Newbie - What runs off battery vs shore power?

[Mdwhitten]

One more comment here--while you are about getting ready to enjoy the boat, unless you are certain they are new, get the biggest, heaviest 31 series Marine batteries you can find. Especially since you have no generator, your entire electrical system will be supported by your 12 volt batteries. The best I've found are the NorthStar 31 series AGM. They are sealed units, so you never have to check water level, have tremendous reserve capacity, and if properly charged will last you for years. Are they cheap--NO--but neither is Sea Tow, when you can't crank the engine or use your radio.
And, with your set up, I would have an independent, hand held VHS just for emergencies.

 

[Stee6043]

One more comment here--while you are about getting ready to enjoy the boat, unless you are certain they are new, get the biggest, heaviest 31 series Marine batteries you can find. Especially since you have no generator, your entire electrical system will be supported by your 12 volt batteries. The best I've found are the NorthStar 31 series AGM. They are sealed units, so you never have to check water level, have tremendous reserve capacity, and if properly charged will last you for years. Are they cheap--NO--but neither is Sea Tow, when you can't crank the engine or use your radio.
And, with your set up, I would have an independent, hand held VHS just for emergencies.

Shoot...an annual membership for Tow Boat US is a fraction of the cost of an AGM battery!

Suggesting AGM batteries are the right decision for everyone is a bit dubious...

 

[Mdwhitten]

Guys,
You need to read my statement above again. I said that Newbie needs to run the biggest, heaviest 31 series marine batteries he can find. Batteries are a "go/no-go" piece of equipment. I said Northstar 31's are the best I've found, and I recommend them. Can you get good batteries in wet cells--Sure--the US Battery 31's or Trojan SCS 225's are very fine batteries. I just prefer to put the most power in place that I can, and I hate to mess with checking and filling wet cells. I've just seen way too many problems in my 55 years of boating that boiled down to someone trying to save a few $$ on a smaller, or cheaper battery.

 

[Stee6043]

Guys,
You need to read my statement above again. I said that Newbie needs to run the biggest, heaviest 31 series marine batteries he can find. Batteries are a "go/no-go" piece of equipment. I said Northstar 31's are the best I've found, and I recommend them. Can you get good batteries in wet cells--Sure--the US Battery 31's or Trojan SCS 225's are very fine batteries. I just prefer to put the most power in place that I can, and I hate to mess with checking and filling wet cells. I've just seen way too many problems in my 55 years of boating that boiled down to someone trying to save a few $$ on a smaller, or cheaper battery.

Understood.

I've never had a problem with properly maintained Group 27 wet cells. I considered Group 31 for my prior boat but opted for 27's because 1.) it's what the boat came with and 2.) the geometry of the boxes and wiring prevented an easy swap to the larger battery.

Batteries Plus has some beauty Group 27 Duracell's on sale right now. $89.99 plus a 10% discount if you order online, pickup in-store. That sucker is hard to beat for price/performance...In my opinion.

Ohh and what timing...just today my Tow Boat US membership renewed for the year. $85 for an annual unlimited. Not quite cheaper than a Duracell...but much cheaper than an AGM.

 

[Mdwhitten]

Stee6043,
No argument with anything you said. The Duracell's are a Deka product, and very fine batteries. And that price is as good as can be found anywhere. I went 31's AGM for two reasons-- 1. I've run them in my bass boats and know how well they perform, and 2. Battery location in my 26'er makes it extremely inconvenient to do fluid checks. And, there is one more thing with AGM's that I forgot to mention---you must be absolutely sure that your on-board battery charger will properly charge them, some older battery chargers will not handle AGM's.

 

[Mac-Daddy-Minnesota]

If the boat doesn't have one, add a carbon monoxide sensor by the bed. Although you don't have a generator, you never know when someone might go lay down while you are running the engines. Cheap safety device against a silent killer.

Mandatory here in MN