Time for new batteries

John F

New Member
Jul 17, 2018
4
Boat Info
Sundancer 280, 2007
Engines
8.1 l w/Bravo III drive
I have a 2007 Sundancer 280 and need to replace my batteries. Is anyone using Lithium Ion batteries (LiFePO4)? Not sure I am ready to go to LI, but am wanting more amp hours for the house and long term value.
 
I had good luck with NAPA AGM dual purpose batteries with our 496 280. You need both cranking power and deep discharge as there is no dedicated house battery circuit. Both batteries are wired to do either job, so there is no advantage to buying a single purpose battery. I’d also recommend buying two identical batteries at the same time. Having two identical batteries will ensure both are equally charged.
 
Im 0% sold on LiOn in a boat or car. There only real world advantage is weight and space savings. Beyond that, they fail in every other aspect. Stick with LAWC or AGM.
 
Have you checked the prices? I think your "wondering" will immediately stop after seeing the prices (at least the last time I checked).

Just add a second DC battery (or DP) in parallel and dedicate that circuit (whether it's #1 or #2 on your battery switch) to be your primary "House". You'll double your amp hours. Consider increasing the size (group size) of your new "house" batteries, as well.
 
LiFePO4 make sense in certain applications such as solar off grid applications or possibly inverter applications on boats. For a starting or house battery a AGM cant be beat for $$ or performance.

Sams has Group 31's on sale for $159. Work good...last long.
 
+1 for the Sam's $159 AGM's. Just bought 2 a few weeks ago! Old Diehards were 8 1/2 years old.
 
Thanks to all for the info.
 
Just replaced all my batteries with Odyssey Extreams. I did a lot of research and talked with several subject mater experts, got the same response from nearly all of them, “ one of the best batteries, but they are $$,”

DB63ACA7-EE17-4A51-A0DA-2857D023EA81.jpeg 966158C8-7A25-43DD-B45B-7E9E892F9A47.jpeg
 
Just replaced all my batteries with Odyssey Extreams. I did a lot of research and talked with several subject mater experts, got the same response from nearly all of them, “ one of the best batteries, but they are $$,”

View attachment 81388 View attachment 81389

Your battery wiring would be an instant fail in a CG safety inspection. All of the battery terminals must have insulating covers is the requirement. It’s also a good requirement because it reduces the risk of an accidental arc that could seriously injure, or cause a fire.
 
Wow and I thought it was done so well and professional, thanks for letting me know.

as we are on a inland lake, Lake of Ozarks, would we ever run into CG inspectors?
 
Your battery wiring would be an instant fail in a CG safety inspection. All of the battery terminals must have insulating covers is the requirement. It’s also a good requirement because it reduces the risk of an accidental arc that could seriously injure, or cause a fire.
I just had a marine survey done for insurance purposes and the item that I got docked for was that my 4 x 6-volt inverter batteries have wing nuts on the battery studs and they are supposed to have nuts that can be torqued to a certain spec..... Oh brother
 
Wow and I thought it was done so well and professional, thanks for letting me know.

as we are on a inland lake, Lake of Ozarks, would we ever run into CG inspectors?

You did an excellent job by automotive standards. Overkill if anything. But boats are different because the consequences are more extreme.

Are you a candidate for a CG inspection?, doubtful. The thing is exposed battery terminals are more unsafe in a boat environment. It’s a small cramped area, so if something falls on the batteries getting to it may take longer. Additionally most have little to no ventilation, and unlike a car, heavier than air vapors like petroleum products collect in the bilge compounding the danger with gas boats. And batteries are generally located down low in the engine compartment.

Could your boat catch fire, or you be burned badly, if a wrench, or other metal part fell and shorted the terminals? Quite possibly. Do batteries sometimes explode if violently shorted? Yup.

I don’t know how you’d search for it, but there was a thread a few years back by a CSR member who shorted a battery with a wrench (accidentally) and his wedding ring was in contact with the wrench. The result was a very nasty burn.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,811
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top