Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Yes I know you experts have been over this a thousand times, but if you don't mind, one more time for me!


I have two boats, the pontoon and an old Bass Tracker I. I will make the assumption that both should be set up the same way.

There has always been confusion for me in the types of battery needed but I think the head is clearing enough now that I actually might understand.

There should be a starter battery and an accessory battery. The starter battery is a regular battery whereas the accessory battery is a Deep Cycle battery. The starter battery is strictly for starting and the accessory battery is for everything else. In my case, lights, power ladder, trolling motor, radio and any additional item I install.

Is this correct so far?

So I need to two different batteries, one regular and one deep cycle. Now how do I charge them both? Or do I just charge the starter battery from the motor and leave the other battery alone until I dock and charge it then with a separate battery charger?

Thanks!

Hayden I only use 1 battery. I have a large capacity deep cycle/starting battery. I have never run it down on lake to point I couldn't start motor. Now if you plan on running stereo and lots of speakers all day then a second might be justified. I only have radio that came with boat and 2 speakers.

I also have only one battery, but then I don't have a huge stereo either.

You could get a smart charger that will charge both batteries from the engine alternator.

I have no choice as my TM is 36V, so I have four, my deep draws have their own charger to maintain them, the engine takes care of the starting battery.

Just run one on mine. Don't have a trolling motor or high wattage stereo. Funny haven't even checked to see what came with mine, but pretty sure judging from the case size it is the starter size battery. Plan to put a charge on it tomorrow. I always buy the larger (trolling motor size) when I get a replacement usually at Walmart. Got two in the garage. Think they run about 78 bucks, a little more than the starter battery but you have more reserve capacity. Had planned on running two with a perko switch but really don't need it. I always charge one the night before going to the lake take it along just in case there is a problem.
doc

The Party Cruiser's got 4 batteries (2 factory, starting and house power, 1 I added for the fridge and 1 spare I leave charged up for the dinghy which has an electric motor.

I have 2 on board 2 bank chargers and a battery switch. Normally, the switch is set to #1 position to charge the starting battery. I can set it to #2 or all to charge as needed.

Also have the Honda Generator onboard.

I don't have a high amp stereo to drain a battery. All I have is the starter, small stereo, and normal running lights. I do have trolling motor and occassionally I use a converter for additional lights or if I run to run a vaccum. That is for the pontton. The bass boat is just the motor, running lights and trolling motor. However after being out for several hours with the trolling motor I assumed I would need a second battery, specifically for it.

I hate being several miles away on the lake and finding I don't have enough power to start the motor.

Am I worrying for nothing?

I use starting-deep cycle dual use batteries. I think the best is Odyssey http://www.odysseybatteries.com/.

Now Odyssey is making the Sears Die Hard Platinum series for Sears. Same exact battery but less expensive and available at Sears nationwide. These are pricey, the group 31 Marine battery is $240 http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... +Batteries.

I used to run the Optima but have had poor luck with those since they were bought out.

I was running 2 Optima blue top marine batteries in my Excursion with a refrigerator that draws 6 amps. They ran down on me several times where the truck would not start. So far with the non-marine Sears Platinum I have not run them down to the no start point but the summer heat is just beginning.

It is bad business to be on the water with a dead battery. It also sucks to arrive at the lake and have the boat not start. If you have one battery get a good one like the marine platinum and get the biggest that you can fit. If you have 2 batteries I would get 2 of the marine platinum from Sears.

Now for folks who have house circuits on board there are better setups with large deep cycle only batteries. The 12 volt side of life http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm

Dunbar

i have a big high power stereo but don't usually play it really loud for hours.
like lr i run one large capacity deep cycle/starting battery. i run the engine
every two or three hours and have never had a problem. i've bought a few
batteries from wal-mart and they don't last as long as the one i got from
batteries plus awhile back. so i think i'll go back there next time. i used to have
a second battery onboard but it's too heavy to justify, so now i carry one
of those jump starter boxes. weighs a lot less and can start the engine.

Starting battery for the motor
Deep cycle for running 'stuff'
Then there is the 'Marine" battery....basically abit of both worlds, but not the best at either...

They are built totally differently.... LOTS more lead in a deep cycle, least in a starting, middle of the road with a marine.

A starting battery is great for Large amp demands for a short duration, like starting.
A deep cycle is great for low amp demand, over a long period of time.
Neither does as well as the other when reversed. Can they do it? yes, but its not their specialty and when reversed, the starting battery wont last long and the deep cycle hates putting up a bunch of amps...
Plus a deep cycle doent like having a bunch of amps slammed back into it quickly during recharge.

Also... BE CAREFUL if you have a: Batt 1-Batt 2-Both switch.
SWITCHING WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WILL CAUSE THE ALTERNATOR TO NOT BE HOOKED UP TO A BATTERY FOR A SPLIT SECOND WHILE TURNING THE KNOB. This split second is MORE then long enough to FRY your alternator...
DONT switch SQUAT while the engine is running!

More battery questions?
Butt load of info..
12 volt side of life

I have the duel batteries on my Sun Tracker. The batteries charge from the alt in my outboard, so I only have to check them about once a month. When I went to put the batteries in the boat over the weekend they were both fully charged from last November. Put in fresh gas, primed the line, set up he water and muffs and the engine started right up.

I like the idea of redundant batteries... I bought a battery switch like this one from overtons:



Its nice to know that I can disconnect my battery's in the winter, and if one runs down I have the second. If they both run down I can select all and toghether they might have enough juice to start the boat.

walt, those switches are supposed to be make-before-break,
but i don't trust 'em.