Professional Documents
Culture Documents
STARTING BATTERIES
Unless you have a small, pull-start outboard, your boat needs a
battery to start the engine. The cranking or starting batteries in
our comparison chart (page 24-25) are designed expressly for
this purpose, and then act as a sort of buffer while the engines
alternator carries the boats electrical load.
A starting battery delivers the sudden burst of starting power,
and afterward it takes it easy until its time to crank the engine
again. The engines charging system keeps the battery up while
boating, and only a minimum charging is usually needed after
an outing.
If you plug in a multibank on-board charger at the end of
the day, the starting batterys charge status light is usually the
first to indicate a full charge.
The most important rating on a starting batterys label is CA
(cranking amps) or MCA (marine cranking amps). Both tell you
how many amps a new, fully-charged battery at 32 degrees (F)
can deliver for 30 seconds without falling below 7.2 volts. This
number is important because it must meet or exceed the required
number of cranking amps listed in your engines owners manual.
If your manual only shows a Cold Cranking Amp (CCA)
rating and you are looking at batteries that only show a CA or
MCA rating, you can convert one to the other with the simple
formula (MCA x 0.8 = CCA) or conversely (CCA x 1.2 = MCA).
CCA is the automotive standard and it is calculated using the
same test as CA/MCA, but done at zero degrees (F). The CA/MCA
number is always higher because batteries are more efficient at
the warmer 32-degree temperature than they are at zero.
DEEP-CYCLE BATTERIES
Designed to power accessories such as lights, electronics and
pumps, the marine deep-cycle batteries in our chart are at the
opposite end of the spectrum from starting batteries.
Deep cycle describes the ability to be deeply discharged
before being recharged. These deep discharge/recharge cycles
are hard on battery plates, making it necessary to design deepcycle batteries with fewer, but thicker plates than those used in
starting batteries.
Fact is, starting batteries usually only survive a few deep cycles,
while deep-cycle batteries with a suitable MCA or CCA rating
for your engine can be used as permanent starting batteries.
The most important ratings on a deep-cycle batterys label
Sprialcell Technology
Patented design provides superior
performance and extended life
FLOODED-CELL BATTERIES
Flooded-cell batteries are the least
expensive and often the lightest design
for a given capacity rating. They come in
full-maintenance and maintenance-free
versions.
The full-maintenance models must be
cleaned and watered regularly. The tops
of their cases collect a caustic residue
from the normal gassing that occurs
during recharging. This gunk can build
up thick enough to pass a low-grade
current leak between the posts and rob
a small amount of battery capacity. The
residue also can speed corrosion on
battery posts and terminals if they are not
coated with a protective spray or grease.
Water is lost from the electrolyte during
BATTERY MANUFACTURER
CONTACT INFORMATION
its service life than a comparable floodedcell battery, which can make up for some
of the higher price.
ACDelco
800/223-3526; acdelco.com
GEL BATTERIES
Gel batteries are the least popular of the
sealed, maintenance-free designs, but
some boaters think they are the best. They
are generally more expensive and heavier
than other types with a similar capacity.
Gel battery manufacturers claim that
this technology has the longest shelf life
and the lowest level of self discharge.
Gelled electrolyte also cant stratify as
can occur with flooded-cell batteries, in
which the acid-heavy electrolyte falls to
the bottom of the plates. As a result, gel
batteries tend to be more efficient.
Crown Battery
419/334-7181; crownbattery.com
Deka, East Penn
610/682-4231; dekabatteries.com
Duracell
877/344-8971; driveduracell.com
Everstart
walmart.com
Exide
678/566-9000; exide.com
Interstate Batteries
888/772-3600; interstatebatteries.com
NEXT STEPS
The bottom line is that battery shopping
includes balancing quite a list of variables.
We suggest you begin with the batterys
purpose (starting/deep-cycle or both), and
once you have decided what you want the
battery to do, then settle on the technology
(flooded-cell/AGM/gel) that suits you best.
With these decisions in hand, peruse
our chart to find the battery or batteries
with enough capacity to serve as a cell
mate on your boat. TB
NA
This means the manufacturer doesnt post a particular rating or the
rating doesnt apply to a battery. Some manufacturers, for instance,
dont provide cranking amp numbers for their deep-cycle batteries
or state RC or AH ratings for starting batteries. We estimate ratings
in the chart where possible using formulas stated in the text.
Height
34
10 4 "
6 16"
7 78 "
24
10 14 "
6 1316"
8 78 "
24H
10 4 "
13
6 16"
9 38 "
27
12 116"
6 1316"
8 78 "
29H
13 18 "
6 34 "
9 18 "
30H
13 12 "
6 1316"
9 14 "
31
13"
6 1316"
9 716"
13
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
ACDelco
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Crown
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Deka
Duracell
Duracell
Everstart
Everstart
Everstart
Everstart
Everstart
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
MODEL
PURPOSE
GROUP SIZE
TYPE
AH (20hr)
Voyager C24MF
Voyager C24HP
Voyager M24MF
Voyager M27MF
Voyager M29MF
60 Series ACDM24C
60 Series ACDM27C
60 Series ACDM24DC
60 Series ACDM27DC
MAR 500
MAR 600
MAR 800
MAR 1000
MAR 1000X
24DP550
31DP800
24DC85
24DC95
27DC105
27DC115
31DC130
Marine Master 24M4
Marine Master 24M5
Marine Master 24M6
Marine Master 24M7
Marine Master 27M6
Marine Master DP24
Marine Master DP27
Marine Master DP31DT
Marine Master DC24
Marine Master DC27
Marine Master DC31DT
Dominator 8G24M
Dominator 8G27M
Dominator 8G31DTM
Intimidator 9A34M
Intimidator 8A24M
Intimidator 8A27M
Intimidator 8A31DTM
Extreme Power AGM34M
Extreme Power AGM31DC
24MS6
24DP4
24DC6
27DC6
Maxx 29
ORB34M-36
ORB34DC-36
MegaCycle MC-31
MegaCycle XMC-31
Nautilus HD-M-24
Nautilus XHD-M-24
Nautilus XXHD-M-24
Nautilus XXHD-M-27
Nautilus NC-24
Nautilus NC-27
Starting
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Starting
Starting
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Starting
Starting
Starting
Starting
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Starting
Starting
Starting
Starting
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Starting
Dual Purpose
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Starting
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Starting
Starting
Starting
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
24
24
24
27
29
24
27
24
27
24
24
24
24
27
24
31
24
24
27
27
31
24
24
24
24
27
24
27
31
24
27
31
24
27
31
34
24
27
31
34
31
24
24
24
27
29
34
34
31
31
24
24
24
27
24
27
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Gel
Gel
Gel
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
AGM/Spiral Cell
AGM/Spiral Cell
AGM
AGM
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded/Maint-Free
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
52
74
86
95
105
NA
NA
75 (est.)
96 (est.)
45
50
65
78
80
75
120
85
95
105
115
130
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
65
80
100
75
90
105
79.2 (est)
96 (est.)
108 (est.)
72 (est.)
81 (est.)
105 (est.)
120 (est.)
72 (est.)
120 (est.)
NA
105
75
115
125
NA
NA
100
100
NA
NA
NA
NA
70
100
MCA
630
1000
680
750
945
1000
1060
715
845
550
625
850
1000
1000
550
1000
560
730
625
845
1000
575
650
820
1000
1050
685
810
875
625
715
810
575
700
780
955
800
900
1000
955
1000
625
675
500
720
875
950
935
840
1110
525
650
1000
1000
625
730
RC
95
135
140
160
210
120
125
125
160
65
75
105
120
125
85
180
110
140
140
170
200
70
90
115
130
182
140
175
205
150
200
225
132
160
180
120
135
175
200
120
200
NA
140
100
160
205
95
100
200
200
65
80
115
180
120
160
36.5
44.2
44.6
50.1
58.8
45.6
54.4
41.2
49.3
37
39
44
46
51
40
60
44
50
51
60
66
32
35.5
40
45
56
42
49
57
45
53
59
52.5
63.2
70
41.5
53
63
69
41.5
69
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
38
41
71
68
33
36
56.5
57
43
56
$89
$110
$106
$115
$125
$103
$105
$94
$108
$83
$87
$101
$112
$120
$95
$122
$114
$125
$176
$142
$169
$107
$118
$143
$155
$208
$143
$164
$207
$163
$188
$214
$304
$366
$401
$255
$268
$316
$350
$200
$250
$55
$65
$58
$70
$75
$247
$267
$278
$302
$81
$88
$119
$126
$109
$123
BRAND
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Exide
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Lifeline
Lifeline
Lifeline
Lifeline
Lifeline
Lifeline
Lifeline
Odyssey*
Odyssey*
Odyssey*
Odyssey*
Optima
Optima
Optima
Optima
Rolls
Rolls
Rolls
Rolls
Rolls
Sears
Sears
Sears
Sears
Sears
Sears
Sears
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
Trojan
MODEL
Nautilus NG24
Nautilus NG27
Nautilus NG31
Prevailer PV-27DC
Prevailer PV-31
24M-RD
24M-HD
24M-XHD
27M-XHD
HD24-DP
SRM-24
SRM-27
SRM-27B
SRM-29
GPL-2400T
GPL-2700T
GPL-3100T
GPL-24T
GPL-27T
GPL-31T
GPL-30HT
34M-PC1500
31M-PC2150
PC2250
PC1800-FT
SC34M
SC34DM
SC27DM
SC31DM
24HT80
27HT90
27HT 105
30H-125
T-12-136
DieHard 24MS
DieHard 24 Starting
DieHard 24M DC/RV
DieHard 27M DC/RV
DieHard 29HM DC/RV
DieHard Platinum 34M
DieHard Platinum 31M
24TMX
27TMX
27TMH
J185H-AC
SCS150
SCS200
SCS225
24-AGM
27-AGM
31-AGM
31-AGM OverDrive
31-AGM TransPower
24-Gel
27-Gel
31-Gel
PURPOSE
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Starting
Starting
Starting
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Starting
Starting
Starting
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Starting
Starting
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Dual Purpose
Starting
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
Deep Cycle
GROUP SIZE
24
27
31
27
31
24
24
24
27
24
24
27
27
29
24
27
31
24
27
31
30H
34 (appr.)
31
Special
Special
34
34
27
31
24
27
27
30H
Special
24
24
24
27
29H
34
31
24
27
27
Special
24
27
30H
24
27
31
31
31
24
27
31
TYPE
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Gel
Gel
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM/Spiralcell
AGM/Spiralcell
AGM/Spiralcell
AGM/Spiralcell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
AGM
AGM
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
Flooded Cell
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
AGM
Gel
Gel
Gel
AH (20hr)
80
105
115
86
104
NA
NA
NA
NA
60 (est.)
84 (est.)
96 (est.)
108 (est.)
126 (est.)
NA
NA
NA
80
100
105
150
68
100
126
214
50
55
66
75
80
90
105
125
136
NA
NA
63 (est.)
81 (est.)
115
68
100
85
105
115
225
100
115
130
76
89
100
102
102
77
91
102
MCA
500
675
900
585
785
500
625
1000
1000
505
690
750
845
845
790
900
950
680
715
750
850
1050
1370
1550
1450
1000
870
1000
1125
405
506
475
500
640
672 (est.)
918 (est.)
678 (est.)
798 (est.)
810 (est.)
1056 (est.)
1380 (est.)
540
650
760
NA
650
760
820
600
660
720
720
1200
460
545
620
RC
140
182
205
155
196
75
95
135
180
100
140
160
180
210
NA
NA
NA
149
186
195
315
135
205
240
475
100
120
140
155
163
203
198
203
277
85
135
105
135
200
135
205
140
175
200
440
150
200
225
137
158
177
180
200
147
179
200
51
60
62
63
63
37
39
45
54
41
46
53
55
59
53
63
67
56
65
69
96
49.5
77.8
86
132.3
41
46
55
61
50
55
68
73
93
36
46
42
57
62
53
75
47
55
61
128
50
60
66
54
64
69
69
74.5
52
63
69
$129
$151
$172
$346
$386
$72
$80
$96
$107
$80
$91
$97
$104
$111
$265
$300
$330
$265
$300
$330
$435
$380
$551
$722
$957
$194
$226
$235
$268
$230
$252
$288
$370
$442
$85
$105
$95
$115
$135
$200
$270
$179
$199
$224
$428
$211
$241
$257
$269
$304
$328
$277
$349
$303
$366
$379
*Trolling Thunder Marine models; NA No information provided by manufacturer; Special See battery group size sidebar on page 22 for external dimensions
MAY 2011 TRAILER BOATS 25