What size battery for H26.5

Don S/V ILLusion · Jan 14, 2012

Kind of depends on what your power demands are, e,g, radar, electronics, refrigeration, lights, etc.. rather than the boat or space. Figure out what your typical demand is between recharging and buy batteries twice that load to ensure you don't deplete them too much.

Benny17441 · Jan 14, 2012

Don is correct, you size the battery banks according to your needs and not to the boat. I know, you are probably saying that this don't help any. Let's give it a try, whatever batteries you get make sure they are "deep discharge" and not "starting batteries" as they will hold up longer to repeated cycles of deep discharge. A good basic setup would be two group 27 wet cell batteries 12Volts in parallel. These batteries have a capacity of about 100 amps each. Battery manufacturers indicate that 50% discharge is the maximum recommended discharge to provide for a longer useful life. This means that with a total capacity of 200 amps you can use 100 amps before recharging. That is a lot of amps for one day but if you plan longer trips away from a recharging source you need to watch your consumption. Don't know your plans wether trailer, mooring or marina but you have to define and figure out a source of recharging. Wether on the trailer at home or at a marina slip if you have access to 120V shorepower you can use an electrical charger. On mooring it becomes more of a challenge to use wind or solar power.

Barnacle Bill · Jan 17, 2012

Well, most people would buy a starting battery and a deep cell battery. You want to get in the habit of using the starting battery only for starting and running your motor and then the deep cycle for when you are under way (sailing) or on a mooring or at anchor. The deep cycle is designed to have more amp hours for running lights, electronics and other on board 12v items. If you get into this habit, you will always have a good battery for starting and won't accidentally run it down with cabin lights, etc. The electrical demands for a Hunter 26.5 can't be much unless you installed refrigeration or something.

Crazy Dave Condon · Jan 19, 2012

Responses from Benny and Barnacle Bill are excellent. The standard battery often supplied with a new boat is a group 24 usually one and then the next size is the group 27 and depending on usage and type of battery will be your determination what to use.

I am not sure if you have an electric start outboard but if you do, never switch the batttery charger with the engine running if you have a two battery bank.

shanker · Jan 19, 2012

Crazy Dave, can you elaborate on that.

Crazy Dave Condon · Jan 23, 2012

When I use to purchase the 26.5 boats for resale, it came from Hunter supplied with one battery, usally a groupo 24 battery. Depending on usage which of course is the biggest determination, a second battery was added. Most people refer to amp usage. Simply put, you can run interior lights maybe 2-3 nights before recharging the single battery but with two, then you double the nights again depending on how many lights are draining the power source. An inverter will even draw the amperage down faster. . With the group 24 battery which is the smallest battery offered, the next size is the 27 which has more amp. or more stored power. Of course I will speak in layman's terms as many do not know what we are talking about amp hours, battery groups and so forth.

With an electric start engine starting at 8 hp, generally you will draw 18-22 amps , when you are starting the engine with electric start. When the engine is running, then it is recharging the battery or batteries anywhere between 3-6 amps. In the case of a dual battery system, generally there is a battery selector.

When I installed a battery selector, I made sure it was the kind with a quick field disconnect as some do not have that. Why? When the engine is running with electric start, I told my customers never to switch the battery selector as you could possibly destroy the internal alternator within the engine by switching that selector. I have seen it happen but I am not a mechanic; therefore, do not ask me any further on that other than what I said.

For most using outboard engines, I never will suggest anything above 10 hp on the backend of the trailerable sailboats. The transom is not built for the weight. In addition, many of the outboard motor brackets will specify that as well.

I hope this explains why.

Crazy Dave

Bill Roosa · Jan 23, 2012

Look under the resources tab in the download section. There is a spreadsheet that will help you determine the loads and give you some ideas on how much recharging will be needed for your load/battery storage

John A12737 · Jan 24, 2012

Where is the second battery? I only have one, but with the motor, battery and cooler compartment on the starboard side, the boat leans while in the slip.
Great sailing boat... enjoy!!