Association Forum - C25 battery advice sought

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

C25 battery advice sought

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

JV
Deckhand

Member Avatar

9 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/24/2005 : 19:46:31

The time has come to replace the battery on my '83. I don't have electric start and just run the lights and radios from it. I have shore power and motor charging. I'm often out 2-4 days with little motor charging if any. I'd like a battery that can survive heeling and rough conditions. Would a gell battery work well for this? My old battery weighs a ton but I since it is mounted low and nearly centered I doubt this is a great concern. Any advice on an appropriate C25 battery would be welcome. Thanks.

1983 TR FK #3436--"Joint Venture" Flathead Lake, MT

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 20:40:29

JV,

Since you say you're often out for two to four days without shore power or much motoring to recharge, I'd suggest a group-27 or larger battery.

Gel-cells are low (no) maintenance, work at any angle, and I seem to remember that they're forgiving of deep discharge cycles. The disadvantages are high initial cost, and sensitivity to charging regimen. (Easily overcooked.)

For the best value, I'd suggest flooded cell deep cycle. Either a 12V group-27, or a pair of 6V golf cart batteries in series. Keep in mind that flooded cell batteries are particularly unforgiving of being left in a discharged state. Even discharging them below 50% causes some degree of damage and reduced service life. It would be best for flooded cells to be mounted inside acid proof battery boxes.

Which ever type you go with, be sure it's well restrained, protected from accidental short circuits and from physical impact by other heavy stuff shifting around nearby.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

JV
Deckhand

Members Avatar

9 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 22:18:15

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can find.

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2005 : 09:32:39

Hi JV

If you decide to get a gel-cell battery instead of a new lead-acid flooded battery, remember that the gel-cell battery charges at a lower voltage than the flooded battery you have been using. You will want to change the setting on your charger to the gel-cell setting. If you don't, you'll probably severly damage or destroy the new battery.

On Snickerdoodle I have two group 24 flooded batteries. They both fit nicely in the battery compartment at the aft end of the starboard settee.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

JV
Deckhand

Members Avatar

9 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2005 : 11:03:19

Good advice Bill. I may avoid the gell-cells just for that reason. And my charging systems are not adjustable. I also remembered that I may add an auto helm in the future and the twin 24's would help with that larger draw.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2005 : 11:39:34

I have two group 24 size gell batteries. They have been relocated into battery boxes under the quarterberth. They are 55 amp hours each.

I love these batteries. No acid, no maintenance. They will run the boat for about 2 weeks of day sailing or 2 or 3 days of overnightingwithout being concerned about charging.

I have a Guest 3 amp shore power charger which charges them up usually in a couple of hours. I don't leave the trickle charger running (no need - I use the boat nearly every day).

I have a voltage regulator that keeps charging voltage below 14.1 volts.

Edited by - on

Dave Laux
Captain

Members Avatar

318 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2005 : 20:04:59

Just back from 6 weeks of living totally on the boat. Minimum engine running. About an hour and one half in four days for example. We use a single grp 24 battery and have never been unable to start the outboard. Most of the stuff on the boat draws so little power that I do not know how long one battery will last. I would go with less battery rather than more until it was proven not to work. Especially since all of our engines will hand start.
We have depth finder, log, GPS, autopiot, second depth finder, anchor light , reading lights, running and deck light rarely used. Dave

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

Members Avatar

844 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2005 : 14:44:00

Everyone uses their boat differently and had different equipment, so it's important to do an Energy Budget. Figure out how much you need and size your battery bank accordingly. Also, if you'd like to stay out longer without charging, then more IS better.

Edited by - on

JV
Deckhand

Members Avatar

9 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2005 : 16:24:54

Thanks for all the advice. I like the idea of gells but don't want to risk frying them. I'll try to get another trip out of the old one and then decide.

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2005 : 11:51:34

Orion has two 24 deep cycle (so-called) wet cells in the stbd locker, I considered two golf carts, but they tend to be a bit taller and I didnt think they would fit. I have no outboard charger, just shore power at the dock thru a three stage marine charger, works for me, but then I am not on the hook or without shore power for extended periods, would have solar panels if on a mooring, Fair winds, ron Orion SR SK in SWFL

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2005 : 12:38:47

Orion has two 24 deep cycle (so-called) wet cells in the stbd locker, I considered two golf carts, but they tend to be a bit taller and I didnt think they would fit ... - Ron

I know what you meant, Ron ... but, that still cracks me up!

Edited by - on

Scooter
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 08/28/2005 : 10:29:46

I need to replace my battery and am thinking of a gell. We had one on our 22 O'Day and it served us well. We didn't, however, have an alternator on our outboard.

This boat has an alternator on our 9.9 Johnson.

Question: Will this alternator charge the Gell? What kind of regulator would work? Would I have to "fool" the regulator?

I know some of the pros and cons of Gell, non Gell, Golf cart batt, etc... I like the Gell tolerance to long shelf life over winter, and lower discharge tolerances etc...

Any Gell stories out there? For now just looking for Gell stories. No need to "sell" us on other options for now. Just want to see what others have done for Gells.

thanks.

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2005 : 15:53:32

I was hoping that with the golf carts deployed and at full RPM I would gain at least half a knot. Oh well....Ron Orion srsk SW FL

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2005 : 15:01:39

I doesn't matter what kind of battery you have if you have no way to make a significant amount of power. a solar panel that produces a minimum of 2-5 amps will keep your batteries up if you have minimal use. On Nin Bimash we are out for weeks at a time and rarely "plug in" at a marina. My solution was an air-x wind generator. depending on the wind speed it will produce from 5-30 amps. With two depth sounders, auto pilot, chart plotter, and vhf radio, our power usage is perhaps a bit more intense than the average sailor. wind power is free and continues throughout the night and on cloudy days. On Nin Bimash we have two 115 AH deep cycle trolling motor batteries. Both are 4 years old and still are working fine. I don't remove them in the winter, just charge them up and give them a litte boost every month or so.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2005 : 18:01:48

... My solution was an air-x wind generator. depending on the wind speed it will produce from 5-30 amps ... - John 

Hi John,

You're the only one of us I'm aware of who uses a wind generator ... I've often wondered why more C-25/250 owners don't have them ... is it because of expense? 'Lack of space for mounting the unit? 'Something else?

Where/how did you mount your generator? Do you by chance have any photos?

Thanks!

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2005 : 20:47:52

Hi Buzz,

The Air-X is mounted on a 9' galvanized steam pipe. nice and rugged. the whole works is inserted into a mount built into the port stern corner. a three ft. pipe with the same ID as the tower's OD so the two slide together. The mount pipe goes through the deck and is bolted to the gas shelf and is bolted to the deck through a plate welded to the deck pipe. I took all the parts to the place where the Ohio dept of transportation galvanizes guard rails. once dipped they were coated with epoxy appliance paint.

The first pic gives you a view of the whole rig and the second gives a view of the base. I used #8 wire to connect to the carging panel. from there I can controll which battery is being charged. There is a charge/stop switch that can shut the turbine off it the charging is done. So for example if I sail on bat 1 I have bat 2 on the turbine and the next day I switch. It works pretty well.

Photo credit: Karen Larson ed. Good Old Boat Magazine

Edited by - John V. on 09/04/2005 21:05:08

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2005 : 11:06:11

WOW John ... that is some impressive setup!

Thanks for the explanation and photos. I've saved all of your info for my "sailboat files" in case I ever want to install a system like that. If I ever get to retire, and if gas doesn't rise to $5 a gallon, and a lot of other "ifs," someday I'd like to be able to trailer my boat to different parts of the country for extended sailing adventures ... your wind generator would be a great piece of equipment to have aboard.

There are several boats owned by our Association members that I'd love to see in person one of these days ... yours is definitely one of them! You've really maintained her well, and you've done some fantastic mods, too.

Thanks again for the help.

Edit: BTW John ... I noticed that you gave credit for the photos to "Good Old Boat" magazine ... did they do a story on you & your boat? If so, what issue?

Edited by - Buzz Maring on 09/05/2005 17:01:30

John V.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2005 : 17:54:32

Hey Buzz, The photos are by Karen Larson who is the editor of Good Old Boat. I had spent the previous evening on board she and her husband Jerry's C&C 30 sharing my local knowledge of the North Channel. (and some of Karen's killer beer bread) They have moved their boat into Lake Huron for the next two years. The photos were taken shortly after I tossed a baggie full of Hot blueberry muffins over to them. The practice makes for great friendships. She emailed the pic's to me about two weeks ago.

Edited by - John V. on 09/05/2005 17:56:10

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2005 : 18:05:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John V.
 Hey Buzz, The photos are by Karen Larson who is the editor of Good Old Boat. I had spent the previous evening on board she and her husband Jerry's C&C 30 sharing my local knowledge of the North Channel. (and some of Karen's killer beer bread) They have moved their boat into Lake Huron for the next two years. The photos were taken shortly after I tossed a baggie full of Hot blueberry muffins over to them. The practice makes for great friendships. She emailed the pic's to me about two weeks ago.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

COOL STORY!

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2005 : 21:00:42

John:

Who makes that 100 HP engine on the stern of your boat?

Bob

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2005 : 12:03:46

The motor is a honda 100....100cc rated at 9.9 hp. I believe it is an 84 model. There is in a lot of marketing schemes a desire to make things seem bigger by adding zeros. hence the Catalina 250 (a 25 ft boat) who knows why....

I mean how would you get 100 hp into that little package and who is fooled.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.