There are lots of advantages of having your own boat. Aside from traveling on land, you could also enjoy the trip on the water in your favorite boat. Upgrade your travels in so many ways or at a higher level.
Having your own boat is enjoying especially when you just need to relax or spending so much time with your friends or family while trolling for fish?
As I have said in my previous articles, you need to consider first all your needs before fishing such as your gears, equipment, and most especially your battery.
I’ll show you the types and usage of batteries for boats to avoid panicking and clueless when your battery is dead.
The Two Types of Motor Batteries
Most of the batteries are powered by 12-volts batteries. The first of the 12-volt batteries is for cranking the main engine. It is made to deliver short, yet high-current burst needed to get the job done.
The other type of battery is the deep-cycle battery. It is used to provide power to all your boat’s electrical accessories like fish-finders, radios, and trolling motors. There is also a dual-purpose battery to satisfy your expectations that performs impressive functions of both the cranking and the deep-cycle battery.
Engine-Cranking Battery
Engine-cranking batteries give high currents in short burst which means that this battery has more surface area on the lead plates and can perform more power. This battery is made to have thinner, yet more lead plates. They only release small portions of their capacity, with the energy quickly restored as the engine runs. You are allowed to use any regular battery for almost all boat models. But make sure you don’t spend so much money on cranking power.
Deep-Cycle Battery
This battery is made to have fewer, yet thicker plates because it can charge to accessories like trolling motors, for long periods at a much slower rate. This battery is good to endure deep discharges. Remember to be aware of its reserve capacity (RC). The reserve capacity rating will let you know its load before discharging or power your boat’s accessories. It has at least twice the reserve capacity of a starting battery.
The Categories You Can Choose From
There are three categories of batteries such as AGM, Gel, and Wet-Cell. I will show you its pros and, ideas and understanding that will help you decide which motor battery the best for you.
Wet-Cell Batteries
Wet-cell batteries are also known as the traditional lead-acid which contains a liquid mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water. It is generally cheaper and has lots of advantages that come with it.
If you maintain its good quality, this battery could endure over a thousand discharges and recharge cycles, which results to years of use.
Pros
- Less susceptible to overcharging
- Lightweight
Cons
- Needs regular inspection
- May not last long when exposed to constant high vibrations
- Maintain always by topping them off with distilled water
AGM Batteries
You also need to consider this type of battery. The matting of this battery is penetrated by acid electrolytes. It is designed with a filling of an absorbent glass of matting that is contained between plates. This battery is the ideal battery of most anglers to use under extreme conditions.
Pros
- Tightly sealed
- Lower risk of acid spillage
- The battery is very versatile
- Highly resistant to shock and vibration
Cons
- More expensive than any other battery types
Gel Batteries
This type of battery is also similar to AGM batteries in terms of utilizing the recombinant technology. They are highly resistant to over-discharging, so you don’t need to worry so much about it. These batteries are not a problem at all even if you store them for a very long time without recharging.
Pros
- Free from maintenance
- Sealed with high tolerance to low temperatures
- Resistant to shock and vibration
- Long life cycle
Cons
- More costly than other batteries with the same MCA and RC ratings
- Needs to be recharged correctly to avoid the risk when you’re in the middle of the sea
Picking the Right Type of Battery for Your Boat
Aside from picking the right brand or the size of your battery, knowing which type of battery to select is also an important one. Always remember that the deep-cycle battery can never be a substitute for a starter battery for it would not provide the needed power to start up your outboard. If you use a starter battery instead of a deep-cycle battery, expect that your battery will fail and will leave your boat without power.
In order to be safe, the best thing to do is to install one cranking or start-up battery and one deep-cycle battery for your boat. But most of the boats available have only one provision battery, it would be best if you choose a dual-purpose battery. It is designed to handle both starting and cycling.
The dual-purpose battery is best but bear in mind that it cannot provide the same power for the same purposes than a deep-cycle battery is made for. You cannot expect this battery to perform at its best as a starter battery in cranking up or enduring as deep-cycle batteries.
The Perfect Battery Size for Trolling Motor
I am sure you all now familiar with all of these. You must also consider the right size of your battery. Before you choose your battery, you must know how big and heavy your boat is and how much amount of power it can hold and deliver when using it.
Trolling motor batteries are available in 12-volt, 24-volt, and 36-volt capacities. If you have a 12-volt motor then you can consume around 720W of power. But if your vessel is 16ft in length or more then consider a 24-volt motor instead.
Always select a battery with an equal rating to the value required for your boat. Good luck in finding yours!
