Battery life

BogMonster · 11 August 2015, 08:38

Another "time expiry" question.

Seawolf is still on its original battery, coming up 5 years old. It's a proper marine battery, has never been flat, holds its charge, and gets a top-up with an auto charger about every month or so over the winter when the boat isn't being used (battery maintenance is something I'm quite particular about on everything). Power is off completely when the boat is out of the water. Starts instantly, turning over quickly.

I can't easily get a marine battery here, and it has to be a very specific size to fit in the battery box on the boat. Plus, being an Etec, there is the battery terminal issue i.e. they need to be very secure.

I reckon it should be good for a while yet. I have just sold my Discovery with a 13 year old battery in it. Does anybody violently disagree with the thought that it is probably fine for the time being?

Pikey Dave · 11 August 2015, 08:44

Can't see a problem meself. If it's behaving, then no reason to change.

Fender · 11 August 2015, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Another "time expiry" question.

Seawolf is still on its original battery, coming up 5 years old. It's a proper marine battery, has never been flat, holds its charge, and gets a top-up with an auto charger about every month or so over the winter when the boat isn't being used (battery maintenance is something I'm quite particular about on everything). Power is off completely when the boat is out of the water. Starts instantly, turning over quickly.

I can't easily get a marine battery here, and it has to be a very specific size to fit in the battery box on the boat. Plus, being an Etec, there is the battery terminal issue i.e. they need to be very secure.

I reckon it should be good for a while yet. I have just sold my Discovery with a 13 year old battery in it. Does anybody violently disagree with the thought that it is probably fine for the time being?

I'd run with it - but just to be 100% sure you could always do a load test

willk · 11 August 2015, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender

I'd run with it - but just to be 100% sure you could always do a load test

Get's my vote too. You don't subject the battery to much battering, keep it charged etc. It could last for years. A load test is a good idea.

boristhebold · 11 August 2015, 13:44

If it were me I would fit an additional battery with a switch and power charging unit, i had a battery fail once on the water and without the second one available it could have been a nasty situation.

Fender · 11 August 2015, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by boristhebold

If it were me I would fit an additional battery with a switch and power charging unit, i had a battery fail once on the water and without the second one available it could have been a nasty situation.

But where do you draw the line, second engines, second VHF's, second GPS, second fuse box.............................................?? ?? I'm a strong believer in my kit being up-to par, maintained correctly and fit for purpose, you then reduce the risk of breakdowns to a minimum

Poly · 11 August 2015, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by boristhebold

If it were me I would fit an additional battery with a switch and power charging unit, i had a battery fail once on the water and without the second one available it could have been a nasty situation.

Bogmonster has a pull start aux so less of an issue - which means he has complete independence if it turns out the failure is the switch or the wiring both of which are common issues reported here. Spontaneous battery failure with no warning on well looked after kit is uncommon.

The only issue I can see is that getting replacement to the Falklands when you do think its starting to go could be time consuming.

Hightower · 11 August 2015, 17:10

I've had my Batteries longer than you Stephen. You've done all the right things in looking after your Battery, no reason it shouldn't last a good few years to come. However the obvious thing I will say is that if had a twin system like me then you wouldn't be posting asking for advice and would just continue until one day you had problems.

Fender, yes you can't always have a double of everything on board. But it depends on what sort of boating environment you go out in. If you're going to be out by yourself and away from build up area's there is a strong recommendation from me that certain systems are doubled up on. A twin battery electrical system is one of the main upgrades I would suggest. No good being on a powerboat without electrical power, no engine/s, no main VHF and no GPS.

Poly · 11 August 2015, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

However the obvious thing I will say is that if had a twin system like me then you wouldn't be posting asking for advice and would just continue until one day you had problems.

So if you were Stephen and had "your" double electrics and realised one battery was dodgy would you go out, knowing that the other battery was the same age, lifecycle, abuse history etc? Bearing in mind that in his location it would be more of a problem than the embarrassment that someone on RIBnet might have overheard his VHF call. Otherwise he's not really any better off unless failure happens on the water.

Quote:

No good being on a powerboat without electrical power, no engine/s, no main VHF and no GPS.

handhelds provide true independence - otherwise you are always relying on the wiring, switches, fuse etc anyway. Old tech engines could all be pull started anyway - not sure if your fancy modern stuff makes that impossible?

mick · 11 August 2015, 18:03

Batteries seem to be ok one day and the next there buggered with no signs of failure until it's gone

jeffstevens763@g · 11 August 2015, 18:49

Your battery could last years or it could fail tomorrow if it were me I would have a spare and keep using it peace of mind or carry a jump starter

paintman · 11 August 2015, 19:10

If in doubt replace it. Simple as that.
FWIW I carry a smaller battery & my auxiliary engine is pull start & not connected to any of the boat's systems.

Hightower · 11 August 2015, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

So if you were Stephen and had "your" double electrics and realised one battery was dodgy would you go out, knowing that the other battery was the same age, lifecycle, abuse history etc? Bearing in mind that in his location it would be more of a problem than the embarrassment that someone on RIBnet might have overheard his VHF call. Otherwise he's not really any better off unless failure happens on the water.

Of course you don't go out if one of your bats isn't working properly. The thing is Poly you don't always find out you have a faulty battery before you go. If that happens with one battery you're dead in the water. Twins gives you a fighting chance of getting home.

It's also worthy mentioning for a balanced view that with a twin system one faulty battery can effect the healthy other one. You need to protect against this using a 1.2.both.off isolator and some procedure.

Last Tango · 12 August 2015, 02:49

I have two batteries in case I fail.......to switch off the bilge pumps, switch off the lights, the VHF....etc. The batteries are much less of a problem than my memory is.
I don't think 5 years is particularly old for a properly maintained battery but, as previously mentioned, if it's niggling away at you, get it tested to see if "AH" capacity is still in scope. Only take a couple of minutes and is a good indicator of the battery's condition.

gotchiguy · 15 August 2015, 23:17

As a point of note the 3.3 and 3.4 litre Etecs can be pull started surprisingly easily. Not sure the same is true of the 2.6L small blocks though.

BogMonster · 23 August 2015, 23:27

Nowhere really to put a second battery - the front compartment of the single jockey console is basically full with the single battery and oil tank for the E-TEC, I wouldn't put it in the compartment under the seat where the fuel is (done the 'nervous trip home with the battery covered in petrol wondering if my knackers were about to go up in flames' thing on my old boat, never again) and under the seat pods would be too much hassle to install.

In terms of plan B if it goes quiet at the blunt end, handheld VHF, PLB and a pull start aux are all independent/permanently on the boat.

I'm not particularly worried about stopping it and it not starting again as I rarely stop it at sea, and the cold start on launch is the biggest load it would get with the lowest state of charge, so it was more to gauge a sensible planned replacement date.

Thanks for the input.

BogMonster · 25 August 2019, 20:47

Holy thread revival...........!

Four years on and she's still on the original battery - mid 2010 vintage. I'm thinking this summer is a good time to order one in.

Can somebody remind me if there's anything particularly nasty about salt water and any of the particular battery chemistries, I have a feeling I have seen something about it in the past?

Finding one the right size for the battery box (which is pretty small) but matches the original Yuasa '100' battery (650CCA, 70AH) is proving a bit tricky, the original type appears never to have existed on Google, but a couple of options are

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx9096/
(looks OK)

or https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batt...line/exv82agm/
(marine - but no CCA so may not be suitable as a starter)

or https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx7100/
(looks OK)

or push the boat out and get https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/odyssey/pc1220/

Finding a marine battery in the right size to match the original CCA seems to be a tall order, and I'm pretty sure I recall seeing views that the one thing the E-TEC does need is decent battery amps and good terminals.

I've got to order it from the UK and wait 2 months for it to get here, so getting something suitable is somewhat important.

willk · 25 August 2019, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Four years on and she's still on the original battery - mid 2010 vintage. I'm thinking this summer is a good time to order one in....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_y...t_radio=1&t=20

Mine are going to be six years old next spring and I'm going to swap them out on general principles...

jeffstevens763@g · 26 August 2019, 20:21

BM it's easy for most of us but you so remote IMO to keep boating you need backup any spec battery that suits your set up will be ok but for longiverty you need the best spec. I've had batteries last months and over 10 years all good makes its a chance thing but if you have backup you have piece of mind for me I would buy the best as backup. Just MO

Last Tango · 26 August 2019, 21:43

The lead acid batteries in the medical equipment we maintain makes it obvious that the "killer" is letting them go flat or leaving them flat....they regularly last less than six months.

Left on permanent charge about 5 years+ is realistic.

This is based on an average of about 10 to 20 batteries a week.

All IMO obviously.