A deep cycle battery is the right choice for powering an electric trolling motor and other battery-powered accessories such as audio systems, a windlass, depth finders, fish locators, and applicances. Deep cycle batteries should not be substituted for starting batteries.
Can I use a regular battery in a boat?
The answer is a simple "yes," but does that mean a car battery is always the best choice for a marine application? Not necessarily. ... Other boats may use the same battery that start the engine to power accessories, like live wells, showers, bilge pumps, stereos and other electrical accessories.
What's the difference between a marine battery and a regular battery?
Car batteries are designed to deliver concentrated bursts of power to crank over and start the engine. ... Marine batteries must not only have the starting power to crank over high compression engines but also provide the reserve capacity needed to run on board accessories.
What type of battery should I buy for a boat?
Dual-Purpose Batteries It's usually best to install separate cranking and deep-cycle batteries. If your boat is small, however, and there's only room for one battery due to space or weight restrictions, consider buying a dual-purpose marine battery that handles starting and cycling.Mar 5, 2013
Can I use regular batteries in my boat?
BOAT. One of the most commonly asked questions I receive is, "can I use my car battery in my boat?" Well, this is one of the oldest misconceptions in the boating game and the truth is you can use a car battery for your boating needs, but it certainly won't last very long!!
Are boat batteries the same as car batteries?
Car batteries, which fall into a class known as starter batteries, consist of lots of thinner plates. Marine batteries are made up of a combination of these same thinner plates, as well as thicker, heavier plates that are traditionally found in what are known as deep cycle batteries.
Do boats have special batteries?
Marine batteries are designed specifically for use on a boat, with heavier plates and robust construction designed to withstand the vibration and pounding that can occur onboard any powerboat.
What kind of battery do you need for a boat?
Most boaters will use 12-volt lead-acid batteries in their boats. If your boat uses 6-volt, 8-volt or some other type of battery that isn't 12-volt, you can still read the next few paragraphs, but know that OPTIMA doesn't offer replacements in those voltages for your boats.Mar 16, 2021
Is a deep cycle battery the same as a marine battery?
Marine batteries may be starting batteries, dual-purpose batteries or deep cycle batteries. They are usually a hybrid of starting and deep cycle batteries, with lead sponge plates that are coarser and heavier than starting battery plates but not as thick as true deep cycle battery plates.Jun 4, 2018
What makes a marine battery different?
Marine units feature thicker internal lead plates than their automotive counterparts, which allow them to discharge energy over a longer period of time. ... Finally, you can identify a marine battery by its use of “marine cranking amps,” or MCA rating, instead of the standard automotive “cold cranking amps” (CCA).Oct 4, 2018
Can I start my boat with a deep cycle battery?
Can You Use a Deep Cycle Battery For Starting? The short answer is that you can probably use your deep cycle battery to start your boat engine in a pinch. You shouldn't rely on your deep cycle battery to start your boat engine all of the time because it isn't designed to do that.
What is the difference between a deep cycle marine battery and a regular car battery?
Car batteries are specially designed to provide a short, sharp burst of power in order to crank over and start the vehicle's engine. ... Deep Cycle batteries are constructed using thicker battery plates and a denser active material, to withstand repeated charge and discharge cycles.