Jay-T wrote:
"John H" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:10:19 -0400, "Jay-T" wrote:

Jay-T wrote:
John H wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:31:12 -0400, Larry
wrote:
Jay-T wrote:
I am getting ready to buy a back-up battery and battery case for a
13-foot aluminum boat that I have. The battery will be for the
electric trolling motor. The reason for the second battery is for
use if the first battery starts to run low and so that I will be
sure to have enough back-up power to use the trolling motor to get
back to the boat launch area. The boat also has a gas engine, but
it is a rope pull-start type so the battery won't be used for
starting a gas engine.

I'll probably go to West Marine or someplace similar to buy he
battery and battery case, and hopefully they will be able to tell
me what type of battery to get. But, just in case they don't know
or they give out wrong information, I thought I'd check here to see
what people recommend that I look for and buy.

Thanks.
If you just want a decent deep cycle go to Walmart and pick one up.
IIRC, there are only a handful of manufacturers making conventional
lead-acid batteries but they have many private labels. If you want
to spend some bucks for the latest, and greatest, look at the AGM's
and Gel Cells.

What he said.

The only advantage to a West Marine battery is that they cost more.
WalMart is the way to go for a deep cycle, which is what you need.

Great info about Wal-Mart. I went there yesterday and there were two
models to choose from: a 24DC-6 for $58; and a 27DC-6 for $70.
Unfortunately, they didn't have any of the 27DC-6 model left in
stock. I'll probably try a different Wal-Mart today to see if they
have the 27DC-6 in stock.
The info on the two models was:

24DC- 6
CA/CCA 500/405
Reserve Cap. 100
Amp Hours 75

27DC-6
CA/CCA 720/600
Reserve Cap. 160
Amp Hours 115

P.S. I forgot to add that I don't want to do the two 6-volt batteries
routine. There may be advantages to that but I already have one
12-volt
battery on the boat. I just want to add another 12-volt battery as a
back-up if the first one runs down or fails. And, it's a small 13-foot
aluminum boat so I don't want to add 2 more batteries to the one
that is
already onboard.


Sounds like a plan. I'd hold out for the 27DC-6 if the price is good.

I ended up getting the 24DC-6. I found the 27DC-6 at another
Wal-Mart, but the size didn't quite work for the space where it will
go on the boat. It's a longer battery. It was only $12 more for the
27DC-6 ($70 instead of $58 for the 24DC-6), and I would have gotten it
if it wasn't for the space issue.

One question: I put an automatic charger on the new 24DC-6 battery
that I bought. The charger is automatic and shuts off when the
battery is fully charged, and I set the initial charge rate to 2
amps. I was a little surprised that the new battery seemed to keep
taking the charge for about an hour or so before it showed as full.
Is that normal? -- that a new battery would need to be charged like that?


At 2 amps for only an hour it quite normal. Batteries slowly lose power
when they aren't used. I have to top mine off after just a few weeks of
non-use and they are both shut off completely from anything that could
drain them.