Hi there,
Choosing a battery is always a "fun" process. There are several things
to consider. Battery manufacturers offer a wide variety of options to
accommodate just about every circumstance.
Generally, for marine applications, a deep cycle battery is the one to
consider for several reasons:
1) If you have an electric trolling motor, you can run it off the
battery until the battery is almost completely drained without the
fear of damaging the battery.
2) If you store the battery (over winter for example) without
monitoring and charging it, again you will not damage it (unless you
leave it completely drained and expose it to very cold temperatures,
then it might freeze).
3) They are readily available and go on sale (at least here in Canada)
on a regular basis.
4) They are equipped with the correct connectors and carrying handles
to install/remove from the boat easily.
The only thing you need to consider is the size/capacity. I generally
like to choose the biggest one I can accommodate. By that I mean, it
fits in the boat, it isn't ridiculously heavy so that anyone could
remove it for charging/storage purposes, and that it stores enough
energy that I could use my electric trolling motor to get back to my
cottage should the main motor stop working (failure/run out of gas,
etc.)
Deep cycle batteries are designed to handle the "beating" that they
must endure being mounted in a boat. There is no suspension and they
take quite a shaking and rough sea days.
I replaced mine about 7 years ago and it works as good today as it did
when I bought it. My electric trolling motor can get me from one end
of the lake to the other easily.
I have not had any issues with regard to the fact it is filled with a
liquid that might potentially spill. There is no evidence of acid
leakage inside the plastic battery box in my boat, or in the basement
where I store the battery over the winter. It sits in the cold room
(about 50 degrees F) in the plastic box from the boat there and has
never failed to start the engine the following summer. I hook it to my
automatic charger for 24 hours before putting it away in the fall (mid
September) and ignore it until the following June.
Hope this was of some help!
Cheers from Canada!
Bob M.
"GC" wrote in message ...
I'd like to get a new battery for my boat... I don't know exactly how old
the current battery is as the sticker which should show the date doesn't
really have a makr on the year... although it seems to have a small smudge
on 00.
So anyway, I'd like to get a new battery and just keep this current one for
my electronics... I'd like to get one a little bit more powerful for
starting... I have an old Johnson 90HP (about 20-25 years old)and I need a
bit more time to get it started sometimes... Probably is I don't know a lot
about batteries and the curent one doesn't have a rating written on it....
What I did get from it...
Brand: Ample
Model: N70ZZ
Size: 300mm X 200mm X 170mm
I looked up that part number and I got a few different brands listed but
they don't have an Amp rating (like the new batteries do in the shops).
One of them was Marshall, 600CCA, 130 RC.
And found another cheap one that was 640CCA.
First question what is CCA?
Comparing the size to the newer batteries.... The same sized batteries are
anywhere from 70Amperes to 100Amperes.
Is getting a fully sealed battery worth the extra $100+??
Another question, I just got a little portable emergency jump starter which
says it can do 600Amps, 900Amps peak. Is this too weak to give my current
battery a boost? How much does a motor of this age normally draw??
Any help/suggestions on choosing the correct battery would be most
appreciated.
Thanks!
Glen
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