New boat, need battery help

Will M

Will M

Active member
As of next season I?ll no longer being pull starting my motor on my duck boat. I?ve never had to buy a battery for a duck boat before and have no idea where to start. I?d love to hear recommendations or brands to avoid. I?m going to have a 2021 40hp Yamaha. Biggest concern of course is cold weather reliability
 
Whichever battery you use if you're in bitter cold, either bring the battery indoors at night or get an onboard charger and plug her in. I started carrying one of the new compact jump start boxes too! Great for the boat, truck, cell phone, etc.

FYI, I use interstate marine batteries. They work great for me and have lasted many years.
 
The Optima Bluetop line is specifically designed for marine applications. I've had great success with the two I own.

Just make sure you aren't like my duck hunting partner with his fancy new Mercury motor. We got to the ramp, got the boat in the water, parked the cars, and went to start the motor before we launched. Battery dead and neither of us had jumper cables (I'd moved mine from one vehicle to another the day before, d'oh!). Loaded the boat back on the trailer and went home. How we wished that motor had a pull start that day.
 
Kind of obvious, but check the outboard manufacturer's recommendations/requirements. I was surprised by Tohatsu's high MCA recommendation for their outboards. But, the battery does need to turn the engine when very cold, and no one wants to be stranded on the lake.
 
Back in the late 90s/early 2000s, I used Walmart Deep Cycle batteries in my offshore boat. Two (2) of them with a Perco 4-position swtich, lasted the 5 years I had the boat with no problems. Even after sitting for up to 5 months from October to March.
But I was also down here in the sunny south, and they probably never saw temps below 30.

If you are up north, get the best battery you can afford, make sure it has the proper MCA and carry extra long jumper cables just in case.
 
Interstate makes good batteries. Another good thing to have is pull rope backup just in case. I believe most newer motors rope can be wrapped around flywheel and get you started just in case of battery failure. Inadvertently turned ignition switch on my newer tohatsu 25 this fall when setting up boat blind. Discovered 4 hrs latter motor wouldn,t start by key when getting ready to pick up deeks. Switch on and second pull on cowl mounted auxillary pull rope and motor running. Five miles from closest ramp so that was a welcome lifesaver. Battery had charged enough to start by key once back at ramp.
 
I work in a marine store in oc md sell a lot of marine battery?s. Any name brand will be fine for a duck boat you need a starting battery. I carry a small jump pack just in case for emergency.
 
I work in a marine store in oc md sell a lot of marine battery?s. Any name brand will be fine for a duck boat you need a starting battery.


The above tells you everything you need to know. 3 companies make most of the lead acid batteries-Exide, East Penn, and Clarios(formerly Johnson Controls)-they are all good. A starting battery will hold it's charge in all seasons unless something drains it, just like your car.

 
Yep I've been to the East Penn / Deka factory and it's impressive. They make all the batteries for west marine, etc. I have Dekas in my big boat and they haven't let me down.

I have an Enersys pure lead AGM in my roy boat, never even need to put it on a trickle charge. Cranks every time.
 
I've run Interstate Marine batteries for the past 10 years or so and have had great luck with them.

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/recreation-vehicles/rv-batteries/starting


You want to look at the cold cranking amps. Battery cranking amps start to fall off quickly in the cold (below 32 F). I run the 1000 cranking amp ones. I do not bring them inside nor do I run a trickle charger.


Best of luck.


Troy
 
Last edited:
A starting battery like a 24c series has more Cold cranking amps then 24dc series. I run a 50hp Mercury all I use 24c battery for the last 20 years.
 
Not sure if your former motor had a direct fuel tank or a line, but For those really cold days always have an extra fuel line. I don't recall what battery I have for my starting battery, but I also have a huge deep cycle for my trolling motor. My first solo day with the boat this year (which was a banner day for my duck hunting career) I must have tried to crank the Suzuki 40 50 times before I gave up (it was about 4F out), motored (with the troller) to a closer spot in the marsh than I was hoping to get. Once the sun hit the fuel line and it thawed out a little I was able to crank it another 20 times or so before it decided it would turn over.

The next time I went out when it was that cold (and we used the new heater) I had an extra fuel line in the truck and in the boat. The one in the boat was enough. First crank, fired right up.

Might already be known, but a good lesson learned and a close second to the battery conversation.
 
Last edited:
I'm going to add that I checked out the "mini" jumpstarters. Dang, they have come down in price!
If I had an electric start boat, I'd be buying one.
 
Worked with batteries for 40+ years. Any name brand with the recommended MCA is ok. Been to East Penn's factory a couple times, it's impressive. Personally I like the East Penn (Deka) brand my self. The two things to watch are the code dates and MCA. (marine cranking amps) Some places will sell you a battery that already 6+ months old, low inventory turnover. Nothing harder a battery than sitting. Also a lot of brands have two grades, their premium and economy. Again watch the crank rating.

Disclaimer, I also carry a jump pack, because you never know. One trick to try, load the battery for a couple seconds and try again or warm up the battery. The cranking falls fast below 32 degrees. Also carry a propane torch. One day hunting at below zero and the lower unit froze (water in crankcase) that torch saved me a long walk home(pre cell phone). Remember that day for two reasons, the motor and the birds worked perfect.[smile]

Good hunting
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top