Battery Watering Kit for 2007 320DA

Rick Young

Rick Young

Member
Jun 2, 2008
57
Katy, TX
Boat Info
Boatless
Engines
Boatless
Inspecting and maintaining the water levels in the batteries on my 2007 320DA is a PITA. Especially the outboard ones. I need to replace the batteries and have looked at both AGM's and wet cell. When I asked my mechanic about going to AGM's he was less than supportive with his main concern the inconsistant charging of the batteries via the alternators when the boat was underway. My converter/charger is ok for AGM's. I value his experience and he does an excellant job in taking care of my boat so his opinion on this is important to me.

This led me to an internet search where I came upon "Battery Watering Kits" There are several companies out there that manufacture this product. Fill-Rite Quick-Fill and Battery Watering Technologies are a couple I came across. The concept of how these work appear to be just the answere to my problem.

I have not been able to find a whole lot of reviews on the use of this product either positive or negative.

I am now shouting out to you, my fellow "Sea Ray" boating brothers. Do any of you have any experience in using this product.

Thanks.

Rick
 
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I'm by no means a battery expert, but I believe it's the GEL batteries that require a special regulator be installed? Or something like that, anyways.

But to directly answer your question, I have no experience with the watering kits.
 
I believe his issue with the AGM's is a potential for a reduction in life expectancy of the battery typically caused by heat build-up and their inability to relieve temperature through venting/gassing as a typical wet cell battery can do. AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. These batteries can be charged to 2.40V/cell (and higher) without problem; however, the float charge should be reduced to between 2.25 and 2.30V/cell (summer temperatures may require lower voltages). Automotive/marine charging systems for flooded lead acid often have a fixed float voltage setting of 14.40V (2.40V/cell), and a direct replacement with a sealed unit could spell trouble by exposing the battery to undue overcharge. We could also throw in engine compartment temperatures, poor ventilation, and hot summer North Carolia afternoons which also can have an impact.

His feeling is that I can spend the extra for AGM batteries now but possibly not be happy with the length of service I get out of them down the road and I appreciate his honesty about this. That is why I keep using him and I know my boat is being well take care of. He is a good mechanic.

Now that we have debated the question of wet cell vs AGM. I also have a proven way of filling the cells which works well for me but still requires I go head first into this hole that Sea Ray stuck the batteries into so I don't need a turkey baster. That gets us to, anyone out there with experience with battery watering systems which was my real question.
 
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It is the results that count.............

I owned a 390EC for 9 years and used nothing but high quality wet cell batteries from Interstate, Deka or Sears. I live 450 miles away from my boat, but I do spend 1-2 weeks a month in Florida boating. I religiously maintained the wet cells and my record for a set of 4 was 19 months. I bought a 450DA 17 years ago and when the OEM wet cells died, I replaced all 5 with red top starting AGM's.......not blue top deep cycle. I am getting between 49 (my worst) and 60 months (my best) from the AGM's. I just changed the batteries and never changed the convertor.

Conclusion: I get nearly twice the service life out of AGM's than I ever have with wet cells. AGM's cost a little more, but you never even look at them once they are installed. NO corrosive fumes isn't a myth......I built a tool box the sits on top of my battery box and get zero corrosion. The notion that AGM's are too sensitive to charging to use in a Sea Ray boat is hooey.
 
I really wanted a system that simultaneously serviced all the cells but it dawned on me that I would never know when a single cell or battery was becoming problematic. I look at every cell every month now. To fill I have an outboard engine fuel priming bulb with some 1/4-inch vinyl hose to the gallon DI water container on the inlet and a hard plastic tube bent 90 degrees attached to the bulb outlet. I simply squeeze and fill; a one hand operation... Regardless, when I was researching systems I was centering in on the Quik-Fill system from Flow-Rite.
 
Turkey baster works, but a plastic condiment dispenser works better. Holds more distilled water, good tapered tip, and cheap to buy. Think I got mine at a Krogers Supermarket for a buck or so.
 
I replaced all 4 type 31 flooded cell lead acid with AGM from Sam's club a couple years ago. These were Duracell brand and cost less than $150 each after exchange. My charger has an AGM mode and keeps the AGMs at 13.3-13.4v. Have not had an battery issue yet.
 
If by "Blue Top" you mean Optima, of late they have been having problems with anticipated longevity. Optimas are cheaper than say a Rolls or a Sears or a Trojan brand, however, you get what you pay for.

WRT the battery watering systems, I have looked at them as well. I am pretty sure I am going to go that route. You may want to check with a local warehouse that uses electric forklifts or a golf course with a fleet of carts or a higher end RV store. They will be able to steer you right. I am leaning to the forklift kit. Not scientific, but my only thought is the need for it being rugged and the difference in costs associated with a warehouse forklift being down for dead batteries vs. the cost of a golf cart being down for dead batteries is huge.

My 2 cents.
 
I replaced my 4 group 27s with group 31 auto craft AGM tractor batteries from autozone. They were on sale for under $100/a battery when you use some of the promotion codes, and have a full 3 year warranty. Have not had a problem with them in 2 seasons so far. I did replace my original PD 2030 charger with the promariner pronautic P 1240 to charge them quicker and also to have the AGM preferred charging profile. They said a "normal" charger for flooded cell batteries would be fine though.

If you are looking for them, they are only available in store. They dont show up on the website.

Prior to the upgrade, I had one of the bottles from Nappa that you press down on each cell opening and it auto-filled to the correct water level. Quick and painless.
 
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Humph, the link you have shown is what I have been looking at. Either the Flow-Rite Qwik Fill or the Battery Watering Technologies product. What I have found for reviews on the internet have been mostly from the RV world and in most cases the product seems to get favorable reviews. About the only "concern" I have run across is the price. I was hoping by posting on this forum I might get some feedback on their use in a boating environment.

I am gravitating towards replacing with wet cell batteries and giving this product a try. I will post my findings when I get the new batteries installed and have a chance to give this product a try. Probably won't be until spring.
 
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