Battery Decision

[bsh21wash]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for choosing a battery. I have a 4.3 OMC and only run a small radio. Im looking at Optimas but am unsure which one to choose?

Thanks

 

[jtexas]

Re: Battery Decision

get the marine cranking battery with the most CCA you can afford.

 

[JCF350]

Re: Battery Decision

Even the marine Optimas are "dual purpose" batteries. Just add what jtexas said about CCA.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Battery Decision

I am not hi-jacking this thread but I got to say the avatar picture on JCF350's post really says it all for me. Old truck Pulling an old boat Both of which probably run better than new and look even better. Now that's a guy who did it himself! My kind of rig!

 

[bsh21wash]

Re: Battery Decision

So should I go with a deep cycle battery or not?

 

[JCF350]

Re: Battery Decision

For what you need? Nope don't need a deep cycle. I just consider a dual purpose the better choice VS just a cranking battery in a single battery application.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Battery Decision

Your situation doesn't sound like a deepcycle application to me, but no doubt it would work for you.

I use deepcycle for cranking and know others who do too, but at any given time I'm running livewell pumps (2), bilge, anchor light, sonar, etc off the cranking battery for long periods. Deepcycles are functional as starting batts, if there's one with sufficient cranking amps, until that day when you have to do a whole lot of cranking.

If you like to anchor up in party cove all afternoon with the CD's blasting through a hi-power amp, I'd recommend adding a deepcycle battery, with the added benefit of redundancy.