Recommended Battery Starting power for my boat

[Bustedknuckle84]

What size battery should I be using for my 200 HP Honda 4 stroke? Seems to take 3-4 seconds before the engine fires up on current setup.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Recommended Battery Starting power for my boat

Unless it's actually cranking slowly, IMO it's the nature of the beast.

My (many years) experience with fuel injected vs. carbureted engines is that a well-tuned carbed motor will 'catch' sooner than an F.I. motor. I THINK it has to do with the F.I. motor's need to build oil pressure before the 'puter will allow the fuel pump to feed the injectors. A safety feature that prevents your electric fuel pump from pumping if the engine dies, as in the case of a broken fuel hose that might otherwise fill your bilge with raw gas.

Again, just my own (potentially suspect) memory of how they work.

 

[Bustedknuckle84]

Re: Recommended Battery Starting power for my boat

not sure if its crankly slowly, its not the fastest but not dragging starting up either.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Recommended Battery Starting power for my boat

What capacity is the battery you're running now? As long as it's at the correct nominal 12V, (13 - 14V), your connections are all clean, etc..., then putting in a bigger battery won't likely change anything- unless your battery is so small it can't supply the required current your starter needs. Find out what the current demand of your starter is, and make sure your battery can supply it. Supplying more will allow you to crank longer but it woudn't likely do much else.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Recommended Battery Starting power for my boat

Normally a 200HP motor will be on a 21 + footer. If so, you have the room for two 24 series marine batteries and a battery switch. This gives some extra starting and reserve power.