It is time to replace the two batteries in my cat 270. I don't have a lot of ocal choices up here in Vermont. I think the batteries are supposed to be a combination starter/deep cycle. We have a west marine, sears and costco that all sell marine batteries but I think WM is the only one that sells something labled started/deep cycle.Any suggestions. We mainly use the boat for day sails and an occaisional overnighter.
battery replacement
- Thread starter jack gallagher
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It is time to replace the two batteries in my cat 270. I don't have a lot of ocal choices up here in Vermont. I think the batteries are supposed to be a combination starter/deep cycle. We have a west marine, sears and costco that all sell marine batteries but I think WM is the only one that sells something labled started/deep cycle.Any suggestions. We mainly use the boat for day sails and an occaisional overnighter.
A Couple of Ways to Do This
Jack, Replacing your battery banks depends on your useage, climate, tech ability, and budget. On my 1975 C27, I recently installed a marine "Starting" battery as Battery 1, and a marine "Deep Cycle" as Battery 2. Battery 1 is used ONLY for Starting, Battery 2 for everything else (anchor lights, cabin and running lights, etc.) When under engine power (charging) I switch the battery switch to both. I do not have any additional charging systems other than engine alternator (like shore power, solar, or wind generator), so I'm careful to check voltage before a long trip away from home port. You could use "Deep Cycle" batteries for both banks, but your climate might require a really cold engine starts, so "Starting" on bank 1 might be better for you. Installation is not really complicated - other than squirming around in small holes with heavy objects, but do yourself a favor and label - in the battery compartment - which is 1 and which is 2. Saves a lot of guesswork a year from now. Both Sears and WM can sell you the basic Flooded Cell type batteries. Shop for the best price for comparable sizes. If you want greater flexibility, power capacity, and longevity, consider AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat?) batteries - at about twice the price. A discussion of cost/ benefits is best left to someone more technical than me. Anyway, best of luck and Fair Winds. Peter Wierzbicki
Jack, Replacing your battery banks depends on your useage, climate, tech ability, and budget. On my 1975 C27, I recently installed a marine "Starting" battery as Battery 1, and a marine "Deep Cycle" as Battery 2. Battery 1 is used ONLY for Starting, Battery 2 for everything else (anchor lights, cabin and running lights, etc.) When under engine power (charging) I switch the battery switch to both. I do not have any additional charging systems other than engine alternator (like shore power, solar, or wind generator), so I'm careful to check voltage before a long trip away from home port. You could use "Deep Cycle" batteries for both banks, but your climate might require a really cold engine starts, so "Starting" on bank 1 might be better for you. Installation is not really complicated - other than squirming around in small holes with heavy objects, but do yourself a favor and label - in the battery compartment - which is 1 and which is 2. Saves a lot of guesswork a year from now. Both Sears and WM can sell you the basic Flooded Cell type batteries. Shop for the best price for comparable sizes. If you want greater flexibility, power capacity, and longevity, consider AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat?) batteries - at about twice the price. A discussion of cost/ benefits is best left to someone more technical than me. Anyway, best of luck and Fair Winds. Peter Wierzbicki
A Couple of Ways to Do This
Jack, Replacing your battery banks depends on your useage, climate, tech ability, and budget. On my 1975 C27, I recently installed a marine "Starting" battery as Battery 1, and a marine "Deep Cycle" as Battery 2. Battery 1 is used ONLY for Starting, Battery 2 for everything else (anchor lights, cabin and running lights, etc.) When under engine power (charging) I switch the battery switch to both. I do not have any additional charging systems other than engine alternator (like shore power, solar, or wind generator), so I'm careful to check voltage before a long trip away from home port. You could use "Deep Cycle" batteries for both banks, but your climate might require a really cold engine starts, so "Starting" on bank 1 might be better for you. Installation is not really complicated - other than squirming around in small holes with heavy objects, but do yourself a favor and label - in the battery compartment - which is 1 and which is 2. Saves a lot of guesswork a year from now. Both Sears and WM can sell you the basic Flooded Cell type batteries. Shop for the best price for comparable sizes. If you want greater flexibility, power capacity, and longevity, consider AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat?) batteries - at about twice the price. A discussion of cost/ benefits is best left to someone more technical than me. Anyway, best of luck and Fair Winds. Peter Wierzbicki
Jack, Replacing your battery banks depends on your useage, climate, tech ability, and budget. On my 1975 C27, I recently installed a marine "Starting" battery as Battery 1, and a marine "Deep Cycle" as Battery 2. Battery 1 is used ONLY for Starting, Battery 2 for everything else (anchor lights, cabin and running lights, etc.) When under engine power (charging) I switch the battery switch to both. I do not have any additional charging systems other than engine alternator (like shore power, solar, or wind generator), so I'm careful to check voltage before a long trip away from home port. You could use "Deep Cycle" batteries for both banks, but your climate might require a really cold engine starts, so "Starting" on bank 1 might be better for you. Installation is not really complicated - other than squirming around in small holes with heavy objects, but do yourself a favor and label - in the battery compartment - which is 1 and which is 2. Saves a lot of guesswork a year from now. Both Sears and WM can sell you the basic Flooded Cell type batteries. Shop for the best price for comparable sizes. If you want greater flexibility, power capacity, and longevity, consider AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat?) batteries - at about twice the price. A discussion of cost/ benefits is best left to someone more technical than me. Anyway, best of luck and Fair Winds. Peter Wierzbicki
Read the Ample Power Primer
at www.amplepower.com, and also read your West Marine Catalog Advisors, which explain what kind of batteries will be suitable for your intended use. The West Advisors are also on their website. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorListView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001
at www.amplepower.com, and also read your West Marine Catalog Advisors, which explain what kind of batteries will be suitable for your intended use. The West Advisors are also on their website. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorListView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001
Read the Ample Power Primer
at www.amplepower.com, and also read your West Marine Catalog Advisors, which explain what kind of batteries will be suitable for your intended use. The West Advisors are also on their website. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorListView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001
at www.amplepower.com, and also read your West Marine Catalog Advisors, which explain what kind of batteries will be suitable for your intended use. The West Advisors are also on their website. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorListView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001
check this out
I just ordered 2 4D AGM from batteryweb.com which will supposedly show up at my front door.
I just ordered 2 4D AGM from batteryweb.com which will supposedly show up at my front door.
check this out
I just ordered 2 4D AGM from batteryweb.com which will supposedly show up at my front door.
I just ordered 2 4D AGM from batteryweb.com which will supposedly show up at my front door.
Go to your local garage.
If you are not a liveaboard or hardcore cruiser, find out what they are using in their wrecker (tow truck) and buy a pair of those for about 60% of the price of a comparable marine deep cycle. Question critically the explanations of so-called experts who learned something ten years ago, have only read what others have written since and haven't kept up with the changing technology by researching current data for themselves. If you prefer to research the facts for yourself, go to a major battery manufacturer's web site and start examining the specs closely. You will find that the batteries they build for heavy duty truck/commercial service, closely match the specs for their deep cycle marine batteries and are constructed similarly at substantially less cost. Note that I am not inferring that they are the same and I doubt that they are. BTW, different manufacturers spec thing in different ways. Engineers might have standards, but the last time I tried to compare between different manufacturers it seemed like they tried to make line by line comparisons difficult. While the plates and separator mats may not be quite as heavy, they are very close. Reserve Capacity minutes are usually a bit higher. Vibration protection is similar. You will likely give up a tad on battery life, but your maintenance (or lack thereof) will have a more significant impact on this than any specifications. The average sailor does not maintain their batteries at optimal levels which requires a fair amount of paying attention. In my experience, that is mostly done only by liveaboards who spend a lot of time on the hook or cruisers confined to a mooring. I haven't been able to detect any difference in my Exide Commercials from the OEM Nautilus Gold 4D's that came with our C-320 (with the exception of having to add marine lugs which, in turn, adds a little extra maintenance). The originals were 400 reserve minute versions and are no longer available. S,o that led to my research. The new Nautilus Gold Deep Cycles are only 250 reserve minutes and in the commercial version I have 320 reserve minutes. In checking my numbers for this post, I discovered that there is a new Prevailer Marine Starting/Deep Cycle with 360 minutes but I doubt that I would spend the money for the difference. Mine were little more than half the price of the 250 minute version. I spend several days on the hook when cruising and I am on my third season with no issues. Last year we didn't get out much but I did have a few power outages that were comparable to a cruise where the reefer drew the batteries down more than I care to. Here is the site I used to spec out my 4D replacements on our C-320. http://www.exideworld.com/ FWIW, I believe that AGM's are overkill for the average sailor who will not ever use them to anywhere near their potential. Fair winds,
If you are not a liveaboard or hardcore cruiser, find out what they are using in their wrecker (tow truck) and buy a pair of those for about 60% of the price of a comparable marine deep cycle. Question critically the explanations of so-called experts who learned something ten years ago, have only read what others have written since and haven't kept up with the changing technology by researching current data for themselves. If you prefer to research the facts for yourself, go to a major battery manufacturer's web site and start examining the specs closely. You will find that the batteries they build for heavy duty truck/commercial service, closely match the specs for their deep cycle marine batteries and are constructed similarly at substantially less cost. Note that I am not inferring that they are the same and I doubt that they are. BTW, different manufacturers spec thing in different ways. Engineers might have standards, but the last time I tried to compare between different manufacturers it seemed like they tried to make line by line comparisons difficult. While the plates and separator mats may not be quite as heavy, they are very close. Reserve Capacity minutes are usually a bit higher. Vibration protection is similar. You will likely give up a tad on battery life, but your maintenance (or lack thereof) will have a more significant impact on this than any specifications. The average sailor does not maintain their batteries at optimal levels which requires a fair amount of paying attention. In my experience, that is mostly done only by liveaboards who spend a lot of time on the hook or cruisers confined to a mooring. I haven't been able to detect any difference in my Exide Commercials from the OEM Nautilus Gold 4D's that came with our C-320 (with the exception of having to add marine lugs which, in turn, adds a little extra maintenance). The originals were 400 reserve minute versions and are no longer available. S,o that led to my research. The new Nautilus Gold Deep Cycles are only 250 reserve minutes and in the commercial version I have 320 reserve minutes. In checking my numbers for this post, I discovered that there is a new Prevailer Marine Starting/Deep Cycle with 360 minutes but I doubt that I would spend the money for the difference. Mine were little more than half the price of the 250 minute version. I spend several days on the hook when cruising and I am on my third season with no issues. Last year we didn't get out much but I did have a few power outages that were comparable to a cruise where the reefer drew the batteries down more than I care to. Here is the site I used to spec out my 4D replacements on our C-320. http://www.exideworld.com/ FWIW, I believe that AGM's are overkill for the average sailor who will not ever use them to anywhere near their potential. Fair winds,
Go to your local garage.
If you are not a liveaboard or hardcore cruiser, find out what they are using in their wrecker (tow truck) and buy a pair of those for about 60% of the price of a comparable marine deep cycle. Question critically the explanations of so-called experts who learned something ten years ago, have only read what others have written since and haven't kept up with the changing technology by researching current data for themselves. If you prefer to research the facts for yourself, go to a major battery manufacturer's web site and start examining the specs closely. You will find that the batteries they build for heavy duty truck/commercial service, closely match the specs for their deep cycle marine batteries and are constructed similarly at substantially less cost. Note that I am not inferring that they are the same and I doubt that they are. BTW, different manufacturers spec thing in different ways. Engineers might have standards, but the last time I tried to compare between different manufacturers it seemed like they tried to make line by line comparisons difficult. While the plates and separator mats may not be quite as heavy, they are very close. Reserve Capacity minutes are usually a bit higher. Vibration protection is similar. You will likely give up a tad on battery life, but your maintenance (or lack thereof) will have a more significant impact on this than any specifications. The average sailor does not maintain their batteries at optimal levels which requires a fair amount of paying attention. In my experience, that is mostly done only by liveaboards who spend a lot of time on the hook or cruisers confined to a mooring. I haven't been able to detect any difference in my Exide Commercials from the OEM Nautilus Gold 4D's that came with our C-320 (with the exception of having to add marine lugs which, in turn, adds a little extra maintenance). The originals were 400 reserve minute versions and are no longer available. S,o that led to my research. The new Nautilus Gold Deep Cycles are only 250 reserve minutes and in the commercial version I have 320 reserve minutes. In checking my numbers for this post, I discovered that there is a new Prevailer Marine Starting/Deep Cycle with 360 minutes but I doubt that I would spend the money for the difference. Mine were little more than half the price of the 250 minute version. I spend several days on the hook when cruising and I am on my third season with no issues. Last year we didn't get out much but I did have a few power outages that were comparable to a cruise where the reefer drew the batteries down more than I care to. Here is the site I used to spec out my 4D replacements on our C-320. http://www.exideworld.com/ FWIW, I believe that AGM's are overkill for the average sailor who will not ever use them to anywhere near their potential. Fair winds,
If you are not a liveaboard or hardcore cruiser, find out what they are using in their wrecker (tow truck) and buy a pair of those for about 60% of the price of a comparable marine deep cycle. Question critically the explanations of so-called experts who learned something ten years ago, have only read what others have written since and haven't kept up with the changing technology by researching current data for themselves. If you prefer to research the facts for yourself, go to a major battery manufacturer's web site and start examining the specs closely. You will find that the batteries they build for heavy duty truck/commercial service, closely match the specs for their deep cycle marine batteries and are constructed similarly at substantially less cost. Note that I am not inferring that they are the same and I doubt that they are. BTW, different manufacturers spec thing in different ways. Engineers might have standards, but the last time I tried to compare between different manufacturers it seemed like they tried to make line by line comparisons difficult. While the plates and separator mats may not be quite as heavy, they are very close. Reserve Capacity minutes are usually a bit higher. Vibration protection is similar. You will likely give up a tad on battery life, but your maintenance (or lack thereof) will have a more significant impact on this than any specifications. The average sailor does not maintain their batteries at optimal levels which requires a fair amount of paying attention. In my experience, that is mostly done only by liveaboards who spend a lot of time on the hook or cruisers confined to a mooring. I haven't been able to detect any difference in my Exide Commercials from the OEM Nautilus Gold 4D's that came with our C-320 (with the exception of having to add marine lugs which, in turn, adds a little extra maintenance). The originals were 400 reserve minute versions and are no longer available. S,o that led to my research. The new Nautilus Gold Deep Cycles are only 250 reserve minutes and in the commercial version I have 320 reserve minutes. In checking my numbers for this post, I discovered that there is a new Prevailer Marine Starting/Deep Cycle with 360 minutes but I doubt that I would spend the money for the difference. Mine were little more than half the price of the 250 minute version. I spend several days on the hook when cruising and I am on my third season with no issues. Last year we didn't get out much but I did have a few power outages that were comparable to a cruise where the reefer drew the batteries down more than I care to. Here is the site I used to spec out my 4D replacements on our C-320. http://www.exideworld.com/ FWIW, I believe that AGM's are overkill for the average sailor who will not ever use them to anywhere near their potential. Fair winds,
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