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Author Topic:   Deep Cycle Battery

sport15er posted 08-20-2000 08:58 PM ET (US)
I've got a 3 yr old marine, deep cycle "Stowaway, by Johnson Controls" battery w/ 850 CCA., for my SS15, 60HP o/b. What is the typical life expectancy of these batteries? This one is about ready to be replaced. Are the Gel batteries a better choice for replacement?
And lastly, do most ppl bring their batteries indoors for the winter? (the boat will be garaged/unheated....)
Thanx!

Dick E posted 08-20-2000 09:57 PM ET (US)
Batteries if properly maintained should last 4-6 years. I have gotten a Gel Cell from West Marine has been 3 years and still very strong. For the money I would get Delco deep cycle Voyager. I do not think the gell cell is worth 2X the Delco price.
I bring mine indoors as I have room.
The key thing if storing outdoors do not let it set in a drained state.
andygere posted 08-21-2000 01:54 AM ET (US)
I have had great luck with Diehards in all my boats, Jeeps and cars. I just replaced the pair in my Montauk (came with the boat) that were 6 years old. They still held a charge, but would fade pretty quickly if left idle. For 69 bucks a piece, it's cheap insurance. I'm using combo deep cycle/starting for both. I don't run a lot of accessories or use an electric trolling motor, so I decided against getting one deep cycle and one starting.
Backlash posted 08-21-2000 08:42 AM ET (US)
I presently have 2 Delco Voyager Deep-Cycle Maintenance Free batteries in my boat that are five years old and still going strong. I ALWAYS store them in the basement during the winter and charge them every 45 - 60 days. I highly recommend a maintenance free battery, especially in a boat, as well as a deep-cycle. I have not tried the new gel batteries...probably because I could buy 2 Delco Voyagers for the price of one gel battery. I do think they are probably great for severe/extreme service conditions. A gel battery also requires a special battery charger.
dgp posted 08-21-2000 11:23 AM ET (US)
"Powerboat Reports" tested several sealed batteries in their August 2000 issue. They liked the Optima the best. Reprints are available. Don
bigz posted 08-21-2000 01:00 PM ET (US)
Sport15er,
Probably andygere is the most economical solution Sears Marine are very good batteries and if anything goes haywire lots of Sears stores to get a replacement.
The Optima is super as Don mentions
We are using the Optima deep cycle marine as our house battery on the 27, this is not a gel but spiral wrapped battery which if needed can be installed on its side --- costly though about $170 -- they make a starting battery which runs about $150 --- However I opted for 2 Diehard Marine starter batteries one for each motor and they so far have been fine got them on sale --- chuckle could have bought 4 for what I paid for the Optima.
Tom
Backlash posted 08-21-2000 01:08 PM ET (US)
The advantage of a deep-cycle battery over a starter battery is that it is designed to be completely discharged and will recharge back to 100% capacity. A starter battery, if completely discharged, may not ever again reach it's 100% charge and may even be permanently ruined if totally discharged.
sport15er posted 08-21-2000 03:47 PM ET (US)
Thnx for all replies.
someone else suggested I use a car battery, since all I'm doing is starting the motor; I have no trolling motor, or other accessories, the only thing I would have on occasionally, would be my anchor/stern light burning while not motoring.
Any thoughts on this? I do want to buy the best for the boat.
bigz posted 08-21-2000 05:11 PM ET (US)
You can't go wrong with a Sears marine combo battery much if any more than a car battery --- problem with car batteries the cells aren't designed to absorb the shocks like marine or heavy equipment batteries.That is the key difference.
In your SS15 you bounce around like a rubber ball you'll kill an auto batttery in short order --- Tom
sport15er posted 08-21-2000 09:11 PM ET (US)
I do tend to do some bouncing & get airborne occassionally...... Thnx for the info Tom
frank posted 08-23-2000 11:57 PM ET (US)
whatever type battery you choose storage is essential. i didn't know this last winter and stored my fully charged 1 year old diehard in my basement on a concrete floor. i went to an interstate batteries warehouse to replace it in the spring because it would not take a charge. i noticed every battery in the place (and there were thousands )was off the floor on wooden crates and i asked why.A worker said that a concrete floor actually will drain a charge from a battery. go figure>>>>> this winter i will store all my batteries in the cellar on wooden blocks.
jimh posted 08-24-2000 01:34 AM ET (US)
I always store the boat battery indoors in a heated room during winter layover.
I think that most rational, scientific minds have come to the conclusion that it is an URBAN LEGEND that storing a battery on concrete causes accelerated discharge.
I am, however, willing to entertain a lengthy discussion on this topic, as I have not had the pleasure of reading a complex thread of messages on this subject in quite a while.
--jimh
bigz posted 08-24-2000 05:17 AM ET (US)
Just leave them in the battery box on the boat and unless it was already about to die it should be fine in the Spring! Tom
reeltime2 posted 08-24-2000 08:43 AM ET (US)
Jimh,
The enginers at GM belive very strongly that concrete can discharge a batt. Back in 93 I was a mechanic at a Chevrolet Dealeship and there was actualy a bulitan posted to all GM dealers on this subject. Apparently there was a problem w/ mechanics charging batterys when they were sevicing the electrical systems and were sending back batterys that were still good but what GM called improperly charged. Any way they always used a piece of wood under the batterys when placing them on concrete or metal tables. Im my opinion its better to be safe than sorry.
Rick
bigz posted 08-24-2000 09:11 AM ET (US)
Fellows take a look see at these sites and your questions might be answered
this is a FAQ which even though auto related would apply to marine batteries as well ---
CAR BATTERY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 2.2
http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~schmaus/batfaq.html#myth
this is a site that sells all kinds of battery maintenance products
Unique Battery Tutorial
http://www.4unique.com/battery/battery_tutorial.htm
frank posted 08-25-2000 12:36 AM ET (US)
i just read it. i guess i can tell the guys at the interstate warehouse that they can put those thousands of batteries right on the floor. p.s. but i'll still put mine on wood.

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Author	Topic: Deep Cycle Battery
sport15er	posted 08-20-2000 08:58 PM ET (US) I've got a 3 yr old marine, deep cycle "Stowaway, by Johnson Controls" battery w/ 850 CCA., for my SS15, 60HP o/b. What is the typical life expectancy of these batteries? This one is about ready to be replaced. Are the Gel batteries a better choice for replacement? And lastly, do most ppl bring their batteries indoors for the winter? (the boat will be garaged/unheated....) Thanx!
Dick E	posted 08-20-2000 09:57 PM ET (US) Batteries if properly maintained should last 4-6 years. I have gotten a Gel Cell from West Marine has been 3 years and still very strong. For the money I would get Delco deep cycle Voyager. I do not think the gell cell is worth 2X the Delco price. I bring mine indoors as I have room. The key thing if storing outdoors do not let it set in a drained state.
andygere	posted 08-21-2000 01:54 AM ET (US) I have had great luck with Diehards in all my boats, Jeeps and cars. I just replaced the pair in my Montauk (came with the boat) that were 6 years old. They still held a charge, but would fade pretty quickly if left idle. For 69 bucks a piece, it's cheap insurance. I'm using combo deep cycle/starting for both. I don't run a lot of accessories or use an electric trolling motor, so I decided against getting one deep cycle and one starting.
Backlash	posted 08-21-2000 08:42 AM ET (US) I presently have 2 Delco Voyager Deep-Cycle Maintenance Free batteries in my boat that are five years old and still going strong. I ALWAYS store them in the basement during the winter and charge them every 45 - 60 days. I highly recommend a maintenance free battery, especially in a boat, as well as a deep-cycle. I have not tried the new gel batteries...probably because I could buy 2 Delco Voyagers for the price of one gel battery. I do think they are probably great for severe/extreme service conditions. A gel battery also requires a special battery charger.
dgp	posted 08-21-2000 11:23 AM ET (US) "Powerboat Reports" tested several sealed batteries in their August 2000 issue. They liked the Optima the best. Reprints are available. Don
bigz	posted 08-21-2000 01:00 PM ET (US) Sport15er, Probably andygere is the most economical solution Sears Marine are very good batteries and if anything goes haywire lots of Sears stores to get a replacement. The Optima is super as Don mentions We are using the Optima deep cycle marine as our house battery on the 27, this is not a gel but spiral wrapped battery which if needed can be installed on its side --- costly though about $170 -- they make a starting battery which runs about $150 --- However I opted for 2 Diehard Marine starter batteries one for each motor and they so far have been fine got them on sale --- chuckle could have bought 4 for what I paid for the Optima. Tom
Backlash	posted 08-21-2000 01:08 PM ET (US) The advantage of a deep-cycle battery over a starter battery is that it is designed to be completely discharged and will recharge back to 100% capacity. A starter battery, if completely discharged, may not ever again reach it's 100% charge and may even be permanently ruined if totally discharged.
sport15er	posted 08-21-2000 03:47 PM ET (US) Thnx for all replies. someone else suggested I use a car battery, since all I'm doing is starting the motor; I have no trolling motor, or other accessories, the only thing I would have on occasionally, would be my anchor/stern light burning while not motoring. Any thoughts on this? I do want to buy the best for the boat.
bigz	posted 08-21-2000 05:11 PM ET (US) You can't go wrong with a Sears marine combo battery much if any more than a car battery --- problem with car batteries the cells aren't designed to absorb the shocks like marine or heavy equipment batteries.That is the key difference. In your SS15 you bounce around like a rubber ball you'll kill an auto batttery in short order --- Tom
sport15er	posted 08-21-2000 09:11 PM ET (US) I do tend to do some bouncing & get airborne occassionally...... Thnx for the info Tom
frank	posted 08-23-2000 11:57 PM ET (US) whatever type battery you choose storage is essential. i didn't know this last winter and stored my fully charged 1 year old diehard in my basement on a concrete floor. i went to an interstate batteries warehouse to replace it in the spring because it would not take a charge. i noticed every battery in the place (and there were thousands )was off the floor on wooden crates and i asked why.A worker said that a concrete floor actually will drain a charge from a battery. go figure>>>>> this winter i will store all my batteries in the cellar on wooden blocks.
jimh	posted 08-24-2000 01:34 AM ET (US) I always store the boat battery indoors in a heated room during winter layover. I think that most rational, scientific minds have come to the conclusion that it is an URBAN LEGEND that storing a battery on concrete causes accelerated discharge. I am, however, willing to entertain a lengthy discussion on this topic, as I have not had the pleasure of reading a complex thread of messages on this subject in quite a while. --jimh
bigz	posted 08-24-2000 05:17 AM ET (US) Just leave them in the battery box on the boat and unless it was already about to die it should be fine in the Spring! Tom
reeltime2	posted 08-24-2000 08:43 AM ET (US) Jimh, The enginers at GM belive very strongly that concrete can discharge a batt. Back in 93 I was a mechanic at a Chevrolet Dealeship and there was actualy a bulitan posted to all GM dealers on this subject. Apparently there was a problem w/ mechanics charging batterys when they were sevicing the electrical systems and were sending back batterys that were still good but what GM called improperly charged. Any way they always used a piece of wood under the batterys when placing them on concrete or metal tables. Im my opinion its better to be safe than sorry. Rick
bigz	posted 08-24-2000 09:11 AM ET (US) Fellows take a look see at these sites and your questions might be answered this is a FAQ which even though auto related would apply to marine batteries as well --- CAR BATTERY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 2.2 http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~schmaus/batfaq.html#myth this is a site that sells all kinds of battery maintenance products Unique Battery Tutorial http://www.4unique.com/battery/battery_tutorial.htm
frank	posted 08-25-2000 12:36 AM ET (US) i just read it. i guess i can tell the guys at the interstate warehouse that they can put those thousands of batteries right on the floor. p.s. but i'll still put mine on wood.