Battery for a mercury 50

[tgpfloat]

I have a 1978 50 hp out board that i am trying to bring to life.
What kind of batery do I need to start the motor.
A deep cycle marine or will any car battery due?

Thanks

 

[dex76]

Re: Battery for a mercury 50

either type will start the motor but deepcycle batterys are better to put in the boat

 

[dex76]

Re: Battery for a mercury 50

an article i found on http://www.thefishingline.com/marine.htm
CAR vs. BOAT. One of the most commonly asked questions I receive is, "can I use my car battery in my boat?" Well, this is one of the oldest misconceptions in the boating game and the truth is you can use a car battery for your boating needs, but it certainly won?t last very long!! Probably not even several trips!

The real truth of the matter? There is a big difference in the two with the first, being the location of the lead plates within the batteries. In a marine battery, they have taken the plates that cause electricity and elevated them so as the boat and battery bounce around, they don?t short out. Secondly, they use a special bonding process, so as things bounce and fall around inside the battery, things stay put. If you use a car battery, with the bouncing a boat and battery, take it would soon die out on you and the last thing we want is a call to Sea Tow.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery for a mercury 50

If you are just trying to start the engine, any battery with 350 CCA or higher will do the job. doesn't matter if its the one out of your car, a dual purpose (marine starting/deep cycle) or a deep cycle. However, if the battery you are looking for will be installed in the boat, then you want a Marine Starting battery or a Marine Dual Purpose (deep cycle/starting). A car battery will work and probably last a long time unless this is a small boat that will get banged around. Then, as pointed out, it will live a short life -- or maybe not. As for capacity, the smallest should be 350 CCA but batteries are cheap so install the largest capacity you have room for. You didn't mention the type of boat you have nor the type of accessories you will powering so that also determines the type of battery you should have. If you have a fish finder, lights, and perhaps a radio, a combo starting/deep cycle will be fine.