Twin outboards on one battery?

[Rotti]

Hi,<br />Ive tried to search for this but couldnt come up with something.... Im currently rigging my new RIB and would like to know wether I can have both my Honda BF45 outboards working on just one big battery or not? Im worried about something like a short-circuit between the two alternators, generators, charging circuits or whatsoever? The boat will not be used for fishing or any other activities that would require an extra battery for trolling motors, electronics and stuff like that. When the boat is used, the motors are running. I don´t take her out to sea too far off the coastline anyway.<br />When I got the boat, every motor (Twin Yamaha F50) was wired by itself on its own battery- two fully independent systems. But back then the boat was used commercially for taking tourists out for sightseeing-tours, so it made some sense.....<br />Any answers would be very helpfull!<br /><br />greetings,<br />Rotti

 

[dingbat]

Re: Twin outboards on one battery?

Stop being cheap and do it right the first time.<br /><br />Marine batteries are notorious for going bad at the most inopportune times. Having only one battery on board is about the same as not caring a spare tire because you don't drive very far from home.

 

[Trent]

Re: Twin outboards on one battery?

Use two batteries. Two independent systems. Charging systems will "buck" each other if they are hooked together.

 

[swist]

Re: Twin outboards on one battery?

Agree completely. A Combo starting/deep cycle battery is $75 at West marine. The last one I bought lasted 10+ years. Far beyond the 200 discharge cycles it was rated for. That's $7.50 a year. Peanuts in the overall costs of boat ownership.

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: Twin outboards on one battery?

Definetly, fit two batteries, one for each motor , the instruments and accesories can be wired to one battery,or dual instrumentation can also be fitted, here in South africa we have to fit two motors if we wish to venture more than a certain distance from the shore,and they must be two independant systems so if in a emergency one system should fail the other will remain in a working condition,<br />Kind Regards.<br />William Wright

 

[Rotti]

Re: Twin outboards on one battery?

Ok. These are very straight answers. I´ll do as you all recommend. Two batteries. Two independent systems. Got that. Many thanx, guys!!!!