boat battery help

[jsm9437]

I have used the AC Delco Voyager batteries solely in the past so i don't have another battery to compare it with to determine if these batteries are good or not.

It will be used on a 15' aluminum boat with a 12V 55lb thrust trolling motor. I also have a 25 yamaha with electric start i use this battery for starting as well (is this a no-no?). Other uses is for running lights and minimal electronics.

I usually can get 3-4 good years out of AC Delco voyager, but the 4th you can tell it's losing it, and the 5th is me fighting through just one more season with it.

I fish once or twice a month. charge it right when i get back from fishing, and then put the charger on it the night before just to make sure im good to go (is this another no-no?)

Just want some of your opinions on batteries...should i save and spend the money on one of those high dollar ones for my needs?

Thanks

[lil bubba]

I have done the same except I use 3-4 times a week...Now have a bigger boat with separate batteries and the starting and trolling last about the same...Both wal-mart...2 years on the troll and I'll replace .... 4 years on the start and replace....No sense in taking chances at my age....It ain't like I can get out and walk back....I'd say you doing good...

[marshrunner757]

I've been stranded using one battery. I now have a starting battery which also runs my navigation lights occasionally and a dedicated deep cycle for TM. At least you have a backup cranking battery.

[redaddiction]

Using only one battery is a bad idea.

[Andy C]

Originally Posted by redaddiction

Using only one battery is a bad idea.

Yep for sure, 4-5 years is all a battery can do! No matter what brand you get! It helps if you use them more, but the "high dollar" batterys won't last no longer.

[cajun bill]

Originally Posted by Andy C

Yep for sure, 4-5 years is all a battery can do! No matter what brand you get! It helps if you use them more, but the "high dollar" batterys won't last no longer.

Not if it's an AGM. I'm in my 8th year with two AGM's and they are still going strong.

[jmarine]

your outboard should be charging your batt. but it could send an erratic voltage to the battery and possibly short out the head of your trolling motor or possible catch on fire a starter batt should only have your motor and lights wired to it and your trolling motor batt. should only be hooked up to trolling motor nothing else

[jsm9437]

Thanks for the input guys. Just to clarify. The motor is a 25 with a pull crank that cranks before I'm even complete with my first pull....now is it a bad idea because it's bad for the deep cycle battery, or bad for the person if the battery is drained from trolling and you can't crank?...thinking I'll stick with one AC Delco voyager and just pull start when/if I completely drain the battery.

[marshrunner757]

If its a pull start, why do you use a battery? Is it fuel injected?

[jsm9437]

No...it's a two cycle with Carb.
I use a battery because I have the option to I guess.
Sit down, hit da button and it's running.

Are you suggesting I'm better off pull starting than using my deep cycle battery to start the boat?

I have just always wondered if using the deep cycle trolling battery to start my 25 is not good for the battery.

[marshrunner757]

I don't think the deep cycle will hurt the motor but the motor might hurt the deep cycle. I say use a cranking battery for motor and a deep cycle for TM. That's just my preference.

[Pull n Pray]

Why don't you just buy a cheap tractor or motorcycle battery for about $50. They are cheap and very light. if it can crank a 50Hp+ tractor or motorcycle it will have no trouble cranking your 25HP outboard. If it dies, you can always just pull start it.

[Rig Magician]

I have a friend that put Odyssey batteries in his boat. He said he they have been using them for years in personal planes. He said they use the one the size of lawn mower batteries to start a 500CI engines with no problem. They replace them after 5 years just because they want to they still work perfectly. I know they are allot but I may be putting them in my boat for the trolling motor later.