This spring, I have had to put a new battery in my boat. The last one (a Sears Diehard Marine Gold deep cycle Group 27) lasted about two years and would no longer accept a charge last fall. I have been religious about not letting it sit discharged and checking water levels, etc. Since we used to sail on the Mississippi, we did motor more than we do here on the lake. I have a feeling that the Alternator on my 8HP Tohatsu overcharges the battery, which leads to excessive overheating, water loss and eventual shorts between the plates. Does anybody know of a regulator that can be installed on an outboard with an unregulated output. I have been unable to find one in the popular marine catalogs. Another reason to get a Honda outboard. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"