Which Marine battery to purchase!!

yamaha140 · 09 April 2013, 09:10

Dearest friends,

I want to buy a marine battery for my boat a 75 amp/h one.

I am a bit confused which is the best to buy if either a liquid type or a gel type marine one. Can anyone give me some advice please?? appreciate all kinds of ideas.

Thanks in advance,

Yam 140.

thomas · 09 April 2013, 09:38

'Liquid' the gel batteries can't cope with the starting loads and overheat - NuMax seem to be popular - I've never had any problems with them.

Jizm · 09 April 2013, 10:40

Had a few off of batterymegauk on ebay. No problems so far. Based in Gloucester.

ribber · 09 April 2013, 11:11

Been in my boat now for nearly 8 years. Can't complain at that.

Varta Professional DC LFD75

9D280 · 09 April 2013, 16:34

Whatever you do - if you go for a liquid one - make sure it's a sealed type!
("Maintenance free" in sales speak)

OTher Q- is it just to crank the engine, or do you have a load of electronics / nav lights etc hangiong off it as well? If so a leisure battery might ba a good idea - although I ran a rib on a "standard" 60Ah battery for 4 years. I had to replace it, but it was half the price of the (discounted) leisure battery I put in recently.

If you are only starting the engine & a VHF a "standard car" battery will probably work OK, as long as you can keep it topped up.

chris.moody · 09 April 2013, 17:00

I bought two of these and they work great as either a leisure battery, or starter battery (and it's cranking an inboard diesel with no glow plugs).

http://www.tayna.co.uk/Leisure-Battery-Powerline-110-CaravanLeisureMarine-Battery-P7714.html

No connection with Tayna other than being a satisfied customer.

Dry Run · 09 April 2013, 20:55

My experience of gel batteries is that if you keep your boat stored in the winter (ie you don't use it), there is agood chance that the battery will "die"! It can sometimes be "shocked" back to life, but I think I prefer the normal type overall!

Downhilldai · 09 April 2013, 21:04

Typical 'leisure' batteries aren't really suitable for high load cranking, they're more of a slow discharge/re-charge type of unit, designed to run lights, water pumps, etc in caravans over a weekend away where no mains connection is available. This is why they have a generally high Ah capacity, but a low Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) rating.

A really good compromise is the Numax CXV24MF, which has enormous 900 CCA and a relatively high 86Ah in a small enough casing to fit in a red battery box:

Numax CXV24MF Heavy Duty Maintenance Free Leisure Marine Battery 86 Ah 900 CCA | eBay

I've run a few of these over the last 5 years and they've been excellent.

Turbodiesel · 09 April 2013, 21:14

We always use numax, never had one go wrong yet!

Oscarguitar · 09 April 2013, 21:41

Get an AGM battery and forget about it. Odyssey make a very good battery. Find out want CCA you need and work from there

Jizm · 09 April 2013, 21:47

AGM battery?

Pikey Dave · 09 April 2013, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizm

AGM battery?

Absorbed Glass Mat

davej · 09 April 2013, 21:57

I use a non sealed car battery bought from my local motor factor, which my non rectified old merc requires. The main thing is to keep it topped up with water and to keep it fully charged with a smart charger.

It then seems to last years and years.

A friend recommends a Squadron AGM as being the dogs b.....ks but these are expensive.

I think whatever you get look after it and you should be pleased. I have heard that people buy halfords batterys, stuff them within the 3yrs and take them back and get a fee replacement, of course they never say that they are used/abused on a boat!

dave

gotchiguy · 09 April 2013, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

A really good compromise is the Numax CXV24MF, which has enormous 900 CCA and a relatively high 86Ah in a small enough casing to fit in a red battery box:
Numax CXV24MF Heavy Duty Maintenance Free Leisure Marine Battery 86 Ah 900 CCA | eBay

I've run a few of these over the last 5 years and they've been excellent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbodiesel

We always use numax, never had one go wrong yet!

That looks perfect. What sort of size engines have you used them with?

Downhilldai · 09 April 2013, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

That looks perfect. What sort of size engines have you used them with?

150 Opti & lesser stuff.

Jizm · 09 April 2013, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Absorbed Glass Mat

Ahh. Thanks.
Optima batteries, fitted a few of those.

colcreate · 14 April 2013, 22:02

Had budget car batteries in the past but decided to get something decent this year.
Exide Maxxima, I've just fitted two EC1000's 900cca
Was going to fit Optima's but couldn't justify the price, got a brilliant deal on the pair of Exides.

A1an · 14 April 2013, 22:30

I know it's a 100A/h but I've always found these batteries to be of good quality.

http://www.thebatteryshop.co.uk/l35-...0ah-3208-p.asp

yamaha140 · 16 April 2013, 22:21

Thank you so much guys for the tips and openions appreciate loads.

SteveHall · 03 March 2014, 11:23

Anyone have any experience with the CXV Sealed Maintenance Free Heavy Duty Battery with an Evinrude etec 175?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Numax-CXV24MF-Heavy-Duty-Maintenance-Free-Leisure-Marine-Battery-86-Ah-900-CCA-/350599509015?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM& hash=item51a15bf417#ht_3392wt_1199&clk_rvr_id=5959 04954900&afsrc=1

Cold Start Marine Cranking Amps: 900A so this is good, but only 86 Ah, not sure how this converts when running with CD, VHF, 2x HDS, Tracker on all the time...