New to boats need help with battery choice

[Jmusick]

I have a 1971 evinrude 125, im not sure the type or size of the battery i need? I do plan to run electronics such as radio and lights. Im guessing at least 2 batteries will be required and does this motor charge the battery while running or should i run a solar charger or something like that? Thanks in advance

 

[Chris1956]

Most engines of your vintage do charge the battery. You might ask this in the E/J forum. They will know the charge capacity for your motor.

For radio and lights, I would expect two 24 series batteries would be adequate. You can connect both to the engine to charge them, via battery switch, battery isolator or battery combiner. I would isolate the engine starting power to one battery, which would be a marine starting battery.

The lights and radio I would wire to a deep cycle marine battery.

You would need at least a 100Watt solar panel and 8-10 hours of sunlight to charge a nearly dead deep cycle battery. Solar charging at the end of the day usually doesn't usually allow that.

 

[mike_i]

Group 24 batteries should work, I'd go for group 27 myself if they fit in your boat. You can never have too much battery capacity. Are you planing on adding any electronics?

 

[Jmusick]

Group 24 batteries should work, I'd go for group 27 myself if they fit in your boat. You can never have too much battery capacity. Are you planing on adding any electronics?

Yea mostly standard things like a radio some lights, fishfinder, bilge pump things of that nature

 

[mike_i]

How many and what type battery does your boat have now? Do you have a battery switch? Do you have room for two batteries?

Yea mostly standard things like a radio some lights, fishfinder, bilge pump things of that nature

 

[Jmusick]

How many and what type battery does your boat have now? Do you have a battery switch? Do you have room for two batteries?

There were no batteries on board when i got it. It was basically abandoned for years when i got it. Plenty of room its a 18 ft tri hull

 

[mike_i]

"It was basically abandoned for years when i got it."
Oh boy, good luck with it.

There were no batteries on board when i got it. It was basically abandoned for years when i got it. Plenty of room its a 18 ft tri hull

 

[Jmusick]

"It was basically abandoned for years when i got it."
Oh boy, good luck with it.

Yea i get that alot. I enjoy saving things from the dead and giving them life again. Never worked on a boat so why not just jump in head first and see what i can learn along the way. So far not so bad....havnt set fire to it in the driveway yet so thats something.

 

[mike_i]

I can relate, I like to make things out of other peoples junk. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Post a few pictures if you can. Hopefully the hull is worth saving and you have all of the ownership paperwork.

 

[Berdink]

Good for you.
I like buying fixer-uppers myself. Then reading and learning about how.
Have fun with your project.

 

[Jmusick]

Thanks guys just getting ready to do stringers and new floor. Never dun fiberglass before wish be luck post pics of work when completed. Also i have more info pics and a bit about how this came to be in my other posts

 

[Chris1956]

I cannot tell how bad the stringers or floor are from the photos. However, they don't look too rotten as you would see debris falling from them.

The floor looks to be intact, except the white rectangle may be a patch.

You are going to install foam floatation under the floor, right?

The motor in the photo looks to be a Chrysler.

 

[Jmusick]

I cannot tell how bad the stringers or floor are from the photos. However, they don't look too rotten as you would see debris falling from them.

The floor looks to be intact, except the white rectangle may be a patch.

You are going to install foam floatation under the floor, right?

The motor in the photo looks to be a Chrysler.

The Chrysler was a lost cause spent 2 months and a few hundred Tring to keep it but no luck. Currently going to run a evinrude 125 i believe a 71 or 72. Stringers are delaminated and a bit rotten in the rear from sitting uncovered for 4 years im assuming, but im replacing them anyway. Transom is solid. The rectangular spot was from the carpet there was a gap in the carpet there and its just discolored but floors getting replaced as well front to back

 

[Jmusick]

Also herd mixed feelings about foam. Not sure what my plans are for that. Ill likely drop it in the water first and see how it sits but im leaning towards needing the foam so it dosnt sit too low and sits level

 

[JASinIL2006]

Foam doesn't affect how your boat sits in the water; it affects how fast (or whether) your boat sinks in the event of capsizing.

 

[Grub54891]

Foam also adds structure to the hull to reduce flexing and noise.

 

[Jmusick]

2 part pourable foam?

 

[Grub54891]

2 part pourable foam?

yes