The type of battery you purchase for your boat is crucial so you can keep your boat in operation. There are three main types of batteries and you will need to carefully choose based on the type of boat you own.
Getting Your Boat Started
Your boat will need an initial surge of energy to begin functioning. This energy is meant to power your boat's engine. Then, the battery can be recharged by the alternator of your boat. However, this type of battery cannot be used for other purposes such as supplying power to your appliances. The battery will eventually overheat and fail.
An important characteristic of the starter battery is the marine cranking amp. You will be able to find this on the battery label and it is a measurement of the starting power of the battery. You need to choose a starter battery that is strong enough to power the type of boat that you will be operating. For example, if you will be operating a newer motor that will come with many pumps and sensors, you will want to choose a powerful starter battery.
A starter battery is ideal for a large boat but you will want to purchase a dual-purpose battery for a smaller boat. This type of battery is ideal for boats that are much smaller and will be able to also perform the functions of a deep cycle battery.
Powering Your Boat for an Extended Period
For battery power that will be generated for an extended period of time, you will need a deep cycle battery. These batteries are necessary for charging your trolling motor and for charging accessories such as depth finders. However, they do not have enough power to get your boat started.
A deep cycle battery is different from a starter battery because the deep cycle is hard on battery plates and the deep cycle battery has a smaller number of thicker plates as a result. You will want a deep cycle battery that has a high reserve capacity because batteries with high reserve capacities will be able to power appliances for a longer period of time.
If you have a smaller boat, you will want to purchase a dual-purpose battery that will be able to serve the function of both the starter and the deep cycle battery. You will not have space for two.
For more information on boat batteries, contact a company near you.