Second Battery vs. Jump Box

[DUKE]

Hi
I am considering adding a second battery on my '89 V, but carrying a Jump Box seems a whole lot easier. For about the price of a battery I can get a Jump Box with AC and DC outlets. With the proper adapters I can run my AM/FM radio and fishfinder off of it and still be able to jump start my main battery if need be. Has anyone tried this?
Thanx - Duke

[Striper80]

Hi
I am considering adding a second battery on my '89 V, but carrying a Jump Box seems a whole lot easier. For about the price of a battery I can get a Jump Box with AC and DC outlets. With the proper adapters I can run my AM/FM radio and fishfinder off of it and still be able to jump start my main battery if need be. Has anyone tried this?
Thanx - Duke
I would just hook everything to your one battery and keep the jumper for emergencies. Right now I'm running a single battery in my boat. I have a GPS, fish finder, VHF and a stereo, and my voltage is around 14 when running. I keep a jump box on the boat at all times, but I haven't had to use it yet. I have a blue seas acr unit ready to install I just haven't got a chance to yet.

[jamesbalog]

Make sure you get a quality jump box, i made the mistake of buying a cheaper one the first time and the thing would barely start my car let alone a big old carbed outboard

[spareparts]

all a jump box is a motorcycle/lawnmower battery inside a plastic box. You pay for the portability, not for the power. I'd add a second high quality starting battery with a switch and be done with it

[smokeonthewater]

^ THIS!

Don't waste your money on a tiny battery in a plastic box.... Spend the same money on a battery w 10 times the power.

[Destroyer]

What Spare and Smoke said. Jumpboxes are great for the people that sell them, but not so good for the people that use them. Don't waste your money on one, buy a second battery instead.

[NJIslandGirl]

Ive always rigged 2 batteries on all my boats with a switch, in case i get stupid with the radio or something while drifting

[cfelton]

I mounted a second deep cycle marine battery with a selector switch. Ive have had to switch to it when my starter was failing. I dont think a jumper would have helped. If you do go with the jumper dont buy a Stanley, I saw three brought back to Sams club yesterday! I do buy the Duracell Deep cycle battery that Sams sells and have great luck with them.

[Striper80]

I would like to add that while I do currently run a single battery I would prefer to have two. My two previous boats had dual batteries but this one only had one and I already own a good jump box.

[bradford]

I run 2 Interstate Group 24 1000 cranking amp starting batteries on the 1 both 2 off switch.

[spareparts]

I run 2 Interstate Group 24 1000 cranking amp starting batteries on the 1 both 2 off switch.

This, but I prefer Deka

Unless you have a trolling motor or an invertor battery bank, there is no reason to have a deep cycle on a boat. Use a starting battery

[Cam]

I run dual batteries, one starting and one deep cycle, plus if I am going far, a booster pack. I also have Sea Tow. I ain't getting stuck!!!
Best scenario is two batteries as stated by many, or one battery with a tow service.