Having to replace them frequently because they don’t have a long lifespan or warranty will add up quickly.Īnd last, but certainly not least, weight. That’s not going to make for a fun vacation. Likewise, imagine taking your friends out on your sailboat for a weekend and having your battery system croak on you. You don’t want to be a few miles off-shore on a fishing trip and not be able to start up your motor to get home because your battery died. Reliability and lifespan are also essential to consider when selecting your marine battery. Efficiency in a battery means that you can discharge your battery to 80% or more of its capacity without damaging it and then recharge it quickly.

Regardless of your application, there are some things to keep in mind when looking for any marine battery.Įfficiency is critical. The best boat battery for you will always depend on how you’re using it. Your application will determine if you need a starting battery, a deep-cycle battery system, or maybe you only need a single multi-purpose battery. What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Boat Battery? In many ways, a houseboat system battery bank is no different than a battery system for an off-grid home or an RV. This includes lights, fans, DC appliance power and possibly inverters. Unlike recreational boats and fishing boats, live-aboard boats need battery systems to provide power to all of the electronics and appliances that you need for daily living. Like most boats, they need a starting battery to start the motor. Live-aboard vessels such as houseboats, sailboats, and catamarans also require multiple battery types. Separate Starting & House System Boat Battery Banks This could also leave you stranded because your trolling motor could kill the starting battery. Not only would the battery drain quickly, deep cycling a starting or multi-purpose battery damages the battery. Trying to power a trolling motor all day on a starting or multi-purpose battery would not work. Separate Starting & Trolling Motor Batteryĭedicated fishing boats with a trolling motor require a starting battery and a deep-cycle trolling marine battery bank. Accidently leaving lights on or running the radio too long could damage the battery however and leave you stranded, unable to start your engine. The sustained power draw on the battery is very low, and you typically wouldn’t be draining it enough to cause damage. The battery’s main purpose is to start the motor and maybe power your radio or running lights if it gets dark on you. Multi-purpose battery systems are common in day-use boats, like speed boats or for general recreation. The simplest system is the single multi-purpose battery bank. There are typically three types of boat power and battery systems to consider when selecting the best boat battery. The construction of the multi-purpose battery allows it to start small boat motors while also powering lights and gauges that don’t draw a lot of power. Multi-purpose boat batteries combine some of the benefits of a starting battery with a deep-cycle battery. This is called “deep cycling.” However, deep-cycle batteries cannot provide the cranking amps needed to start large motors. Depending on the type of deep-cycle battery, you can repeatedly drain them to 80% or more of their capacity without causing damage. Draining them below 50% causes damage to them and shortens their lifespan.ĭeep-cycle marine batteries can be drained slowly over long periods.

They provide a short burst of power (cranking amps) to start your boat motor. Starting boat batteries are similar to the starting battery in your car. There are three general types of marine batteries to consider: Starting boat batteries, deep-cycle marine batteries, and multi-purpose boat batteries. On the other hand, fishing boats and live-aboard vessels may require multiple battery types to run household systems or electric motors. In smaller, day-use boats, your marine battery must also power the lights, gauges, pumps, and other electronics. Your boat motor still needs a battery to start it, but there may be many other power needs that the battery will supply. After the engine starts, the alternator takes over to power all of the electronics in your car and recharge the battery.īoat batteries often have different demands on them. To do this, the battery needs to deliver a lot of amperage for just a few seconds. Your car battery’s job is to provide enough power to turn over, or start, your engine when it is cold. What is Special About a Marine Battery for a Boat?

What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Boat Battery?.

Separate Starting & House System Boat Battery Banks.

Separate Starting & Trolling Motor Battery.

What is Special About a Marine Battery for a Boat?.

Boat battery monitor system