www.iFourWinns.com

Went to the dock yesterday, jumped in, and click click...battery dead. I went home, pulled out the battery and it's Interstate Battery Marine/RV deep cycle. Now the battery is probably past its prime according to the owner I just bought it from. (Owner ran the boat once in the last three years).

My question...I'm going to replace it today and what should I buy. I have the single battery setup currently.
I've heard and read possibly that the deep cycle isn't necessary...True?

Thanks

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[img][IMG]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll199/ejjones55/IMG_0998.jpg[/img][/img]
1997 Four Winns Horizon 200 Volvo 5.7L GLi
Towed: 2004 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4
Riverview, MI

Check your manual. Looks like you have a Volvo and somewhere it will specifically state NOT to use a deep cycle battery. They cannot provide enough current to the computer during startup and could cook them, well at least that's what my manual said for the 5.7gi.
Look for a quality marine dual purpose or cranking battery within the specs of your engine, also in the manual. Probably at least an 800 amp with the 5.7. Everyone has their "goto" brand but I prefer Optima's they are more money but lighter and should last longer. Plus it handles long intervals better.
If you don't have a battery switch it's a good add on feature as well.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

I have a pair of group 27 dual purpose Deka Marine batteries in my '88. The issue with deep cycle vs starting is some deep cycles while they are good for their intended purpose, do not have enough cranking amps for an EFI engine. That's the reason for Volvo's recommendation. Cranking batteries have the highest cranking amps, followed by dual purpose batteries and then by deep cycles. On the other hand a deep cycle can be drawn down many times and re-charged, you cannot do that with a starting battery. Find out how many cold cranking or marine cranking amps Volvo requires. If a dual purpose battery meets their spec I'd use that.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I can't recommend highly enough the Interstate dual purpose 27M-XHD. It's all I've used since the boat was new and they've never lacked amps.

http://tinyurl.com/jubcfcx

Last replacement (2011) I paid $112 each direct through the main Kansas City distributor. I suspect they've gone up since then, I'll be finding out soon...

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I agree with Mike, I have stayed with the 27M-XHD. I paid $121 last year direct from the local Interstate Dealer.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Here in KC the same distributor is $26 higher now than 5 years ago, now $138. But they have 52 in stock.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Like somebody said above.. my manual states not to use deep cycle batteries.

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2006 Four Winns 278

From my 2004 Horizon 180 operator's manual-

MAINTENANCE SECTION
Pg 75-
1. Batteries must be heavy-duty and constructed for marine use. They can be either vented/refillable, maintenance-free, or deep-cycle with a CCA or MICA rating. Refer to the section entitled Technical Data for the correct battery sizes.

TECH SECTION
Engines-
3.0GLM-C, 3.0GLP-C, 4.3GLD
12v with 360 Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating

4.3GXi-E, 4.3GXi-EF, 5.0GXi-E, 5.0GXi-EF, 5.7Gi-E, 5.7Gi-EF, 5.7GXi-F, 5.7GXi-FF, 8.1Gi-E, 8.1Gi-EF, 8.1GXi-D, 8.1GXi-DF
12v with 650 Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating (135 minute reserve capacity) CAUTION! Do not use a deep cycle battery as the start battery.

5.0GL-E, 5.7GL-E
12v with 650 Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating

Recommendations for batteries may have changed since then.

Rick

I wouldn't worry too much about the brand because there are only about 3 or 4 battery suppliers out there who provide the majority of your batteries (most retails just pop a private label on them).

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY