low battery

[fallen192]

hi
i have a 1985 30 ft sea ray weekender and while running the amp meters on both motors read charging around 14 amps , when i am anchored and with just my radio on when i go to start the motors just my port side starts right up and my starboard side is dead , while running i am on both batteries and while stopped i am only on 1 , can you help
thank you :huh:

 

[boatmailster]

looks like your stb batteries are also your house batteries. those batteries can be weak and not holding charge (need to be tested) or there could be something else drawing electrical current (refrigerator, lights, stereo amps etc).
do you start your engines before using anchor? winch could draw 50A to 100A and kill your battery very quick.

 

[Stray Cat]

How old is your battery(ies)? I had the same thing happen to me last weekend, only on the port side. After an overnight charge, and 13.5 volts on the main distribution panel, the batteries would only go for 2-1/2 hrs before the voltage dropped down to 10 volts or less while running two fridges and the stereo. I had to start the gen set to put some juice back into them to keep the fridges going. I used the emergency start button once just to see if it would work to start the port engine....worked great.

My Interstate batteries are 3-1/2 yrs old, and I have maintained water levels in the cells annually. I've decided to change all 4 because I don't want one to go belly up and freeze this winter.

Your situation sounds similar to mine. Have it load tested to see if they will come close to reaching the battery's rated cold crank amps.

 

[fallen192]

hi and thank you for the information ,, i am not sure how old the battery's are i just purchased the boat this season