What Battery

[Keith13315]

I bought a used 31 ft Hunter it had 2 house batteries and one starting battery. We sail and every night we have shore power. I only run the chart plotter, stereo, and refrigerator while out on the water and, if at night, the nav lights. I am thinking there is about one more season in the batteries, I bought new ones 4 seasons ago. So my question is should I stay with the two group 24 or move into a group 31 or higher for a single battery for the house bank?
Thanks
Keith

 

[Tim R.]

I like using two 6v batteries in series for my house bank. 215 amp hours.

 

[Ron20324]

If you're in a marina every night, one 31 should suffice for a day. However, two is a good plan in case you lose shore power or it's not available. I changed my 24 house to two 31's and have never worried about having enough juice for a 3-day weekend. I kept a 24 as my main start battery, although I can switch beween any one battery to start.

 

[SeaRanch]

When I had a 1987 H31, I replaced the 2 house flooded batteries with AGM's. The batteries were mounted behind the engine, a hot, enclosed location, the AGM,s did not need to "vent" and never had any problems. Also added an AGM for a starting battery.

Traded up last year to a Catalina 387, when it needed batteries I put in AGM's house and starting.

Bill

 

[Steve Dion]

Keith: You really don't have a lot of choice if you want to leave your batteries mounted over the shaft log. I doubt that anything taller than a G31 would fit. I used Gel G31 from WM on my H'31. They only lasted for 10+ years.

 

[Nereussailor]

I have 4-6v golf cart batteries in my H30 for a house bank. I've had them for 5 years, and they are still working great. I'm running them in series and parallel, and get 430 amp hours. They're from Sam's Club. I was in the Auto section today, looking at tires and noticed that they were running about $75 each.

Dave

 

[wufibugs]

I have the same boat, Keith, which came with same setup, 2 24s over the shaft log as Steve says, and the cranking batt under the starboard seat. I happened on 3 nearly new Lifeline AGM 31s, and reversed the original configuration. I mounted the house pair in batt boxes under the starboard seat and the single cranking batt in a box over the shaft log. With a batt box, the 31 in the engine compartment will have some sliight clearance issue with the base for the aft berth, but I can work that out. The 31 batt boxes, BTW are $8 at Wal-Mart.

 

[Tom Spohn]

Assuming space is not a problem, I recommend two 6volt D-145 batteries over two size 31 12 volt batteries. The 6volt combo will give a bit more juice in the same space as the 12volt. Also the slightly greater weight means more lead and allows for deeper discharge.

http://www.dynobattery.com/prod01.htm

 

[Steve Dion]

As I said, if you want to keep your batteries over the shaft log, G31's are the max size for that area. If you move the to the location in the starboard lazarette where they were on the early model, you can use much taller batteries.

The problem with adding batteries on the starboard side, is the fact that most of these boats already have a starboard list. Adding a couple of 6 volts will just make the problem much worse.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=25&aid=6841&page=article&mn=31_83-87

 

[wufibugs]

Steve makes a good point which is why when I relocated the house bank the starboard lazarette, I thought about putting cranking batt under the portside cabin seat. Just too much work and loss of valuable storage space. Will try to mount as much weight from other components to port. Steve, do you thing the starboard list is because the galley, head and fuel tank are all to starboard?

 

[Steve Dion]

Yes, I think that is correct. The only major weight on the port side is the water tank which is about 250 lbs. You have the head, galley (refrig), and fuel all sitting on the starboard side.

I believe this is why Hunter moved those batteries to the center position. The best place for 2-3 batteries would be under that settee on the port side, but you are looking at a long battery cable run.

 

[Keith13315]

Thanks for all the input I knew I could count on you guys for a lot of good thought.
Thanks I will post what I do (when I do it) right now it is on the hard all shrink wrapped and cold BURRRRR!!!!!

 

[jcherubini]

(6v x 6v) vs (12v + 12v)?

I have a question-- what is the benefit of having two 6v batteries, each the size of a size-24 or -27, wired in series to get 12v, over having two 12v size-24 batteries in parallel? Would I have more amps available?

I apologize for never really understanding the 6v issue.

I have two battery boxes, one under each berth, aft of the water tanks (also under the berths for weight distribution). I will add a 3rd one under the cockpit for the outboard when I get an electric-start motor. The batteries are standard 12v size-24 deep-cycles (and I'm about to get new ones in fact).

 

[Stu Jackson]

Link for you

jc, here's some battery information that should explain it for you: http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm

 

[Bill Roosa]

Cost

Two 6 volt golf cart batteries are cheaper than two 12 volt batteries which can provide the same amp-hours (Ah).
You will not be able to get more "amps" out of either one unless you have a pretty big load to run it into. Both are capable of supplying thousands of amps for a limited time.

 

[Ron20324]

The trend is, that if you have only one 12-volt battery, stay with that. If you have two or more, go with 6-volt-ers if you have the space, but it sounds like you do not have room for that (4 6's)?