Which batteries should I buy.

[MNSuperAir]

Just pulled the batteries out of my 2001 SAN and wanted some recommendations on what I should buy. The ones that came with the boat were a marine starting battery and a deep cycle. What is the difference? Should I buy one of each again? I do have a battery selector switch as shown in the picture. Thanks in advance.

[wakejunky]

RE: Which batteries should I buy.

As far as I know and what came in my boat was a regular over the counter automotive battery. I picked up my 2nd battery from Costco and been using both flawlessly for 4 years now.

Chris

[bchesley]

RE: Which batteries should I buy.

I just installed an Odyssey PC1200 in my boat this past week and love it so far. It is more compact that a regular wet cell battery. It has a similar design to the Optima. You get 1200 cranking amps for the first 5 seconds then it drops to 750 after that. I dont know how they do it? It is a deep cycle and a starting battery. Unfortunatly they are pretty pricey. $210 was the cheapest that I could find.

Brad

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Which batteries should I buy.

$210 for one battery? Way too expensive since I need 2.

junky, do you start your boat from one battery and run it in a different? I usually have my selector switch in "all" for most of the time but I am probably doing it wrong.

[Rick]

RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Since you have 2 I would just go with deep cycle marine batteries that fit the space. Deep cycle are batteries that are able to rebound from being drawn down lower than regualr batteries as they are used for electronics and sometimes propullsion. Optima's are nice but pricy. Tha advantage they have is their size and the ability to mount them on their sides.

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Do you run the Optima Blue top?

[Rick]

RE: Which batteries should I buy.

I just converted because I put a 1000W stereo in and being a Ski Boat didn't want the extra weight of a second battery. Having said that I paid 185.00 at Costco. I think thats a little pricy the last regular battery i got that worked fine was from Walmart at 70.00. It worked fine to start the boat and probably would work fine for the stereo as well.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Since you have 2 I would just go with deep cycle marine batteries that fit the space. Deep cycle are batteries that are able to rebound from being drawn down lower than regualr batteries as they are used for electronics and sometimes propullsion. Optima's are nice but pricy. Tha advantage they have is their size and the ability to mount them on their sides.

Deep cycle batteries are not well suited for use as a marine starting battery. The Optimas are expensive because theyre dual purpose (and are supposed to be pretty high quality).

If the charging system you plan on using will allow for mismatched batteries, you may be best off with one deep cycle and one starting battery. I wouldnt try and get away with a deep cycle to start the boat- you may start running into issues, as they just dont have enough CCA.

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Does an Optima battery last that much longer where I could justify $200 for each?

Trbenj, do you have you selector on the starting battery when staring the boat, then switch it to the other battery the rest of the time?

[TRBenj]

RE: Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Im the wrong person to ask- I dont have a dual battery set up. The only stereo my boat will have this summer is from 2 pipes sticking out the back

I am in the market for a new starting battery though- I keep going back and forth on whether the Optima is worth the money. Im leaning towards a lower cost starting battery for the time being.

[bchesley]

RE: Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Way too expensive? You have a $35k boat and $400 is too expensive for a set of batteries that will last 7-8 years? I guess that I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. The blue top dual purpose Optima is the same price as the odyssey that I bought. I was going to get the D34M but my dealer has had issues with warranties on them. The odyssey was my next choice. I only have room for one too so the best is what I wanted. Just a little piece of mind thats all.

Brad

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Now I get it, I didn't know they lasted 7-8 years. I only assumed twice as long and my current batteries are toast after 2 years, but I really don't take care of the batteries like I should.

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

Purchased the Blue tops last night.

[imported_foo]

RE: Re: RE: Which batteries should I buy.

I had my original battery in my 01 SAN until a month ago.Replaced it w/Blue Top Optima.Its awesome so far.