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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Batteries and Outboard

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/23/2011 : 18:25:03

Well I finally decided to suck it up and go sailing last night after work. When it took me an hour and fifteen minutes to make a 35 minute drive to the boat I started thinking somethings up.

Finally got to the boat, drained out the month old fuel into my truck, and filled the tank with fresh fuel. Hooked up the fuel line and squeezed the bulb and noticed a few drops of gas leaking around the fitting. Started the motor and it ran for about 3 minutes and then started to die. Pumped the bulb and got it running again for about a minute and it died again. Pumped the bulb and noticed it was now leaking more fuel. Checked the fittings and everything looked Ok but the fittings would not pull tight. As long as I kept pumping the bulb every minute or two the motor would run fine. Decided to go to WM to see if they had new fittings. As usual they had nothing for my model Suzuki.

Almost decided to go for it but for once my brain over-ruled my heart and I decided not to take the chance.

Ordered 2 sets of fittings today for the motor and fuel line. They should be here on Friday.

Then I decided I would check out my recently repaired running lights. Flipped the battery switch from off to both and turned on the lights. I could barely see the bow light. It had just enough juice to make the filament barely glow.

I'd been noticing lately it was taking the charger longer and longer to go into float mode.

Any suggestions on battery makes, models, types? I think I can order some Interstate Deep Cycle Marine batteries through the company I work for at cost + 5% but wonder if I should go with AGM or GEL cell batteries. I don't have electric start so I'm only concerned about house batteries.

I'm thinking AGM or Gel might be a better chaoice since I'm not prone to check the electrolyte!

I'm open for suggestions!

In one day I broke the motor and the batteries! Sure glad I found out now while it's still hot and before the fall sailing season.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2011 : 19:49:24

I would love to have a pair of Optima batteries, but they cost too much for my budget. The Interstate Deep cycles at cost +5% sounds good to me.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2011 : 20:01:50

We use two AGMs from West Marine. A bit spendy but we've had them 5 years, never checked them for anything (they are sealed) and they flat out work. AGMs can be depleted very low. When these have lived their lives I will get them again.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2011 : 07:54:58

I have used flooded, sealed batteries for years and been quite satisfied and would go with the Interstates, but gels, and especially AGM's, have definitely have advantages if you want to spend the bucks and have an appropriate charger - you must have a "smart charger" unless you enjoy throwing money over the side. Most, if not all, current chargers qualify.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2011 : 20:18:34

I've got a Xantrex 10TB charger than can handle all three types of batteries. Haven't had time to look into what I can and cannot get through the company. I'm leaning towards the AGM's but not knowing prices I haven't decided for sure.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2011 : 17:30:40

Picked up my new fuel line fittings last night. Installed them and she purrs like a kitten now without dripping fuel.

Only problem then was she wasn't pumping any water out of the tell-tale hole. I've been having problems with this situation for awhile but usually it will start pumping after the engine warms up. I usually had to put it in gear at the dock for it to pickup the water. I've wondered if the water pump needed to be replaced but have been putting off since it seems to pump more or less OK after it warms up. Last night it would not pump anything. Tried again this morning and nothing.

Decided to start diagnosing the problem starting with the simplest solution with a plan to proceed to the next most likely thing if the first solution did not fix the problem.

First solution was to check the thermostat. I very carefully applied light pressure to the screws holding the thermostat housing to the block. Amazingly they came out without a problem (with my luck I was worried they would snap off in the block).

The thermostat had a tall plunger with a spring and when I tried to push the plunger down it wouldn't budge. Decide to apply a little more pressure by tapping it increasingly harder with a small hammer to see if it would free up. Nothing, it just started bending over. So it's looking like it's not the water pump, just the thermostat (I'm thinking I may be luckier than I thought)!

I gently pried it out of the block and was surprised to find that the water jacket only had a little bit of build-up in it even though the motor is 22 years old. I put the thermostat housing back on without the thermostat in it, fired up the motor, and viola! She's pumping water like a fountain again!

'm sure it's not good for it to run without a thermostat over the long term but with 85+ degree water temps in the bay I figured it won't hurt to run it this way until I can get a new thermostat shipped in.

So now she starts on the 1st or 2nd pull and will pump water even at idle in neutral.

As I suspected, my lack of maintenance on the batteries showed up when I checked the water in them last night. One had water below the top of the plates, the other only had a couple of low cells. I got some distilled water and refilled both batteries to the correct level. Flipped on the charger and surprisingly they seemed to take a charge OK overnight which is much quicker than they have been. The real test will be to see if they hold the charge over the next week and can power the electrics for an extended period of time. Only time will tell if I cooked one or both. I'm sure I shortened the life of at least one of them.

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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.