2 batterys, or 1 good one?

 While my boat is out of order I have been doing a bit of work on it and am almost at the electrics. Currently has 1 battery mounted under one of the rear seats on the boat next to where the plastic fuel tanks go, battery is unboxed which I dont like so will be boxing that and thinking of even relocating it for more space for fuel. So couple of questions.... Was taking a small portable jump starter out with me just incase but now thinking of installing a 2nd battery.

 

Where is the normal place for batterys to be mounted on an 18ft half cabin? Possible / safe to put them in front hatches? Maybe 1 either side for even weight distribution? Probably a prick of a job wiring one up either side though.

Should I install a 2nd battery or just get a good battery and stick with 1 for less weight and less space taken up by batteries and keep taking out jumpstarter?

Any advice or info appreciated. Cheers.


Vinesh87's picture

Posts: 2751

Date Joined: 02/04/11

 Depends on what you do with

Tue, 2017-04-25 20:54

 Depends on what you do with your boat i guess. If you want to run xetnded times with electronics on i would def be opting for dual batteries.

 

Depends on motor but a decent jump pack will normally start uour boat but its just one more thing to remember to charge and bring!

 

Batteries normally go at the back because of the cable lenght of run to the motor and high start currents. 1 mounted in the front hatches would prob require a non venting agm

 

Dual batteries can be pretty simple install with a selector switch all the way through to very smart switching modules with solar/240/ignition/shutoff/fridge outputs. 

 

I think it would come down the rhe $$ you want to spend!

Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 I was thinking if I go dual

Tue, 2017-04-25 21:06

 I was thinking if I go dual batterys, just have 1 for cranking the motor, and a 2nd bigger deep cycle battery to run stereo, radio, lights, sounder etc? With a simple 1 - 2 - BOTH switch or whatever they are. But is it really worth 2 batterys for that extra weight and space more importantly when I can just use one? Boat will be used for daytrips and the occasional overnighter. Would like to be abke to sit on the pick with stereo on for a couple hours but at the moment stereo only works while motor is running.

My jumpstarter is small and will have no problems starting a boat im sure, it starts my patrol and clubsport from dead flat no worries.

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 01/01/70

 Just wire everything up to

Tue, 2017-04-25 22:49

 Just wire everything up to the common on the isolator , so everything runs on what ever the isolator is on... run battery one heading out then flick over to battery two when heading back in. That's how I've wired mine up and it works fine...  

Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 Oh and money, im thinking

Tue, 2017-04-25 21:07

 Oh and money, im thinking around $500 max for electrics? 

Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 Oh and money, im thinking

Tue, 2017-04-25 21:07

 Oh and money, im thinking around $500 max for electrics? 

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 01/01/70

do the duel batteries,

Tue, 2017-04-25 21:46

I would do the duel batteries, will cost you around $350-$400 including the battery. 

Was one of the things I did to my boat and the weight made no difference to a quintrex 490

Posts: 54

Date Joined: 02/04/17

 Where do you have your

Tue, 2017-04-25 22:28

 Where do you have your batterys mounted?

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 01/01/70

.

Tue, 2017-04-25 22:40

  At the rear, one either side as you will see in the photo if that link works.

http://Fishwrecked.com/forum/ready-next-fine-day

 

 

Darren253's picture

Posts: 570

Date Joined: 23/07/16

You don't want to run your

Wed, 2017-04-26 08:53

You don't want to run your starting battery to the front... It'll cost $150-200 in cable suitable for starting. By all means run your accessory battery there but you want your starting battery as close to the motor as possible.

Posts: 563

Date Joined: 27/08/09

 At the transom.Two reasons.

Wed, 2017-04-26 12:28

 At the transom.

Two reasons. As mentioned previously it avoids long runs of heavy cable to reduce volt drop, and it also reduces the pounding the battery recieves going over waves.