donquijote1954 wrote:
I saw at WestMarine this battery "Deep Cycle AGM 32," very compact but
lasting shorter.

This website explains that AGMs are better than Gels...

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...%20electrolyte

I am out of touch with the modern suppliers, but the AGM technology is
the 'spiral cell' tech I was talking about that Exide make. This is
'far' better than a liquid filled battery for boats and the gel cells,
well, they are now 'old' technology that doesn't behave nice.

I personally recommend whatever brand the biggest chain store you can
get to easy sells with the longest warranty! That way you can get a
replacement anywhere usually for free. The chain stores now sell AGM
batteries for really good prices.

Companies like 'Optima' became 'famous' with off roaders for their AGM
spiral cell batteries and the first few were good. Then they put out
crap with 'really' short warranties for big bucks. I switched back to
the chain store brands.

Back when I ran a fleet of electric boats, we only had the liquid filled
type. I ran deep cell with as many reserve amps as I could get.

I had one 18' fishing cruiser that would seat 8 run by two Mercury
Electrics powered by the 12 volt diesel truck sized (double the
footprint of a car battery) battery. One was good for 8 or 9 hours, but
I always had two on board under the bench seat. The car sized batteries
would last in a rowboat for the 8 or 9 hours usually too.


Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com