What kind of batteries should I use?

[blackleytroy]

I have a 1992 Celebrity 220 Cuddy with Mercruiser 350 mag. It has 2 batteries and I want to replace them. My question is "What kind of batteries should I be using?" The current batteries are surely not the original, and may not even be the correct type, and they are both starting batteries. Should they be replaced with regular "starting/cranking" batteries, or should they both be "deep cycle" batteries, or one of each? One for starting and one for electronics (thought of cranking on switch 1, and deep cycle on switch 2, but also worried about having 2 different types of batteries)?
Have stereo, fish finder, and thats about all, nothing that uses too much 12v power (lights in the cuddy, but they don't get used).
Thanks in advance

 

[achris]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Two BIG starting batteries....

 

[stonyloam]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Chris +++

 

[jopes]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

biggest that will fit in the battery area.

 

[dollarten]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

I made the mistake of not unhooking my battery last fall (oops) and the voltage was down to 4.0volts . It took a charge and the three year old battery came back to full charge and passes a load test So, my choice would be a pair a Deep Cycle Interstate batteries They are a little pricey but in my estimation , well worth it . Go for the group 27 size , not much more money but a few more lead plates I now have a Battery Tender now hooked up to it which will add more lifetime to the battery A boat has a very poor ground in it' electrical system and will always have a slight draw on the batteries

 

[CStradling24]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Optima batterys for sure. I have the yellow tops in my car and truck, the blue tops are meant for marine applications. Not to pricy at autozone anymore.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Ah...the ol' starting versus deep cycle debate! Love it. I went from a low lifetime depleted deep cycle (too many high amp starting surges) to a starting battery and don't regret it. My starting battery of the same size has higher CCA.....and it is only used for starting. Imagine that. (and it was a tad bit cheaper).

 

[achris]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

I made the mistake of not unhooking my battery last fall (oops) and the voltage was down to 4.0volts . It took a charge and the three year old battery came back to full charge and passes a load test.

You got lucky. Most batteries won't recover from that.

So, my choice would be a pair a Deep Cycle Interstate batteries

Err, NO... He needs CRANKING batteries, not deep cycle.. If you start drawing high current (like, cranking the engine!!) from deep cycle batteries the plates will overheat and buckle.

They are a little pricey but in my estimation , well worth it . Go for the group 27 size , not much more money but a few more lead plates I now have a Battery Tender now hooked up to it which will add more lifetime to the battery

Yep, me too... $50 unit and I know my batteries are good to go at moments notice.

A boat has a very poor ground in it' electrical system and will always have a slight draw on the batteries

???? No, a boat engine has a very GOOD ground. If you have a draw on the batteries with everything OFF, then you have a problem somewhere. The only thing that should be drawing power is the memory circuit of a commercial radio receiver (stereo if you prefer), and that's only about 2mA. The average battery will keep that going for, oh, I don't know... 3000 hours!!! If you want to talk about things drawing power, the average car is dreadful! Mine draws 170mA doing nothing!

Chris.......

 

[Failproof]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

I run deep cycle/starting battery . Brand? Kirkland signature. They work great, and a group 27 was less than 100 bucks with tax.

 

[Technorunner]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

As stated above from Chris as big as you can fit in there. I moved my trimpump and tank to fit a 225AH batteri i can almost driv my boat on the starter with it . I if im not misstaken it could deliver 1800 Amps in the starting moment. Not like i need it but its a cool sticker on the batteri lol.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

I run deep cycle/starting battery . Brand? Kirkland signature. They work great, and a group 27 was less than 100 bucks with tax.

Hmmm.. I'll have to look into that... Is that a starting battery with a few extra plates? I wonder how the starting surges affect the deep cycle feature...
KB

 

[wrestling coach]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

I have two Group 27 marine cranking batteries from NAPA with a Perko switch. You may need bigger battery trays or boxes but worth it. I run two electric downriggers, electronics and radios with no problems.

Dennis

 

[dollarten]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Wow , I sure started a firestorm hear . AS far as cranking batteries go , I think a marine engine has to be one of the easiest engines to start . That is if it is a gasoline engine Summertime temperatures , not trying to start a hot engine , as in a race car application . Lower compression , ideal weather. Not much more than your average collector car would draw for amps while cranking , about 150-175 amps Now lets say we are trying to start a big diesel engine in cold weather where it has to crank for a while to get running . That would be a need for cranking battery (s) . Good point on the solids plates warping in a deep cycle battery though . I never would have thought of that , but makes lot of sense . Where as the sponge plates are not as likely to warp

 

[Don S]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Just like asking which oil you should use, or which kind of boat you should own, or which truck to pull the boat with, everybody has a personal choice of batteries, and each person knows what that best choice is.

For starting the engine, here are the minimum ratings Mercruiser recommends for it's carbed engines.
Note: Theses are numbers for a STARTING battery, not a dual purpose or deep cycle.

 

[Failproof]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Hmmm.. I'll have to look into that... Is that a starting battery with a few extra plates? I wonder how the starting surges affect the deep cycle feature...
KB

They are made by johnson controls, and according to the website it is a deep cycle with a starting grid (hybrid). MCA of 750; reserve of 115Ah. It weighed about 3 to 5 pounds more than the deep cycle only group 27 interstate. That it replaced. Have used these batterys on multiple dump trailers and winch set ups with no failure other than depleted capacity from time (and improper charge rates)

 

[blackleytroy]

Re: What kind of batteries should I use?

Thanks for the information... looks like I will be getting 2 "cranking" batteries. Don, wasn't able to open the attachment.