Trickle charger or new battery?

[jr49erfan1]

Setup is: 05 210 SANTE, 2 batteries (under port and starboard rear seats) with a perko. Stock stereo (6 momo's in the boat, 4 on the tower) except for an upgraded 12" sub, no LED's or tower lights. While parking/storing the boat I'm leaving the battery selector on the starboard battery, with the power selector toggle switched to "ALL OFF". When not in use at my house, should I be turning the battery selector to off?

Battery on port side is giving me fits. Out front of my house last week, I clicked battery selector over to port side, and inside of 10 seconds the stereo died. Launched last Sunday at Berryessa, and while we were out I clicked the selector to BOTH so I could charge both batteries. We ran for about 90 minutes and then found a spot to chill. Clicked the battery selector back to port, and battery died after about 30-40 minutes (and the stereo wasn't turned up loud at all).

Should I look to replace the battery, or buy a trickle charger/battery tender and try and rehab it?

If replacing battery, what should I replace it with, and what should I be looking to spend?

If purchasing a charger/tender, what should I be looking for, and how much should I be looking to spend? Is it safe to charge batteries while they're mounted inside the boat?

Thanks in advance for any advice, I'm such a noob, but Im trying to learn!!!

Jason

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Is the battery a deep cycle?

I would buy a charger, even if you get a new battery. Its one of those things thats good to have around, especially if you have a boat.

I would take the battery and charge it completely with the charger, then try it and see how long it lasts. If it still jsut gives you 30 minutes of play time, its time for a new battery.

I always leave my Perko to ALL OFF when its parked. You might have an electrical drain if you are leaving it on. Radios with a memory will drain a battery over time if they are left hooked up.

[CradGen2]

I learned a lot about batteries last spring actually, more then I wanted to know when I lost 900.00 of them. I had pulled my 08 210 up from the south for a relocation and had a friend get it winterized and then before I knew it was in the storage warehouse. I hate to say it but I forgot about it for the winter. Spring came and I went and pulled the 2 kinetic Batt. and found them to be dead. I charged and when put back in the boat, could barely get the key pad to come on. So I called the company. They said any battery is severally damaged when it drops below 10V for an extended period of time actually more then 7 days it starts to corrode the plates. They said I could try to change them with 16V for a couple days and it might bring them back to usable condition, but not here 100%. So I didn’t buy this story and figured I’d call Johnson Controls, same story, WOW.

At the end of the day I had to get 2 new batteries, but I purchased Shuriken which are Kinetic in disguise I learned at a discounted price.

Also get the top of the line CTEK charger. I also purchased the quick connects cords for all the boat batteries. Now all winter, I just have been moving the charger down the line every couple days. I keep the charger on them during the week and between uses.

Also I learned that even if the Battery switch is “OFF” they will still leak, so disconnecting the cables is best for winter storage.

More then you wanted to know, I’m sure, but this is the story version of the story.

[jr49erfan1]

Thanks for the input fellas. I went out and pulled the covers off both batteries to see what I had. I honestly had no idea what I had and I probably should have looked into it while I was buying the boat. I also isolated each, and went through the start up procedure with the "ALL ON" switch and the starting keypad to check the currend voltage levels of both.

STARBOARD BATTERY- current voltage 12.2V, Green topped Interstate Deep Cycle Marine/RV SRM-24 (550CCA/690MCA), no date indicated on sticker, but Brian had indicated that he had this battery replaced last season.

PORT BATTERY- current voltage 10.0V, Interstate HD Workaholic, C78DT-XHD (725CCA/905CA), JAN 05 are the bubbles popped out on the label. Looks like its probably original to the boat???

I'm leaning towards picking up a "Battery Tender 022-0165-DL-WH 12V 2-Bank Battery Management System", which correct me if I'm wrong, will charge and maintain both of my batteries at the same time? Does anyone have any experience, good, bad or indifferent with this product?

Given that I am able to get the Starboard battery to hold a charge, which battery should I be using as my starting/running battery, and which should I use to for powering my stereo while chilling? Also, how long should I expect for a battery to power my stereo before cutting out?

[G-man]

A 2 bank would be whats needed. I replace batteries by age. After 4 years most will surprise you with dieing when you have no budget for batteries

[WakeSlayer]

I am not a battery, nor electrical expert. However, if you are having these issues there is a problem. You have either crappy batteries, or a parasitic load somewhere. In 15 years I have never once pulled a battery, nor trickle charged during the winter. I have never once failed to start in the Spring after 5 months of extremely cold storage. Not once. If every thing is wired properly, you turn the perko to off, that is it. They are off, period. I know stereo enthusiasts like to use deep cycle batteries, but, in my opinion, there is no place for them in our boats. I use run of the mill batteries from my brother's Goodyear shop and that is it.

[tadelfio]

It sounds like your portside battery probably needs to be replaced. I agree with wakeslayer. I would never run a deep cycle battery on our boats either and I don't believe that the batteries would need to be charged during winter layup or even pulled from the boat unless you live in an extremely cold environment and or dont use your boat much. With that being said, during the winter I do (normally) pull my batteries and put them on an automatic trickle charger. Basically because, "It ain't gonna hurt nothing" I've only got the cheap $20 ones from Walmart. They have them with the batteries. These work great for me and have for years for motorcycles and lawnmowers as well as cars that don't get used much. Another point some may not agree with me on is that I almost always have my perko switch on both batteries. The ONLY exception to this is if I am stopped listening to the stereo for an extended period, then I keep it on one or the other so that I have a fresh battery for starting. I try to rotate wich one I use.