Battery

[paulskestrel]

Hi,

Just noticed my battery, a Powerline 069, has gone down-wont charge. So need to replace.
Can someone please advise, if I can use a normal car one-or if it has to be a leisure one?
Its for a Kestrel- Yamaha outboard. No alternator. Thanks.
Regards Paul.

[dellquay13]

Hi Paul,

You said no alternator, is your outboard a manual start?
Marine batteries claim to have heavy duty construction to cope with the jostling and sloshing at sea. They are usually deep cycle batteries good for powering all your nav electronics and lights when the engine is off. However, due to their heavy construction with fewer thicker plates in the acid, they can't give as much power for cranking an engine, they are good enough for an easy starter, but not for repeated and sustained cranking if your engine is reluctant to fire.
Car batteries are designed for short bursts of cranking power followed by an immediate recharge, and not for prolonged trickle discharge with the engine off. If you only have the outboard and very little in the way of nav electronics, cool boxes and nav lights, a good quality car one may be your best option for reliable cranking.
Many people use a split charging system with a good quality car battery for cranking, and a leisure battery for everything else. This gives the best results for starting and for slow discharge, and you have a backup battery if your starter battery fails.
Don't forget that your battery is a safety critical component if you go to sea, so don't scrimp on the quality.
Chris

[535Mustard]

Don't bother with a leisure battery.
They are totally rubbish, over priced and very unreliable.
I had similar problems with my motorhome, after 2 leisure batteries failed I put a big car battery on (by big, I mean the biggest that would fit in the space).
It cost half the price and so far has been in there 7 years! No problem.

I also have a car battery in the boat and that's not given any trouble either.

[ladydawn]

Try Numax batteries, I’ve got two of them in the back of my 4+2 ,bought them off Amazon 2 years ago 105 amp hr. when we moor up for the night I switch off one battery with the isolator and then I run all the lights ,water pump,shower drain pump and everything else off of that one battery all night and then in the morning I switch on both batteries to start the engine
(Which is a Honda 75 hi) and it then charges them both throughout the day.Dual purpose batteries 800 cca and good for long drain as well. £165 the pair, cheap peace of mind !

[paulskestrel]

Hi Paul,

You said no alternator, is your outboard a manual start?
Marine batteries claim to have heavy duty construction to cope with the jostling and sloshing at sea. They are usually deep cycle batteries good for powering all your nav electronics and lights when the engine is off. However, due to their heavy construction with fewer thicker plates in the acid, they can't give as much power for cranking an engine, they are good enough for an easy starter, but not for repeated and sustained cranking if your engine is reluctant to fire.
Car batteries are designed for short bursts of cranking power followed by an immediate recharge, and not for prolonged trickle discharge with the engine off. If you only have the outboard and very little in the way of nav electronics, cool boxes and nav lights, a good quality car one may be your best option for reliable cranking.
Many people use a split charging system with a good quality car battery for cranking, and a leisure battery for everything else. This gives the best results for starting and for slow discharge, and you have a backup battery if your starter battery fails.
Don't forget that your battery is a safety critical component if you go to sea, so don't scrimp on the quality.
Chris

Thanks Chris for info.
I have a Yamaha 2 stroke 60 hp, which is a key start from the control and throttle box. But no alternator.
I would just be starting the engine, and would only use an inside lamp at night. Would try to moor up in time before needing to use Navigation lights.
Do you know which car battery -amp hr, I should get?
Thanks again Paul.

[paulskestrel]

Don't bother with a leisure battery.
They are totally rubbish, over priced and very unreliable.
I had similar problems with my motorhome, after 2 leisure batteries failed I put a big car battery on (by big, I mean the biggest that would fit in the space).
It cost half the price and so far has been in there 7 years! No problem.

I also have a car battery in the boat and that's not given any trouble either.

Thanks very much for your reply, Will get a car one.

Paul.

[paulskestrel]

Try Numax batteries, I’ve got two of them in the back of my 4+2 ,bought them off Amazon 2 years ago 105 amp hr. when we moor up for the night I switch off one battery with the isolator and then I run all the lights ,water pump,shower drain pump and everything else off of that one battery all night and then in the morning I switch on both batteries to start the engine
(Which is a Honda 75 hi) and it then charges them both throughout the day.Dual purpose batteries 800 cca and good for long drain as well. £165 the pair, cheap peace of mind !

Thanks for info Ladydawn. Much appreciated.

[535Mustard]

The engine if it's electric start will still charge the battery.

[Adam]

Depends on your electrical setup. If you have more stuff like fish finder, GPS etc etc (I have 5 units) you should go for marine battery. Its built to keep all your devices running just only on battery and will still has power to start your outboard at any time. Hope it helps

[paulskestrel]

Depends on your electrical setup. If you have more stuff like fish finder, GPS etc etc (I have 5 units) you should go for marine battery. Its built to keep all your devices running just only on battery and will still has power to start your outboard at any time. Hope it helps

Thanks for your reply. I don't have anything else electric wise, other than engine and maybe the cabin light.
So perhaps I can go for a car battery?
Interesting, difference in opinions though, as most have said about a car battery. How long have you had your marine one? Also do you have a separate alternator?
Thanks again for your reply Adam. I've got to find out which amp hour now!
Cheers Paul.