New Battery
- Thread starter Louis
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how big do you need?
Your answer is predicated on how much power you draw before recharging and the capacity of your alternator or shore power charger or whatever you use to recharge. All of these, and especially the first, should determine what size battery you should have. As a general rule, you should not discharge a (deep cycle)battery more than 50% of it's rating and you should be able to recharge whatever has been drained in a reasonable time. Analyze all of your electrical needs to determine the general capacity required and size the recharging source accordingly. As far as where to buy whatever you decide, there are only around 4 actual battery mfgs available in the U.S. but lots of labels and prices so where you buy is less important that what you buy. Quality is not always directly related to price.
Your answer is predicated on how much power you draw before recharging and the capacity of your alternator or shore power charger or whatever you use to recharge. All of these, and especially the first, should determine what size battery you should have. As a general rule, you should not discharge a (deep cycle)battery more than 50% of it's rating and you should be able to recharge whatever has been drained in a reasonable time. Analyze all of your electrical needs to determine the general capacity required and size the recharging source accordingly. As far as where to buy whatever you decide, there are only around 4 actual battery mfgs available in the U.S. but lots of labels and prices so where you buy is less important that what you buy. Quality is not always directly related to price.
Hear is a link with everthing you want to know
http://www.phrannie.org/battery.html My preference is for golf cart batteries because they last the longest in my experience. They come in 6 volts so you need two connected in series to make 12 volts. Sams Club has these for 65 dollars each. Will last you 5 years or more in normal use. If you think that is too much weight a AGM would be the next best choice. Standard Marine battery at Walmart is fine also if you don't push it to much and only expect a couple of years life.
http://www.phrannie.org/battery.html My preference is for golf cart batteries because they last the longest in my experience. They come in 6 volts so you need two connected in series to make 12 volts. Sams Club has these for 65 dollars each. Will last you 5 years or more in normal use. If you think that is too much weight a AGM would be the next best choice. Standard Marine battery at Walmart is fine also if you don't push it to much and only expect a couple of years life.
Louis, were you satisfied with the battery you have before it
went bad? If so, replace it with the same size (or as large as will fit in your battery case) from WalMart or Sams or similar. Make sure you get a deep cycle and can easily get to it for routine maintenance. Now with that short answer, Don was right on. To properly select a battery, you need to do a rough energy budget and match the size/type with the charging capacity you have.
went bad? If so, replace it with the same size (or as large as will fit in your battery case) from WalMart or Sams or similar. Make sure you get a deep cycle and can easily get to it for routine maintenance. Now with that short answer, Don was right on. To properly select a battery, you need to do a rough energy budget and match the size/type with the charging capacity you have.
I agree with Don
I agree with Don. There are not that many manufacturers of batteries, marketing claims of reliability are made by the companies that private label them for retail. Longevity of a battery is much more a factor of use, not brand. -Dave
I agree with Don. There are not that many manufacturers of batteries, marketing claims of reliability are made by the companies that private label them for retail. Longevity of a battery is much more a factor of use, not brand. -Dave
Deep Cell or Golf Cart
It really depends if you spend only the weekends using the battery and night crusing. All we have on the Hunter 23 are the nav lights (2-10 watts) for front and back and the mast light (1-10 watt, seldom used unless you are spending the night away from the slip). The cabin has 2-10 watts lights, seldom used. I have a fish finder connected to the battery that I use for depth, speed, and water temperature (you get more for your money for this setup than the standard ones made for the sailboat, well that is another subject). I bought a moderate priced deep cycle battery at a sporting goods store and the battery has never been too low on battery power during weekend use. Many of the deep cycles also has starting on the label too(few Hunter 23 has an outboard with electric start), but this has not made any differance to me for a shorter life battery. The heavier the battery the better, more plates to hold the charge. I take the battery back home to charge after the weekend. If you need more battery power, there is an area next to the battery box for a second battery if you remove the container that provides water for the small sink. Just place a second battery box at that location securing it with wood screws on the rased platform. A batery switch from one battery to the other would work nicely. I don't know about you, but the sink and stove were never used by me, so I removed the whole sliding section which gave more seating area. I think batteries are fairly easy to find for the Hunter 23, it is finding the 10 watt light feston light bulbs that are hard to find, unless you order online.
It really depends if you spend only the weekends using the battery and night crusing. All we have on the Hunter 23 are the nav lights (2-10 watts) for front and back and the mast light (1-10 watt, seldom used unless you are spending the night away from the slip). The cabin has 2-10 watts lights, seldom used. I have a fish finder connected to the battery that I use for depth, speed, and water temperature (you get more for your money for this setup than the standard ones made for the sailboat, well that is another subject). I bought a moderate priced deep cycle battery at a sporting goods store and the battery has never been too low on battery power during weekend use. Many of the deep cycles also has starting on the label too(few Hunter 23 has an outboard with electric start), but this has not made any differance to me for a shorter life battery. The heavier the battery the better, more plates to hold the charge. I take the battery back home to charge after the weekend. If you need more battery power, there is an area next to the battery box for a second battery if you remove the container that provides water for the small sink. Just place a second battery box at that location securing it with wood screws on the rased platform. A batery switch from one battery to the other would work nicely. I don't know about you, but the sink and stove were never used by me, so I removed the whole sliding section which gave more seating area. I think batteries are fairly easy to find for the Hunter 23, it is finding the 10 watt light feston light bulbs that are hard to find, unless you order online.
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