ON

Posted By: Bill Layton
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 2:40pm

I like AGM too but I run regular lead/acid battery in my boat. Changing 1 battery at a time is fine. My last delco voyager deep cycle battery lasted me 19 years!! I used it for starting and cruising. So I bought another one. With lead/acid batteries one must be sure their battery box is screwed to the floor and the cover strapped in place. This way it won't flip over and drain into the boat. Which I have seen many times over the years.

Posted By: Winner
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 2:46pm

Hard to believe but my battery that is still good has a 2001 date stamp on it! It's a Sears Die Hard Marine battery. They don't even make them any more.

The pooched one is a Motomaster Nautilus from 2009. Obviously not recommended...

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Chris
Eclipse #240
Thunder Bay, ON

Posted By: Ron Waterson
Date Posted: 01 May 2015 at 8:49pm

BTW..There is a guy that goes by Maine Sail in numerous sailing forums that seems to be very knowledgable concerning boat batteries. You can find him in many forums, but here http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=124973 is a lot of AGM battery info.

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Hull 147 - Angel's Share

Posted By: Winner
Date Posted: 04 May 2015 at 8:48am

I was at an auto parts store yesterday and the guy was trying to sell me a battery that looked to be for automobiles, but otherwise it looked fine.

Which raises the question: for flooded lead/acid batteries, what is the difference between marine vs regular car batteries?

Followup: Just found this article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commuting/the-difference-between-car-and-boat-batteries/article1372050/

But the guy at the store yesterday said the battery he was showing me had deep cycle properties as well. I don't remember the amp hour stats on it though. I'll need to go back and check.

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Chris
Eclipse #240
Thunder Bay, ON

Posted By: khardy
Date Posted: 04 May 2015 at 4:36pm

in my opinion the AGM batteries are worth the cost. I've got one in my boat that's about 7-years old and it has never once failed me. I've failed it when I left the lights on for two weeks. But even then I just hand cranked the motor and it charged the battery sufficiently after about 2-hr of running the engine at 1/4 throttle. I only have the one battery.

Posted By: frfletch
Date Posted: 05 May 2015 at 11:59pm

I use the AGM Optima. I have two of them, one is a 24 class, the other is a 27. I only use the 24 for racing and on my once a year 3 week cruise I through the 27 in as well. I like the AGM's, but I like anything that works. I did not pay a fortune for my Optima's, though I could have if I wasn't careful. The local marine shops and auto supply centers wanted $400+. but I found a battery shop who happily sold the small one to me for CAD$225 and the larger one for $240. For regular use I only use the 24 including short multi day cruises etc. Now for $700 you can get a lithium ion battery that will easily start your boat and weighs only 2.2 kg. I doubt they would let you take it to the start line at the Laser North Americans though. On the other hand, if you are a dedicated racer, it is not that expensive a method to get rid of about 55 lbs on the boat.