LagunaBlue
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
- Messages
- 33
Hello All,
I'm new to the forum but not the boating community. Ive run into a bit of a situation that i would appreciate some insight into resolving. The boat is a 1998 Maxum 1700 SR3 with a Mercruiser 3.0LX.
The boat needs a new battery and I was going to install a dual battery system. Herein lies the problem. The Brunswick/Maxum engineers, in all of their infinite wisdom, decided to install the power tilt/trim pump and its related components in the second battery bay of the boat, despite having plenty of room to install the system in the swim platform recess. Hence, my issue.
Aside from removing the starboard jump seat and installing a battery box in its place, which I'm not enthusiastic whatsoever about doing, there is literally no other place to install a second full size battery. Even the ski locker is too shallow for even a group 24. Also I dont want to lug a second reserve cell on the boat every time we go out.
So, here's my starting point. I just picked up a 31 Diehard Platinum AGM with 1150 CCA and 205 minute reserve for $206 out the door; a fantastic price for that battery. I ran 4 of those bad boys on my Donzi CC and they never skipped a beat in almost 5 years. Overkill for my current application? Perhaps, but given this may be the only battery I may have I wanted the largest capacity that I could fit.
Now I still want a second battery to run the stereo and VHF if necessary as to avoid draining my cranking battery. The stereo will be running a 4 channel Rockford amplifier and that is all. I'm wondering if I can use 1 smaller (or 2) 12v powersport or motorcycle battery as the 2nd battery in the dual setup with a Guest switch or the BlueSea dual battery system. Will a powersport battery with a high amp-hour rating be enough to power the stereo? I know they cannot be compared to a full size deep cycle, however I really have no other option, and a battery of that size will fit in the remaining space of the second battery bay. I am willing to forego installing the stereo amp if that would allow using such a battery. However with the calculations I've done regarding the amplifier current draw for a 50Wx4 amp, I believe that a 20 amp-hour battery should be more than sufficient to power the stereo with the amp. And I've found a small 50 AH deep cycle AGM wheelchair battery for $88. My group 31 is 100 AH.
I'm open to all insight and suggestions, and I thank you in advance for your time.
-Mark
I'm new to the forum but not the boating community. Ive run into a bit of a situation that i would appreciate some insight into resolving. The boat is a 1998 Maxum 1700 SR3 with a Mercruiser 3.0LX.
The boat needs a new battery and I was going to install a dual battery system. Herein lies the problem. The Brunswick/Maxum engineers, in all of their infinite wisdom, decided to install the power tilt/trim pump and its related components in the second battery bay of the boat, despite having plenty of room to install the system in the swim platform recess. Hence, my issue.
Aside from removing the starboard jump seat and installing a battery box in its place, which I'm not enthusiastic whatsoever about doing, there is literally no other place to install a second full size battery. Even the ski locker is too shallow for even a group 24. Also I dont want to lug a second reserve cell on the boat every time we go out.
So, here's my starting point. I just picked up a 31 Diehard Platinum AGM with 1150 CCA and 205 minute reserve for $206 out the door; a fantastic price for that battery. I ran 4 of those bad boys on my Donzi CC and they never skipped a beat in almost 5 years. Overkill for my current application? Perhaps, but given this may be the only battery I may have I wanted the largest capacity that I could fit.
Now I still want a second battery to run the stereo and VHF if necessary as to avoid draining my cranking battery. The stereo will be running a 4 channel Rockford amplifier and that is all. I'm wondering if I can use 1 smaller (or 2) 12v powersport or motorcycle battery as the 2nd battery in the dual setup with a Guest switch or the BlueSea dual battery system. Will a powersport battery with a high amp-hour rating be enough to power the stereo? I know they cannot be compared to a full size deep cycle, however I really have no other option, and a battery of that size will fit in the remaining space of the second battery bay. I am willing to forego installing the stereo amp if that would allow using such a battery. However with the calculations I've done regarding the amplifier current draw for a 50Wx4 amp, I believe that a 20 amp-hour battery should be more than sufficient to power the stereo with the amp. And I've found a small 50 AH deep cycle AGM wheelchair battery for $88. My group 31 is 100 AH.
I'm open to all insight and suggestions, and I thank you in advance for your time.
-Mark
