Just purchased a 1985. I am a weekend sailer and we just bought a 34. It has two "banks", one for starting (two batteries)the engine (Yanmar 29) and the other for "house" needs one big battery. The batteries are now dead from the previous owner. So I need to replace all three of them. Could someone recommend the proper number, make, model, amps, etc. to start the season on a good note.
- Status
batteries
With reguards to batteries don't be cheap and buy the good ones they will be cheaper in the long run. I think you might have it backwards the one big battery is for starting and the two smaller ones are your house batteries (the two combined give you more amperage thus more usable time) be sure to keep the batteries charged and check water levels often. I have a group 27 for a starting battery and two group 24 for house batteries with a newmar 40 amp "smart" charger.I would get the largest amp battery in those sizes. This set up works good for me however everone has different power usage levels and your might be different. Hope this has been some help!
With reguards to batteries don't be cheap and buy the good ones they will be cheaper in the long run. I think you might have it backwards the one big battery is for starting and the two smaller ones are your house batteries (the two combined give you more amperage thus more usable time) be sure to keep the batteries charged and check water levels often. I have a group 27 for a starting battery and two group 24 for house batteries with a newmar 40 amp "smart" charger.I would get the largest amp battery in those sizes. This set up works good for me however everone has different power usage levels and your might be different. Hope this has been some help!
Do you like to do maintenance?
are you one of the Bushie's? ET: If you are good at maintenance you may want to consider wet cell batteries. If you do not like to do maintenance or will have batteries in inaccessable areas you should consider GEL or AGM batteries. I had a couple of West Marine Gel's in my H'31 they were left on a charger year round and they lasted for 10 years. When these batteries died last summer, I changed over to AGM. I also installed a Statpower 40 amp charger. My starting battery is one of my older Gel cells and the house keeping/refridg. are AGM's. I leave my boat unattended for several weeks and sometimes a couple of months during the winter. For me the Gels and AGM batteries are the best bounce for the buck.
are you one of the Bushie's? ET: If you are good at maintenance you may want to consider wet cell batteries. If you do not like to do maintenance or will have batteries in inaccessable areas you should consider GEL or AGM batteries. I had a couple of West Marine Gel's in my H'31 they were left on a charger year round and they lasted for 10 years. When these batteries died last summer, I changed over to AGM. I also installed a Statpower 40 amp charger. My starting battery is one of my older Gel cells and the house keeping/refridg. are AGM's. I leave my boat unattended for several weeks and sometimes a couple of months during the winter. For me the Gels and AGM batteries are the best bounce for the buck.
batteries
You will get a lot of opinions here I am sure. I agree with Pete that you probably need the two batteries for your house power and only one for starting. I use two 6-volt golf cart batteries in series to provide 12 volts and 225 amphours for my house power and have had them in for over four years with no problems. Goof cart batteries are designed to take a lot of deep discharges and come back. I bought relatively cheap ones at Sam's and have been happy with them. Sailboats are murder on batteries so get as many amphours as you can. I have had no problems with wet cells, but Steve is not alone with his preference for gels. A quality marine battery charger is probably worth it if you do not have one yet.
You will get a lot of opinions here I am sure. I agree with Pete that you probably need the two batteries for your house power and only one for starting. I use two 6-volt golf cart batteries in series to provide 12 volts and 225 amphours for my house power and have had them in for over four years with no problems. Goof cart batteries are designed to take a lot of deep discharges and come back. I bought relatively cheap ones at Sam's and have been happy with them. Sailboats are murder on batteries so get as many amphours as you can. I have had no problems with wet cells, but Steve is not alone with his preference for gels. A quality marine battery charger is probably worth it if you do not have one yet.
Golf Cart batteries
I'm with Bruce on this. I replaced my group 27 house battery with two sets of 6 volt in series. It was cheaper, got more power (amphours), easier to haul 1 6v than one big group 27 and hopefully will last longer. Also got mine at Sams ($45 each vs $89 from West Marine). They are slightly taller than the group 27, so you have to be innovative in the installation, and in finding cases for them.
I'm with Bruce on this. I replaced my group 27 house battery with two sets of 6 volt in series. It was cheaper, got more power (amphours), easier to haul 1 6v than one big group 27 and hopefully will last longer. Also got mine at Sams ($45 each vs $89 from West Marine). They are slightly taller than the group 27, so you have to be innovative in the installation, and in finding cases for them.
Also Use Golf Cart Batteries
I also have been using golf cart batteries from Sam's Club. Other than checking the water level a couple of times a year, they have been trouble free. Considering the relative cost, I chose to replace my group 27 batteries with these and have been happy with the decision. Good Luck!
I also have been using golf cart batteries from Sam's Club. Other than checking the water level a couple of times a year, they have been trouble free. Considering the relative cost, I chose to replace my group 27 batteries with these and have been happy with the decision. Good Luck!
Start Battery Suggestion
First I'd like to chime in with many of the previous posts with regard to the Golf Carts. On our H-35 the pair of Group 24s were changed out with a pair of Golf Carts, same footprint but taller, and that was in 1994. They have held up fine since then. Last week I check the voltage after having sat for several weeks without a charger and they were at 12.45 and 12.55 volts. With regard to the start battery, we also use a deep cycle Group 27 but several several years ago all the batteries were dead enough that they wouldn't start the engine. I took an old Honda battery and hooked it up and was really surprised by how well it cranked the engine. The main difference, I think, is the car battery is a cranking/starting battery vice the '27 which is a deep cycle battery. My recommendation then is, before shelling out bucks for a deep cycle start battery, is to try a car battery and see how it cranks. Personally, I'm kinda waiting for the '27 to die so I can change it out. Hope your new batteries improve live aboard.
First I'd like to chime in with many of the previous posts with regard to the Golf Carts. On our H-35 the pair of Group 24s were changed out with a pair of Golf Carts, same footprint but taller, and that was in 1994. They have held up fine since then. Last week I check the voltage after having sat for several weeks without a charger and they were at 12.45 and 12.55 volts. With regard to the start battery, we also use a deep cycle Group 27 but several several years ago all the batteries were dead enough that they wouldn't start the engine. I took an old Honda battery and hooked it up and was really surprised by how well it cranked the engine. The main difference, I think, is the car battery is a cranking/starting battery vice the '27 which is a deep cycle battery. My recommendation then is, before shelling out bucks for a deep cycle start battery, is to try a car battery and see how it cranks. Personally, I'm kinda waiting for the '27 to die so I can change it out. Hope your new batteries improve live aboard.
- Status