As a long time boating enthusiast, both on the open ocean and on inland waterways and lakes, I have Nike Tn always been of the opinion that many boat owners fail to ensure that their electrical system is adequate, indeed many are flippant about the types of batteries they use.
There are many tales of persons getting into serious difficulties on large expanses of open water, due to an inability to start motors when their battery fails. So may people think that an old disused automotive battery is adequate for their needs, when in actual fact, they should be kitting their vessel out with a battery designed for marine use.
At the minimum, a marine hybrid battery should be considered, they tend to have heavier plates than your typical auto batteries, and have better Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) specifications than car batteries.
A true deep cycle marine battery is considerably more costly, but if that is the requirement for your application, then using anything less is at the least, foolhardy, and at worst, down right dangerous.
If you need a battery for small marine applications, the marine dual purpose batteries from companies like Duralast will generally serve the purpose. I have successfully used on for around 5 seasons, and will always retire it then. These hybrid batteries are available from Autozone stores and are very reasonably priced. They are pretty good for most small scale marine and RV uses. Not the best batteries in the world, but definitely a step up from the standard car battery.
I would recommend that anyone considering open water adventures takes a look at their requirements, and ensures that the battery, and indeed the charger, is well suited to the use you intend to put it to. I recommend using a smart technology charger which will keep your battery in tiptop condition.
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