I need battery info.

[Rich Woodward]

I need to replace the batteries in my new (1982) Hunter 27. It has not been used for several years and the batteries are completely dead, probably not worth trying to revive. What is the best batteries to replace them with, taking into account cost and efficiency. (Best being a relative term, of course.)

 

[Benny]

Deep Cycle

Whatever you get, get some deep cycle batteries and a pair of the same. Batteries should be similar in specs and age for best working results. You will use your batteries mostly as house batteries prone to deep discharge and multiple recharges. Cranking amps of 500 will be adequate to start the motor. Required capacity will be determined by the amount of electrical draw and the interval of time between charges. As far return on $$ I have purchased cheap batteries that gave me good service and some expensive ones that went bad pretty soon but overall a good brand name battery will give you the best reliability. That 72 month warranty does not do much for you out in the water. Our last jump by Sea Tow cost $167.00 (not my boat and covered by the owners insurance) so you may get the picture. Check the acid level often and keep the fully charged for a longer life. A two battery switch is a must.

 

[Rich Woodward]

What size?

I neglected to request the size for the batteries. Since there are two batteries (and a switch) already in the boat, I have assumed that this is normal, but would like to put in the largest batteries that I can. If anyone could be any help to specific sizes, I would appreciate it.Thanks

 

[Pat McCartin]

batteries

If your batteries are under the cockpit behind the motor, consider two golf cart batteries in series. This nets you 225 useable amp hours.

 

[Jim]

I'd go with starting batteries

I do mostly daysailing, and I normally motor for about 45 minutes each time out which seems to be plenty of time to recharge the battery power I expend during a normal day on the lake.Deep cycle batteries will last longer between charges but they also have a tendency to develop a "memory" if they are not heavily discharged between recharges causing them to not only have less starting current then the same size starting battery (that's normal) but lose their "deep cycle" capability. They are also more expensive then starting batteries.I have a hunter 30 and have 2 west marine starting batteries (the smallest size they sell I think, about $40 each), wired to a 1,2,off,both switch and west marine combiner connected between them.I normally just leave the battery switch on one battery and forget it. I play the radio all day, cabin and running lights in the evenings and at anchor at night, fire up the blender, the vaccuum cleaner and occasional tools off a 750 watt inverter.I've got a little cigarette lighter plug in digital voltmeter I got out of JC Whiney that reads voltage to the tenth of a volt and has High, Med and Low leds.When it gets to 11 volts I fire up the engine for awhile (it takes a long day of loud music and kids playing cards under cabin lights to need this) and if I forget and run that battery down to low to turn over the Yanmar, I just swap to the back-up battery which gets automatically recharged then switched out of the bank whenever the engine runs and stops by the combiner.