Choosing the Right Boat Batteries

As boats come in various sizes and have different electrical needs, the required boat batteries will vary too. A small outboard powered boat needs the battery to start up the engine, while a boat with an electric trolling motor needs the battery to run the motor itself. In bigger boats the batteries must also be able to run various electrical equipment on board. What you use the battery for and how often you use your boat will help determine the type of boat battery you need.

Types of boat batteries

Boat batteries are mainly of two types: starter batteries and deep cycle batteries. The difference between the two types is their basic construction and the type of output they give out.

Starter batteries have a large number of thin plates and are designed to give a high burst of current for a short time to start the engine. They are not designed to supply continuous current for long periods of time and can only be discharged by about 5% of their capacity before needing recharging without damaging them.

Deep cycle batteries on the other hand have much thicker plates and are designed to give out continuous power over long periods of time. These batteries can be discharged up to 80% of their capacity without recharging or damaging them.

There is one more type of battery which is a hybrid between the starting battery and the deep cycle battery. This battery has plates that are thicker than the starting battery but thinner than the deep cycle battery. These batteries can usually withstand up to 50% of discharge without harming them. They have the capability of giving the high burst of current as well as giving continuous power over a period of time. These types of batteries are usually labelled as leisure batteries.

Choosing boat batteries

To get the most out of marine boat batteries you have to consider the cost, the life expectancy and the way in which they will be used.

• In general starter batteries are the cheapest of the battery types. If you use your battery only for starting the outboard engine and you use the boat only on weekends in summer, you could use a starter battery.
• On the other hand if you use the battery for a trolling motor and need continuous power for a few hours, you would be better off with a deep cycle battery.
• If you have a large boat with a lot of electrical equipment and you use the boat for long periods at a time, it is advisable that you have deep cycle boat batteries. These batteries are expensive compared to starter or leisure batteries, but they are designed to give you the electric power you need to run all that electrical equipment for long periods of time before needing to be recharged.

Choosing the right boat batteries for your needs will make your days on the water more enjoyable and ensure you don’t run into too many problems.

If you need advice on choosing boat batteries, please contact us at Pb Batteries and we’ll be happy to help.