Many boat owners usually make one costly mistake when buying a marine battery, and it’s a very easy mistake to make.
Marine batteries look like ordinary car batteries. But in reality, they have major differences. Buyers who don’t take their time when replacing their marine batteries are more likely to lose money, waste many hours, and compromise their safety. And this is why.
Battery designs vary
Car batteries are usually designed for cranking or starting up the engine, but marine batteries are built to crank up the engine and also provide a constant supply of power to various components of the boat.
So if you rush things, you can easily pick a battery that won’t do the job it needs to. For example, when boats are anchored, components like cabin lights, fans, stereo systems, and TVs need to remain powered.
Therefore, you need a battery that can keep up with these power demands. Car batteries won’t meet these needs because they’re designed to supply power for short periods of time.
Deep cycle batteries, on the other hand, can fill the need. They have thicker plates than ordinary car batteries which means they can supply power for longer periods without damage.
Battery capacity matters
The capacity of your marine battery is an important factor that must be taken into account when replacing it. This is because battery usage has a direct impact on its lifespan.
Typically, the capacity of any battery is measured in amps or amperes. Various boats need different batteries because electronic requirements vary from one vessel to another. If you don’t take time to determine what capacity your boat needs, you might end up with a battery with a lower capacity than required.
Cost implications vary
As mentioned above, boat batteries come in various designs, shapes, and sizes. And one factor that you shouldn’t ignore is cost.
When you’re on a budget, it’s easy to pick up affordable options like traditional flooded lead-acid batteries. However, while they might appear cheaper initially, they can be costly in the long run.
Deep cycle and AGM batteries may cost more than traditional batteries, but you will save lots of money and time because they don’t need regular maintenance, periodic topping up, and will not leak if any cracks develop.
Clearly, lots of parameters come into play when buying a marine battery. If you rush things, you may lose money and even compromise your safety. For more information on boat and marine batteries, please contact us to speak with a specialist.