Are Kinetik Batteries worth the price?

[pitts12driver]

I'm going to add a second battery and perko switch (the teenage contingent wants louder music) along with a major stereo upgrade. I have a 2003 Air 216 Limited with the stock Clarion audio package. My plan is to add some amplification, maybe a new head unit with an iPod interface, and possibly a sub. (The boat does have 4 tower speakers as well as the stock units in the hull, although the existing amp clearly isn't up to the job.

I'm still mulling over how much money I want to sink into this project, and I'm curious if the Kinetic batteries are really any better than an Optima Blue Top. As far as I can tell, they are identical technologies.

All input welcomed.

[crowland]

RE: Are Kinetik Batteries worth the price?

A couple of questions to ask yourself are you going to continue to upgrade the system as your son gets older?? If so I would lay the proper ground work and plan it out now, and that would include some re-wiring. How many amps are you going to have total - that is going to dictate your power needs.

Also I am assuming you are talking about louder music while riding and hanging out between sets - and not sitting for hours in a cove with the stereo cranked. With that assumption in mind i think you would be extremely over-doing it with a Kinetic. I personally think that even the Optima is overpriced and beyond your needs - a deep-cycle from Bass Pro or WestMarine should be sufficient. There are a couple of other makers - Odyssey and Deka that you may want to look into as well-I would consider those on par with Kinetic. They are cheaper and have pretty close to the same amp hours.

[BP22]

I added a HC2400 (128 Ah) when I installed my stereo a 1 1/2 ago and I have been very happy with it. With that being said, I have never used an Optima so I have no comparison, I got the battery for $200 delivered which is super cheap for these batteries and I am only running a 1100 watt system and some LEDs off of it.

If Mikeski doesn't post in your thread shoot him a PM.

Good luck.

[G-man]

Odyessy now makes the Sears Platnum gel cell battery. I would consider them

[crwirth]

Funny reading this post. I also have an 03 216 Air and i am upgrading for my teenage son. I have added a Blue top Optima. Now looking at changing out alternator from a 70amp to a 100amp. With 3 JL amps, an AudioControl Epicenter Plus (which gives the clarion a way to hook up an IPOD or Zune) and allows for use of the clarion remotes that are mounted around the boat. The local stereo shop was recomending the Kinetik battery also.

[RyanATX]

I have had surprisingly good luck with the optimas in my boat. I have 3 yellow tops, and a single OEM deep cycle (for starting/running).

I have no had good luck with optimas in my cars (red tops).

I have jammed on full tilt for over 6 hours before without issues. I have about 2600 watts of power in my stereo.

[Mikeski]

Out of 4 or 5 guys that ran blue tops in the past 5 years most have ended up dumping them and are now running other AGMs or lead acid batteries. They seem to last for about 2 summers then issues begin.

I am currently running a red top starting battery and a pair of Kinetik 2400's for the stereo. If I started over again I would use good old lead acid batteries or other AGM batteries if they needed to lay on their sides etc. Bang for the buck, it's tough to beat golf cart batteries.

it really comes down to amp-hour ratings. A big AGM will give you about 125 amp hours, a pair of golf carts is good for about 220 amp hours, a blue top is only good for about 65.

None of the big stereo shops in my area are using blue tops these days.

A very rough estimate: a 1000 watt system will run for about 2 hours per 100 amp hours of battery power before things get within damage levels

[ers906]

How do you have the batteries set-up? I have seen systems where there is a recharging diverter (when the boat is under power, recharging from the alternator) that diverts the charge current from the starting/running battery (while the boat is under power) to the accessory batteries once the starting battdry is at optimal levels. Anyone have any experience with these?

[crowland]

SurePower

How do you have the batteries set-up? I have seen systems where there is a recharging diverter (when the boat is under power, recharging from the alternator) that diverts the charge current from the starting/running battery (while the boat is under power) to the accessory batteries once the starting battdry is at optimal levels. Anyone have any experience with these?

Here is a link to the install I did - with the SurePower switch. One thing to note - I have a hard-wired onshore charger that I use to actually charge and maintain my batteries. I DO NOT rely on my alt to charge the stereo batteries - however it does help keep the levels up on the stereo batteries while underway. It is probably overkill to have a combiner/separator switch like this if you are installing a couple of kinetics, odysseys, etc. - but I have actually used mine to kick start the boat when my starting battery went out on me (so all in all, money well spent in my opinion and a very easy install)

http://planetnautique.com/vb3/showth...131#post109131

[ers906]

Thank you

Crowland
That is exactly what I was talking about. I think that is my game plan. Where did you locate all of your batteries? Do you have any pictures?

[crowland]

Crowland
That is exactly what I was talking about. I think that is my game plan. Where did you locate all of your batteries? Do you have any pictures?

Eric - I am not sure where your batteries are on the 2002. On the 03 SAN there are built-in cutouts for 2 batteries under the rear seats. I have the starting and one of the stereo batteries in each of those locations. The other stereo battery I have in the very front of the boat underneath the center bow cushion. It fits perfectly up there without any bracing. I havent gotten around to adding a third - because I really dont want to build a battery box to mount the battery in, but I have measured when building the system and there is plenty of room under the port side cushion in the bow for another battery. I dont have any pictures of the bow mounted battery - Let me know what pictures would like of the battery setup and I can snap some this weekend.

[Chattwake]

Check out www.xspowerbatteries.com I just picked up two of the 3100 series batteries. These are the batteries that wetsounds put in their show boat. If those batteries can run the rediculious amount of stuff that wetsounds puts in their show boat, any of us should be fine with them. Call over there and ask for Nathan. He'll hook you up. They aren't cheap, but nothing worth having is.

[ers906]

Chatt
How much were the 3100 series? I went on the website but there are no prices

[Chattwake]

$399.

[flaudia402]

I went with a pair of Diehard Marine batteries from Sears for my stereo. Plenty of reserves and in my opinion and from what I've read better than some of the higher priced batteries out there. For the price, I really couldn't beat them. I run their high end Platinum battery in my truck and I've got serious wattage running in it as well and haven't had any hiccups.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...rine+Batteries

If you have room ( I didn't in my 220 so had to go with the 24 size) you can step up to the 29 for only a few more dollars:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...rine+Batteries