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 Battery Requirements		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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jhorner
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/17/2014 :  18:51:16  Show Profile
I am still in the process of getting my "new to me" Catalina 25 ready for the sailing season.

The boat did not come with a battery. I have a "trolling" motor battery, (Stowaway). Will that provide enough power to run my lights? That is all I will need.

Or should I go ahead and get a larger battery?
jhorner
1984 SR/SK/Trad. #4483
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4034 Posts
Response Posted - 02/17/2014 :  19:08:58  Show Profile
Is this what you have? Looks to be s standard group 27 deep cycle battery.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Exide Stowaway Deep Cycle Marine/RV -Deep Cycle Battery keeps you powered up for those fun weekend activities.
12 in. x 6-13/16 in. x 9-7/16 in.
60 lb.
Terminal Voltage: 12V
Cold Cranking Amps: 550
Cranking Amps: 675
Battery Type: Lead Acid
Terminal Type: Marine Type M
Reserve Capacity: 182 min.
12 months limited warranty<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Its hard to answer this question without knowing more on the way you intend to use the power. A little night sailing, Over night, weekends etc.
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jhorner
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts
Response Posted - 02/17/2014 :  19:52:34  Show Profile
Mine is not that big. Here are the specs:
Manufacturer Warranty (general):
1 year limited
Product Weight (lb.):
23
Product Length (in.):
7.32
Amps:
200 marine cranking; 160 cold cranking
Product Width (in.):
5.19
Manufacturer Warranty - General:
1 year limited
Amp Hours:
40
Product Height (in.):
7.19
Volts:
12

Will do some overnight "camping". Mostly need lights coming in at dusk.
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts
Response Posted - 02/17/2014 :  20:22:09  Show Profile
Overnighting, weekending, or longer without dockside power? What electrical stuff will you be using? Will you have dockside power where you keep her? Is a charger wired in? Does your outboard have an alternator? (I could go on, but that's a start.)

Your battery is bigger than the Group 24 most of us have, but the usage is the issue.
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 02/17/2014 20:26:26
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 02/17/2014 :  20:33:52  Show Profile
That only gives you 20 amp hours to play with. You're looking at close to an amp per 10 watt bulb with circuit losses if you don't have LEDs. Three nav lights for an hour, VHF monitoring, a few hours of interior lighting and some music will take you pretty close to 50% discharge. I would go with a group 27 - I use two, but start with one. A deep cycle, as opposed to a dual function starting/deep cycle, will serve you better. A standard deep cycle can easily handle the 30 - 40 amp starting current of an outboard. I have had very good service life from Walmart batteries
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jhorner
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts
Response Posted - 02/18/2014 :  06:33:29  Show Profile
I have dock power and will overnight and weekend away from it on occasion. I do not have a charger wired in nor do I have a solar charger. My outboard has an alternator but not connected. I will be using lights only.

Thanks for comments and questions.
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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts
Response Posted - 02/18/2014 :  08:08:25  Show Profile
General rule of thumb for life... get the biggest/best that will fit. Who doesn't want one less thing to worry about?
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4034 Posts
Response Posted - 02/18/2014 :  09:44:18  Show Profile
I wouldn't say you have to run out today and get a bigger battery. What you have will power your nav lights if you come in a little late but I wouldn't push it very long. You can try it and see if it works for your situation but I think that you will eventually need a group 27 at around 90 amp hrs or like I use is a group 31 at 105 amp hrs. The group 31 takes almost the same footprint and fits in the same battery case ( If you have one) as the 27 but gives you a little more amp hours. You will definitely have to figure out what and how you will charge the battery. Hooking up the engine charger is the first step. You can then choose between an on-board or portable charger hooked to your shore power or like me go green and get a solar panel to top up and maintain the battery so its ready to go on your next outing.
Edited by - islander on 02/18/2014 09:46:33
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5445 Posts
Response Posted - 02/23/2014 :  07:43:41  Show Profile
If it were I and I had shore power, I'd go with a group 24 or group 27 W*M battery with the correct plugin charger. Why? I always think about a worst case scenario. If you're on a medium-sized lake, it's hard to think of an issue on a sailboat where complete loss of battery power could be life-threatening.
But at sea, you could lose power, get dismasted and either drift out of VHF range or into a busy shipping channel at night without lights or communications.
The latter can be catastrophic and relatively common-place: New Orleans or Mississippi, Tampa or Miami, Chesapeake, Delaware Bay, NY, Narragansett, Boston harbor, San Diego, LA, San Fran, Seattle.
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts
Response Posted - 02/23/2014 :  14:11:04  Show Profile
Drifting off topic slightly but regarding Bruce's scenario, that's why I carry a handheld VHF with alkaline batteries (not a rechargeable). Just about no matter what happens, I can communicate, and I know from experience the USCG can hear and talk to me from as far out as I'm likely to go. I've been on a boat 5 miles off the CA coast and 10 miles from any port, with an electrical fire, where the first priority was to turn off the power... It gave me a new perspective!
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