Replacing my battery

[richvr6]

I have a 1996 Bayliner Capri 1700 LS and will be replacing the battery for this spring and would like to know anyone thoughts on the best battery to use and I also want to install an automatic battery charger also. Any thoughts would help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Replacing my battery

any marine 24 series battery will work fine. I like the cheapest (think Autozone). Why do you need a battery charger in a 17 footer? Normally they don't have any electronics that run 24X7.

 

[richvr6]

Re: Replacing my battery

any marine 24 series battery will work fine. I like the cheapest (think Autozone). Why do you need a battery charger in a 17 footer? Normally they don't have any electronics that run 24X7.

Ok sounds good to me and what would be a battery life for my kind of boat and I would like to make sure the battery stays charged after every use, what is your suggestion.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Replacing my battery

A observation about motor batteries in general.

EVERY boat or car I bought brand new has had a battery that lasted at least 6 years with no problems. The 2002 Chaparral 186 SSI is still the original one and cranks the cold carburator & dry carburator fine.

So for anyone to pick a replacement battery as good as Original Equipment Manufacturer ????

NEVER EVER happen. I have NEVER had ANY replacement battery last 4 to 6 years. Most of my friends agree.

They are all recycled lead. Some not good for 6 months.

Pray that you get lucky on the one you pick.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Replacing my battery

I've never had a diehard that didn't last 8-10 years.... Unless you are storing the boat for extended periods of time or running a trolling motor you don't need a charger. The engine should keep the battery charged when it is running just the same as your car or truck does.
If you have room and you want "the best" battery, then "the best" battery, is TWO batteries.

food for thought

 

[lkbum]

Re: Replacing my battery

I think the best batteries for Marine applications are Glass mat, like the Optima series http://www.optimabatteries.com/home.php They are completely sealed (good for smaller boats that get bumped around a good bit), last a lot longer and are less affected by cycling. I got mine on Amazon.com for about $150 each (vs $200 list). Do a quick search on net for optima batteries and review some of the tests.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Replacing my battery

I always thought DieHard marines were the best....until I tried my first AGM (glass mat). If you do the math ($/year), they come out on top all the time. But regardless of cost, they simply stand up better and won't let you down. You won't need a charger. Just buy a $3 multimeter from Harbor Freight and check it before you go out. My AGMs can sit for weeks and not lose and voltage.

If you want cheep, buy a Wally battery that lasts a couple of years. Then check the $/year and you'll be surprised how expensive they really are.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Replacing my battery

Not for nothing, but you aren't putting the battery in a boat that will be run miles and miles offshore, you don't have the equipment that will drain the battery under normal use, and it's not a million dollar yacht. Go down to Wal-Mart, and get the cheap marine battery, and you should be good to go for a few years. More than likely, the battery will outlast the time you own the boat. You'll probably want to upgrade in a couple of years. If you have a boomin' stereo system, then get a second battery for that. Otherwise, you'll be fne with just about any battery.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Replacing my battery

yup, I have an optima that has outlasted 2 dune buggies 3 chevys and is now in it's second jeep of mine..... it's at least 15 years old... maybe more because it was on it's 3rd or so vehicle when I got it used in the first dune buggy... every vehicle it has been in has been beat HARD off road... like jumped, rolled, broken regularly hard. I can't say anything bad about it at all. Yet I'm still too cheap to go out and buy one.:facepalm:

 

[richvr6]

Re: Replacing my battery

I always thought DieHard marines were the best....until I tried my first AGM (glass mat). If you do the math ($/year), they come out on top all the time. But regardless of cost, they simply stand up better and won't let you down. You won't need a charger. Just buy a $3 multimeter from Harbor Freight and check it before you go out. My AGMs can sit for weeks and not lose and voltage.

If you want cheep, buy a Wally battery that lasts a couple of years. Then check the $/year and you'll be surprised how expensive they really are.

I just looked into those batteries and there are several different ones to choose from, so which one will be the best and last longer.

 

[MPII]

Re: Replacing my battery

I've used Duralast Marine Deep Cycle and Interstate and have had good luck with them. I have a friend that swears by the optima series. I think the Durlast is the best bang for your buck. Just take good care of them and the should give you years of service.

 

[DanMC]

Re: Replacing my battery

I think the best batteries for Marine applications are Glass mat, like the Optima series http://www.optimabatteries.com/home.php They are completely sealed (good for smaller boats that get bumped around a good bit), last a lot longer and are less affected by cycling. I got mine on Amazon.com for about $150 each (vs $200 list). Do a quick search on net for optima batteries and review some of the tests.

Optima Blue Top all the way !.......they aren't affected by discharges,they hold a charge a lot longer,they will easily last 6,7 years and because of the spiral cell technology don't suffer from vibration like your typical lead plates cheapo batteries.In our cars (a BMW 3 series and a Honda Pilot) we have Optima Red Top and they never,ever let us down...even when cars are left unpluged at -40*Celsius.
Dan

 

[Beefer]

Re: Replacing my battery

Are you guys kidding? You think it's a good investment for him to put a $200+ battery in a $1500 boat? Come on.... :facepalm:

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Replacing my battery

EVERY boat or car I bought brand new has had a battery that lasted at least 6 years with no problems. The 2002 Chaparral 186 SSI is still the original one and cranks the cold carburator & dry carburator fine.

So for anyone to pick a replacement battery as good as Original Equipment Manufacturer ????

NEVER EVER happen. I have NEVER had ANY replacement battery last 4 to 6 years. Most of my friends agree.

They are all recycled lead. Some not good for 6 months.

I've had the opposite experience... Aftermarket batteries easily outlast the OEM crap, especially if you buy a decent quality battery. People often get shorter lives out of an aftermarket because of outside factors that are overlooked. Loose connections, corrosion, alternators going bad, bad grounds, etc... Those aren't generally factors when a vehicle leaves the mfg, but far too many people will just slap a replacement battery in without any other maintenance. (or worse yet, don't know how to charge a new battery correctly, that alone will shorten the life of the batt.)


As far as recycled lead, ALL batteries are made from recycled lead. Around 98% of the lead in any battery is recycled. It is melted down, and formed into new plates. There is zero difference in new vs recycled, there is nothing that is used up in the lead that affects quality.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Replacing my battery

Are you guys kidding? You think it's a good investment for him to put a $200+ battery in a $1500 boat? Come on.... :facepalm:

The guy asked what the best battery was... He didn't ask about investment advice or to have his boat appraised.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Replacing my battery

The "Best" battery is the least expensive one that is sized to do the job it was intended for.

If there are no bad boats, just bad owners.
There are no bad batteries, just ......

There are actually very few battery manufacturers.
Sears does not make their DieHard batteries any more than they make Craftsman tools or Kenmore anything.
Walmart certainly does not make their batteries.

Take care of your battery and it will take care of you.
Check the water level every few months, and keep it clean.
If the terminals are getting crusty, that means there is a leakage current across the terminals from salt or acid creep. Clean it!

If you are a northern boater, when the boat gets stored for the winter, pull the battery and keep it in your garage or someplace warm (cool).
Charge it for a few hours once a month.
A frozen discharged battery is soon to be an unreliable battery.

If you think this is way to much effort to spend on the maintenance of a battery, then be prepared to buy a new one often, and make sure you water towing policy is up to date.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Replacing my battery

Why do small outboard motors & small riding mowers EAT any battery ?

Because they USUALLY have NO voltage regulator.............They overcharge the life out of them in less than 2 years.

NO battery will take that treatment.
I adjusted & installed a relay to limit the maximum battery voltage in my Everrude 9.9 with electric start.

Companies DELIBERTLY screw people out of their money.

 

[Philster]

Re: Replacing my battery

Why do small outboard motors & small riding mowers EAT any battery ?

Because they USUALLY have NO voltage regulator.............They overcharge the life out of them in less than 2 years.

NO battery will take that treatment.
I adjusted & installed a relay to limit the maximum battery voltage in my Everrude 9.9 with electric start.

Companies DELIBERTLY screw people out of their money.

Clearly a conspiracy by small outboard manufacturers who are lining the pockets of battery manufacturers, but for some reason refuse to line the pockets of the companies that make voltage regulators (since they skip them entirely).

/sarcasm

To the poor OP: Get a decent battery and take care of it. Your engine will charge it. If you feel you use the radio so much that you want reserve power, run the radio or other gizmos off a second battery -- and a deep cycle second battery would be best for powering up various gizmos and getting recharged a lot.

.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Replacing my battery

The guy asked what the best battery was... He didn't ask about investment advice or to have his boat appraised.

Good response. Besides, if he does trade the boat in, why not keep the battery for the new boat. I've done that on 3 cars. Sold it with a cheep Wally battery and transferred the AGM to the new car.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Replacing my battery

I just looked into those batteries and there are several different ones to choose from, so which one will be the best and last longer.

I think the optima is probably the "best" one, but its even too expensive for my tastes.

I now have 6 vehicles (3 cars and 3 boats) equipped with East Penn Deka AGMs, plus my trolling motor runs on a full gel. Right off hand I can't remember the names of the dealers, but one is in Chicago and the other in Long Island. When I'm in the market for one I just google the model and buy from the lowest net price. The last one I bought was a $200 battery and I got it for $110 with free shipping with 3 day delivery.

My oldest is about 10 years, and the newest 2. Since I began the conversion I have never had to replace one.