Correct battery for 195 Bayliner Capri with 3.0 Merc in/outboard

[J-Alvey]

Folks, I keep killing the Walmart Marine battery (new). Im just curious, if my boat engine is basically a 3 liter automobile motor, why not install a good quality car battery (Redtop) instead of a marine/deep cycle battery? Is there a problem doing that?

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

the 3.0 was never an automotive engine

car batteries do not last in boats....too much pounding, plus the de-gassing issue

quit buying batteries at china-mart

you need a deep cycle only for trolling motors, for starting, you need either a combo or a starting battery

 

[J-Alvey]

Thanks, Scott. I'll look at Redtop batteries that are for made for Marine environment. I use the Redtops in all my classic cars and they never fail.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if your talking optima, they are junk.... been that way since JCI bought them about 19 years ago and move production to mexico.

seriously look at a sears diehard premium marine battery. its an enersys odyssey packaged as a sears (so much cheaper than buying enersys directly)

best marine batteries out there are Odyssey https://www.enersys.com/Boating_and_Marine.aspx?langType=1033

here is a good source of who makes what batteries (I keep it bookmarked)

http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/

 

[alldodge]

The boat takes a lot more pounding the a car and the vibration is hard on non-marine bats. I don't use Optima's but do use other AGM's and have had super luck with Lifeline and Odyssey (6 years and still going). Have just installed some Duracell (2+ yrs) AGM's from walmart and so far they are doing good.

Edit: and none of these are deep cycle

 

[J-Alvey]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll head to Sears tomorrow. Is there anywhere on this site specifically for Bayliner Capri owners? I have a few electrical questions. The battery compartment has two sets of cables: One set is thick POS/NEG cables that I assume go directly to the starter. The second set of POS/NEG cables are slightly smaller (thinner) gauge wires that appear to give power to the accessories on the boat. This is factory wiring. Wondered if using two batteries to run the two sets of wires would take the strain off of the starter battery connections.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll head to Sears tomorrow. Is there anywhere on this site specifically for Bayliner Capri owners? I have a few electrical questions. The battery compartment has two sets of cables: One set is thick POS/NEG cables that I assume go directly to the starter. The second set of POS/NEG cables are slightly smaller (thinner) gauge wires that appear to give power to the accessories on the boat. This is factory wiring. Wondered if using two batteries to run the two sets of wires would take the strain off of the starter battery connections.

This is a straight electrical question and should be posted in the electrical section. There is a bayliner section but unless your asking about how the wire is routed in a specific boat area, I doubt you get much input.

 

[Silvertip]

You solve nothing by adding another battery to run accessories. The engine still has to charge that second battery as well. Unless you have a killer stereo or some other high current draw accessories, two batteries are not necessary. If you are killing batteries, have the charging system checked.

 

[H20Rat]

I don't buy the pounding explanation. I have vehicles that ride far, far worse than a boat ever does. There is no worse battery service than a farm truck driven on washboard gravel roads its entire life, and I've yet to see a marine battery in that environment.

I've also had walmart batteries last 7+ years in a boat with zero hint of any capacity fade. Also, check who makes walmart batteries. Exact same manufacturer and plant as DieHard batteries. Johnson controls makes almost every common battery in the US.

(Disclaimer, I do tend to buy deep cycle batteries for boat use though, they have combination posts and terminals which work better in a boat. Deep cycles work well for starting use also.)