2nd Battery

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by spareparts

if you are running a yamaha, you all ready have a second isolated charging circuit built in the motor, look under the cowl for the # 8 red wire with the end taped off, it may be made into the battery cables(look for the pigtail), you can run it to charge the second battery, leave the switch on 1 while running the boat, and have #2 in reserve. As far as batteries go, spending extra money on high dollar batteries(Optimas) aren't going to make up for any marginal wiring or poor installation( I get in this argument a lot), no more than splitfire plugs are going to fix a motor that needs major service, or startron additive is going to let you run you engine on water. Use good cables, good connections, and good batteries. I've been selling the Deka 24M7 1000 MCA maintenance free batteries for a number of years, I haven't had one come back as being bad. IMHO its the best money you can spend on a battery in a boat

And the DEKA is the same battery West Marine sells as Sea Volt...Spare advised I get one when we were setting up the '84...HOT, HOT battery no doubt!!!

But no matter how good a battery you buy, it's only as good as how well it remains charged over time during periods of non use...an onboard charger is IMO the perfect solution to the ongoing issue of maintaining boat batteries...I had great service from the two Guest units I had before...and the Minn Kota 3 leg unit I have now is doin' a great job!!...an added bonus to always having a hot battery, no matter when's the last time used, is that these chargers PROLONG the service life of any battery you buy...I got more than 10 years from a pair of AC Delco Voyagers used exclusively for a trolling motor and always kept on a charger when not in use...made a believer outta me...plug 'em in and FORGET 'em for any period of time...