Less than 12

[CharlzO]

Just had another thought. Carry a battery-booster pack as a backup option?

 

[Davidasailor26]

My grandfather did something like this once. He tried to start the inboard/outboard on his small powerboat one morning and it wouldn't turn. He assumed that the battery had gone bad, so he went and grabbed one that was laying around and hooked it up in series. It still wouldn't turn, so I guess he figured may as well grab another and add it too. The problem he didn't know was that overnight a corner of the boat had gotten trapped under the dock in a rising tide, sending water up the exhaust and hydrolocking the engine. Three batteries were enough to turn it, but as you can imagine, not with the intended effect. One new engine later everything was as good as new.

 

[JamesG161]

Just had another thought. Carry a battery-booster pack as a backup option?

I have this backup for...
1) Engine/genset start 700A
2) Portable 12VDC lighter style sources
3) iDevice charging via 5mA USB plug
4) Lend out at berth for those in need.
5) Portable beam light
6) Jumper cables
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--700-peak-amp-jumpstarter--15808504
Or it "Big Brother", 1000A
7) 120 psi tire or accessory low volume inflator.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--1000-amp-jumpstarter--15808512
Or similar device.
BTW, I have never used it for #1 and more for #4, since I monitor my battery states.
Jim...

 

[All U Get]

My grandfather did something like this once. He tried to start the inboard/outboard on his small powerboat one morning and it wouldn't turn. He assumed that the battery had gone bad, so he went and grabbed one that was laying around and hooked it up in series. It still wouldn't turn, so I guess he figured may as well grab another and add it too.

Did he serve with Patton? My father started his truck with a screw driver many times either down the carburetor or jumping the starter.

Thanks Kloudie1, I watched that several times.

So while everyone else is shoveling snow today, I'm walking to the beach and thinking about this some more.

All U Get

 

[druid]

Yes, one thing I forgot to mention is jumper cables. I've borrowed a battery from another nearby boat (in the Gulf Islands, even Desolation Sound, there's ALWAYS a "nearby boat"!), and jumpered it directly to the engine (turn the battery switch OFF - that way the borrowed battery doesn't try to charge your dead ones). I also have a "spare" battery when I use an electric trolling motor on the dinghy (works great!). I use jumper cables to connect it to the house battery to charge it when the engine's running, or I could jumper it directly to the engine to start it.

druid