Your marine battery deserves your full attention. That’s what starts your boat’s engine and takes you fishing. Most importantly, it’s what keeps you coming back! With that in mind, let’s look at how to choose your marine battery so that you can congratulate yourself for making the right choice every time you come back from your lessons.
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The particularity of Marine Batteries
There are two uses for marine batteries, which are divided into three types:
- As the name suggests, starting batteries are designed to create the boat’s engines. Provide high current for a short time, and charge quickly after the motor is running;
- Slow-discharging batteries power your boat life and electric motors. This is the main battery for the fishing duck motor. For other boats, it can only be used to start the boat engine when the engine battery fails;
- A dual battery is a two-in-one one that allows you to start the engine and power the onboard equipment.
Different types of batteries
Choose a battery based on the conditions of use you intend to provide. The leading brands of marine batteries and accessories are Exide, Tech Power, and Cape Horn.
Acid battery
Acid batteries are for short-term use and then quickly recharged. It should be stored in a properly secured waterproof container. They are cheap but short-lived, so they need to be replaced periodically.
AGM battery
An AGM battery will come in handy if you use a lot of power in a short period, as it can be charged quickly. It is also recommended if you plan to use it under special conditions, such as it may be subject to vibration or significant temperature changes.
Gel battery
Gel marine batteries are designed for slow discharge and more traditional use. It is ideal for powering in-vehicle equipment. However, it doesn’t like shocks and prefers temperatures between 0 and 30°C, and it’s best to charge it to 100% before using it again.
Carbon battery
Carbon batteries are also designed for slow discharge. It has several advantages over gel batteries: it can be restarted before 100%, discharged to 100%, and lasts longer.
Lithium battery
Lithium marine batteries offer the same benefits as carbon batteries, saving weight and volume. One downside is that it’s pretty cold, so avoid exposing it to temperatures below 5°C. You have to calculate the cost; it is more expensive than a gel battery but lasts five times longer than a gel battery.
How to choose the correct marine battery for you
The battery should be selected according to your needs. If your budget allows and you have the space to fit it, always choose a larger battery than you need. There are two reasons:
- The extra capacity will be your margin of safety;
- The less the battery is used, the longer it will last.
Starting battery selection
The starting battery should be selected according to the power of the engine. If you have multiple motors, choose a battery for each motor. Note CCA, cold start, and MCA, marine start. The higher these two numbers, the better the boat’s engines will start, regardless of weather conditions.
Choose Slow Discharging Batteries
Calculate your energy needs
Before choosing a slow-discharging battery, you must calculate your needs. In each of your electronic devices or instructions, you must find the consumption in amperes (A) and multiply that by the number of hours you plan to use it. This gives you the value in Ah. Add the value for each device, and you have your energy needs. This number should correspond to your battery’s minimum capacity, so you can ensure you have reserves in case you need it.
Select download depth
Here’s what to remember when choosing a depth of discharge for your slow-cycle marine battery.
| Large depth of discharge | Shallow discharge depth | |
| Advantage | Cheap price
Less trouble |
Better margin of safety
Faster reload Longer service life |
| Disadvantage | Low margin of safety
Longer charging time Short shelf life |
More expensive to buy
Kind of hard |
How to charge the marine battery?
Extend the life of your marine battery by taking some simple precautions:
- The battery should be installed upright in a well-ventilated place to prevent overheating;
- Discharging the battery to its total capacity is not recommended, as this will shorten its lifespan. It is not recommended to remove the battery to its maximum capacity, as this will shorten its lifespan;
- Batteries should always be fully charged and kept active for long periods.
- Use a compatible 12V solar battery charger instead of other miscellaneous brand chargers
You now have all the parameters you need to choose a marine battery. The key is to find the right compromise between your needs, dreams, and budget. However, buying the most powerful storm on the market is not worth it, especially since purchasing a battery means spending money on other accessories for the battery, such as chargers, control units, or waterproof cases.
