John,
7 years is an excellent life for any battery.


"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On 09 Dec 2004 00:04:45 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:

You should be grateful you got seven years' (maybe eight seasons) service
out
of your batteries.

It isn't posible to tell whether you batteries are in critical need of
immediate replacement without running a test, but it would be a generally
good
idea from a preventive standpoint based simply on their age alone.

Best flooded battery you can buy is probably a Rolls or Surette. (Same
battery,
two different brand names). I was recently introduced to Meridian AGM
batteries, and I think they have a number of excellent characteristics as
well.

Thanks Chuck. Do you think the Rolls or Surette are longer lasting
than the seven seasons I've gotten from mine?

Another thought is that I may get another bought after a few more
years. No sense in buying twenty-year batteries in that case. Hell,
the new owner of my boat, if and when, may just take it out and
capsize it!

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to
resolve it."
Rene Descartes

John,
I would definitely replace a 7 yr.old battery, but you can go by an auto
supply store and have them check your battery simulating the load a battery
handles when starting an engine.


"JohnH" wrote in message
...
After winterizing the boat, the marina folks told me I needed new
batteries. They had taken them out as I requested so I could bring
them home for charging over the winter.

These batteries, Best, are date stamped 'C7' which means they were
produced in March of 1997, coincidentally the year the boat was
manufactured.

Question is - Do I need to replace the batteries, which have worked
very well? Any brands better than Best?

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to
resolve it."
Rene Descartes

I have two banks, one a starting battery which is just a car battery
which has only been used once, the other a "house" bank of two Group 31s
that are used for everything. They are connected by a combiner so the
house set can't run down unless I change the A/B switch to include it.

I have only been getting two years out of the house set but switched
over to a "Battery Minder" which is supposed to desulfate them when I
leave it on them all winter. It only gets down to -35 up here in
Minnesota; I haven't lost a battery yet.

I will report on their progress next spring when I try to run
refrigeration, anchor and house lights and fans a for three days without
charging.

Capt. jeff