Battery For Tinnie Options

[jack]

Hi,

My boat gets used way too little and as a result I think the battery has reached it's end of life. I have bought a charger that may be able to revive it but am not sure.

In case I need to replace it. What are the perceived benefits of a marine battery over a normal battery? Marine batteries seem to be more expensive and I just don't see the benefits.

My boat will be used as probably most tinnies will be, transport from a to b where it will be shutdown and the only thing drawing power will be the sounder.


Jack

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Gather ewe didn't outlay a great deal of $$'s for your Valliant Charger ?????????

The wun you would've purchased will only give out a trickle charge NOT good enough if your battery is Dee Eee Dee dead cause Valliant Charger cant give out the initial boost charge required to kick start the charge.

Wot ewe can try is to have another charged battery hooked up to the Dee Eee Dee dead wun then hook up the charger to both.

The full battery should initiate the boost required to get trickle charge going.

What are the perceived benefits of a marine battery over a normal battery?

Batteries are the same only difference is wun has the name marine added to it

Wot ewe should've asked

Du I get a sealed maitence free battery over the normal car battery

& yep go for the sealed battery definately esp having a alloy goat goat, ewe wont get evaporation from a sealed battery thus no acid causing corrosion to the alloy + ewe never have to check fluid levels

[jack]

I got this one

http://www.ctek.com/files/productsheet/M45_uk_low.pdf

which claims it can repair. I have had it on the charger for a while and now the light is turned from orange to green (suggesting it's all ok). I have taken the floors out of the boat to give it a good clean and inspection so can not test it yet. But if it is dead if will definately leave the new one on the trickle charger over the "offseason" .

just the cheapest sealed car battery will do I guess?

Jack

[kkw]

I have two C-Teks. One of the best you can get for the purpose. I have one which keeps the Optima SLA charged in the van and a smaller one for the two boat batteries. Just have to remember to cycle/charge the boat batteries more often, which means ideally it should be left connected to 240v all the time when the boat is a lawn ornament (like mine is at present). Supposedly, marine batteries have thicker plates and are more securely secured due to the many bumps and thumps they have to endure in a boat. I have one marine and one HD car battery in mine and haven't noticed one is better or worse than the other. I use the car battery for starting and the marine for accessories etc.

[jack]

I think my battery is revived sufficiently to not having to replace it.
I had it on the charger for a while and than put it back in the boat. after two weeks not on the charger it still made very light work of starting the boat.

Jack

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Allways pays to run dual battery's on any boat

[jack]

having two bateries , a full tank of fuel and me in a 4 meter tinnie???? It would sink.

[Fed]

I didn't want the weight either Jack so I take a battery booster with me.
Have you ever started your motor with a pull rope, I'll get around to trying it one day.
The trouble is with these new fangled cranking batteries is that they die without any warning, my next battery will be a deep cycle with pure solid lead plates.

[kkw]

If you try and start the motor with the pull start, make sure S.F. replaces that battery booster with a defibulator machine and oxygen......

[jack]

It starts really easy with the cord so that is no problem (1 or two pulls). But the boat comes with a key to start so why go back to archaic technology.

[Fed]

You're laughing Jack, when everything else fails you still have that pull cord as a final backup.

Hey KK, you ever started your 90 with a pull cord?

[Bees Knees]

Use to pull start my old 85 Suzuki for kicks.. Wasn't hard.. Oh, thats right, you didnt ask me sorry in advance

[kkw]

I don't have a 90, but did pull start the 50. Rather use the key and second battery if the first one dies. After that, I can always phone you or seatow

[Fed]

I'd give you a tow KK but only in the Bay and you'd have to allow about 90 minutes for me to get there.
You could always fish while you were waiting.
(PS, I don't do weekends)