I just purchased a 1991 Beneteau Oceanis 370. There are 2 batteries located directly in front of the engine. I have come to learn that these are dry cell or gell cell batteries that cost 200bucks each. Of course they are stone dead (original batteries). I can replace them with wet cells for about 75 each, but I am afriad to. The boat builders put them there for reason! Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with these batteries. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Jack Ohlanger Butter Cup B-36
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My experience.
Jack: My experience with gels has been positive. We just replaced a set of West Marine gels that lasted for over 10 years. This was 10 years of never looking at them, never having to forget to add water, never having to clean battery posts, never doing anything to them. A couple of things. You should have the correct battery charger for these type of batteries. They do not gas as wet cells do so there is very little if any corrosion. You can turn them on their sides. My understanding is the only thing that is really any better is AGM's. I am trying these out now, but if the last for 10 years, I won't be letting you know too soon. Before you replace them be sure to try to charge them on another charger and have them load tested. It could be your charger! There are many that are going to tell you that they get many years from their flooded acid batteries but there are many more that are going to tell you that they only get 2-5 years from these $75 batteries. For the lack of effort and the ease of dealing with Gels, I would do it again if I were you. PS: I guess yours lasted about 10 years too!
Jack: My experience with gels has been positive. We just replaced a set of West Marine gels that lasted for over 10 years. This was 10 years of never looking at them, never having to forget to add water, never having to clean battery posts, never doing anything to them. A couple of things. You should have the correct battery charger for these type of batteries. They do not gas as wet cells do so there is very little if any corrosion. You can turn them on their sides. My understanding is the only thing that is really any better is AGM's. I am trying these out now, but if the last for 10 years, I won't be letting you know too soon. Before you replace them be sure to try to charge them on another charger and have them load tested. It could be your charger! There are many that are going to tell you that they get many years from their flooded acid batteries but there are many more that are going to tell you that they only get 2-5 years from these $75 batteries. For the lack of effort and the ease of dealing with Gels, I would do it again if I were you. PS: I guess yours lasted about 10 years too!
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Tim Schaaf
Gells, not necessary!
Just be sure that all your batteries are of one technology, and prefereably the same size. I started with wet cells of various types, then moved to gells, and eventually came back to wet cell, 6 volt golf car batteries. They give by far the best bang for the buck, and you will get the best prices from a golf car dealer. Gell cells have some attractive features (won't short underwater!, don't sulphate as quickly when left discharged, have a lower self'discharge rate, and can be mounted in different positions) but have some disadvantages apart from much higher cost. They are much more heat and voltage sensitive and easier to ruin. They have a smaller capacity for a given size. Although they are always described as having a faster charge rate than flooded wet cells, none of the manufacturers' engineers would confirm that to me. Additionally, when questioned closely, all admitted that for tropical cruising, gell cells are too heat sensitive. My own experience confirms that.I also do not think they last for as many cyles. I would stick with the much less expensive wet cells. And if I was just itching to spend money on batteries, I would consider AGM technology, which seems pretty promising. Perhaps someone else has experience with that. There have been several discussions on this site that might be illuminating, regarding batteries.
Just be sure that all your batteries are of one technology, and prefereably the same size. I started with wet cells of various types, then moved to gells, and eventually came back to wet cell, 6 volt golf car batteries. They give by far the best bang for the buck, and you will get the best prices from a golf car dealer. Gell cells have some attractive features (won't short underwater!, don't sulphate as quickly when left discharged, have a lower self'discharge rate, and can be mounted in different positions) but have some disadvantages apart from much higher cost. They are much more heat and voltage sensitive and easier to ruin. They have a smaller capacity for a given size. Although they are always described as having a faster charge rate than flooded wet cells, none of the manufacturers' engineers would confirm that to me. Additionally, when questioned closely, all admitted that for tropical cruising, gell cells are too heat sensitive. My own experience confirms that.I also do not think they last for as many cyles. I would stick with the much less expensive wet cells. And if I was just itching to spend money on batteries, I would consider AGM technology, which seems pretty promising. Perhaps someone else has experience with that. There have been several discussions on this site that might be illuminating, regarding batteries.
R
R.W.Landau
Charging voltages
Jack, I don't think you can make a bad choice. The thing that will make a difference is the way you care for them. If you know nothing about them, pickup Nigal Calder's book or one that explains the battery. I have yet to see it explained better than Calder's book. The one thing your will want to know is your present charging voltages. A wet cell must have a higher voltage to properly charge the battery and the gel cell can not be charged with that high of a voltage because it will boil the moisture right out of the gel. r.w.landau
Jack, I don't think you can make a bad choice. The thing that will make a difference is the way you care for them. If you know nothing about them, pickup Nigal Calder's book or one that explains the battery. I have yet to see it explained better than Calder's book. The one thing your will want to know is your present charging voltages. A wet cell must have a higher voltage to properly charge the battery and the gel cell can not be charged with that high of a voltage because it will boil the moisture right out of the gel. r.w.landau
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Alex
If you want to spend some money..
..go for AGM deep cycle .If you want well proven wet ones , go for Trojan 6V 220amps for house battery (2 of them for 12 volts , bought at West Marine), It lasted me 7 years till I sold the boat , and are still OK. Don't go for anything that is not real deep cycle ( at least 600-700 cycles) -for 'house' battery. Proper charging and carefull monitoring is important to keep them in good condition.
..go for AGM deep cycle .If you want well proven wet ones , go for Trojan 6V 220amps for house battery (2 of them for 12 volts , bought at West Marine), It lasted me 7 years till I sold the boat , and are still OK. Don't go for anything that is not real deep cycle ( at least 600-700 cycles) -for 'house' battery. Proper charging and carefull monitoring is important to keep them in good condition.
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Bob
Gel Cells
Gel Cell batteries were originally developed for Miltary applications, such as aircraft flying upside down. I really think that having these is just another of those, "Gee how cool would these things be". The conditions at 30,000 feet and above are entirely different than the heat and humidity that some of us may subject them to.
Gel Cell batteries were originally developed for Miltary applications, such as aircraft flying upside down. I really think that having these is just another of those, "Gee how cool would these things be". The conditions at 30,000 feet and above are entirely different than the heat and humidity that some of us may subject them to.
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bill walton
Gels vs AGM vs Wet
Wets are great and economical ... if you practice proper maintenance habits. My problem is that I did not always check them as often as required, On my boat the house battery consists of a 3 8Ds which are in awkward locations. It was a pain to check and water so I killed one. I replaced them with gels strickly because I did not want to deal with that. I would have used AGM but they were not in stock at the time. I live in the Keys and have not ,as of yet anyway, had a problem with heat even though 2 of the battery boxes share a compartment with the engine and genset. I have battery temperature compensators on my engine's alternator and on the heart charger. This adjusts the charging voltage as a function of the battery temp..
Wets are great and economical ... if you practice proper maintenance habits. My problem is that I did not always check them as often as required, On my boat the house battery consists of a 3 8Ds which are in awkward locations. It was a pain to check and water so I killed one. I replaced them with gels strickly because I did not want to deal with that. I would have used AGM but they were not in stock at the time. I live in the Keys and have not ,as of yet anyway, had a problem with heat even though 2 of the battery boxes share a compartment with the engine and genset. I have battery temperature compensators on my engine's alternator and on the heart charger. This adjusts the charging voltage as a function of the battery temp..
J
Jack Ohlanger
Thanks Everyone for Your Responses
Thanks for everyone's input! I really do appreciate it. Fair winds to all! Jack
Thanks for everyone's input! I really do appreciate it. Fair winds to all! Jack
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R.W.Landau
Another thought,
Jack if you are a blue water sailor and run the risk of a knockdown, and possible cabin flooding, wet cells will leak and the acid and salt water create clorine gas. Not a good thing to have to deal with while dealing with another disaster. I do like the 6 volt golfcart batteries in series though. r.w.landau
Jack if you are a blue water sailor and run the risk of a knockdown, and possible cabin flooding, wet cells will leak and the acid and salt water create clorine gas. Not a good thing to have to deal with while dealing with another disaster. I do like the 6 volt golfcart batteries in series though. r.w.landau
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Tim Schaaf
Hydrocaps
Try a product called Hydrocaps (you will need some extra height in your battery compartment) to minimize gass and water loss, and help prevent loss of electrolyte in a knockdown.
Try a product called Hydrocaps (you will need some extra height in your battery compartment) to minimize gass and water loss, and help prevent loss of electrolyte in a knockdown.
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NEIL WALTERS
Gel Cells
I have a single gel cell on my 26 ft O"day with an outboard. my problem is I am not around to check my battery for months at a time.A gel cell with a small solar panel has proven by far to be the most economical way to go. My battery is always fully charged. No problems in over 3 years. With wet cells I'd replace them every year because they dried out while I was gone. Low inital cost is not always the cheapest way to go.
I have a single gel cell on my 26 ft O"day with an outboard. my problem is I am not around to check my battery for months at a time.A gel cell with a small solar panel has proven by far to be the most economical way to go. My battery is always fully charged. No problems in over 3 years. With wet cells I'd replace them every year because they dried out while I was gone. Low inital cost is not always the cheapest way to go.
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