From what I can gather, most 30's have a 2 battery bank. Has anyone thought about carrying a "hotshot" type emergency starting system. I've seen people carry them in cars and start 4-5 cars with them easily. They are self-contained and rechargeable! The cost is less than $50. It might be an alternative to installing a full time starting battery- -It would certainly be easier. Obviously it would not be an everyday usage, but how bout those times when our battery management is a little less that perfect? What you you think?
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Dave
Starting battery
Hi David: The problem I see is that the one time I needed it, it would be discharged. I am just lucky that way. It is not hard to install a second "house" battery in parallel with the dedicated house battery. Mine is located under the rear berth next to the water heater. 2 heavy cables run to the battery compartment/box. I have 2 grp 31 deep cycle for the house load, a total of 210 amp hours, and a group 27 starting battery for that purpose. We have refridgeration, TV, VCR, CD, and all the other toys, and spend a lot of time on the hook. We have never had a problem with this set up. good luck, Dave S/V Westwind
Hi David: The problem I see is that the one time I needed it, it would be discharged. I am just lucky that way. It is not hard to install a second "house" battery in parallel with the dedicated house battery. Mine is located under the rear berth next to the water heater. 2 heavy cables run to the battery compartment/box. I have 2 grp 31 deep cycle for the house load, a total of 210 amp hours, and a group 27 starting battery for that purpose. We have refridgeration, TV, VCR, CD, and all the other toys, and spend a lot of time on the hook. We have never had a problem with this set up. good luck, Dave S/V Westwind
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Mike I
Battery
I have worked as a heavy equipment electrician/mechanic for about 15 years and I have rarely seen a battery fail "just out of the blue". Part of my job is to check/repair starting and charging systems on anything from 125 ton Hydro-cranes to 1000W portable gensets. Neglect is far and away the major reason for failure. Of course batteries do wear out, but that is easy to detect in advance by visual inspection and/or a load test. My vote is to keep the existing battery in good, clean, working condition and forget the "emergency starters".
I have worked as a heavy equipment electrician/mechanic for about 15 years and I have rarely seen a battery fail "just out of the blue". Part of my job is to check/repair starting and charging systems on anything from 125 ton Hydro-cranes to 1000W portable gensets. Neglect is far and away the major reason for failure. Of course batteries do wear out, but that is easy to detect in advance by visual inspection and/or a load test. My vote is to keep the existing battery in good, clean, working condition and forget the "emergency starters".
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gary jensen
Extra Battery
I do carry a seperate starting system, much like the hot shot. It will allow me about 6 or 7 "starts" in addition to my present setup. My 380 has (2) four D batteries and a sepatate 27 series battery...I don't like the idea of having the boat out for extended days and having to worry about being able to start it up!!! The appliance cost me $40 and stores easily....cheap inserance...
I do carry a seperate starting system, much like the hot shot. It will allow me about 6 or 7 "starts" in addition to my present setup. My 380 has (2) four D batteries and a sepatate 27 series battery...I don't like the idea of having the boat out for extended days and having to worry about being able to start it up!!! The appliance cost me $40 and stores easily....cheap inserance...
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William Rogers
Why not?
There isn't much to think about here. I also carry a "Securestart" made by Boulder Tech. The thing weighs less than 5lbs and can almost fit in a shoe box. It cost me less than hundred dollars. Can't go wrong there. Wise choice.
There isn't much to think about here. I also carry a "Securestart" made by Boulder Tech. The thing weighs less than 5lbs and can almost fit in a shoe box. It cost me less than hundred dollars. Can't go wrong there. Wise choice.
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Bob Sawyer
Emergency Battery Pack
I have an emergency battery pack and I've used it to start my A4 when I ran down my batteries. It's really usefull if you're on a mouring rather than a slip where shore power is available. I also used it for my 69 MGB that always seems to have a mysterious drain on its battery. I highly recommend it. I believe it cost me about $75 at NAPA. Another emergency possibility - My mechanic said that I should be able to start my A4 while under sail without using the starter. Just turn on the key, have the boat under sail and put in gear. Has anyone tried that? Can't wait til spring to give it a try.
I have an emergency battery pack and I've used it to start my A4 when I ran down my batteries. It's really usefull if you're on a mouring rather than a slip where shore power is available. I also used it for my 69 MGB that always seems to have a mysterious drain on its battery. I highly recommend it. I believe it cost me about $75 at NAPA. Another emergency possibility - My mechanic said that I should be able to start my A4 while under sail without using the starter. Just turn on the key, have the boat under sail and put in gear. Has anyone tried that? Can't wait til spring to give it a try.
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Rob Rich
A4 Kick Start
Hey - That's a great idea. I'm not sure the water flowing over the prop will provide enough pressure to crank the A-4 over, but I'll give it a whirl this weekend. Rob
Hey - That's a great idea. I'm not sure the water flowing over the prop will provide enough pressure to crank the A-4 over, but I'll give it a whirl this weekend. Rob
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Bob Carlton
Be careful
about relying on the Bolder Tech system (even the "marine" version) if you intend to use it for starting a diesel. They are designed to start gasoline engines (quick burst) as opposed to diesels (which require more sustained power to heat glow plugs and turn over diesel engines). As I remember, neither the information on the box nor in the literature inside the box discloses the fact that the product is not for use with a diesel. I learned this after I bought one, became curious and ultimately looked at the Bolder Tech web site (which does state that it is not suitable for starting diesels) and confirmed that in a telephone conversation with someone at Bolder Tech. I talked with a Bolder Tech rep at the Portland, Or. Boat Show a couple of weeks ago who said that they are working on a portable starter battery for diesels but it is not yet on the market.
about relying on the Bolder Tech system (even the "marine" version) if you intend to use it for starting a diesel. They are designed to start gasoline engines (quick burst) as opposed to diesels (which require more sustained power to heat glow plugs and turn over diesel engines). As I remember, neither the information on the box nor in the literature inside the box discloses the fact that the product is not for use with a diesel. I learned this after I bought one, became curious and ultimately looked at the Bolder Tech web site (which does state that it is not suitable for starting diesels) and confirmed that in a telephone conversation with someone at Bolder Tech. I talked with a Bolder Tech rep at the Portland, Or. Boat Show a couple of weeks ago who said that they are working on a portable starter battery for diesels but it is not yet on the market.
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