www.iFourWinns.com

Hi to everyone, excited new owner of a 1996 Sundowner 205 DLX. My first time OWNING a boat, as I have been bumming my friends boats for awhile. After going over every inch of her in my driveway, I am curious about one (for now) thing, is there a battery switch on the 205? I have a single battery setup, and is it normal for accessories (lights, stereo, etc) to have power with the ignition off and the key removed?

Also, any Lower Niagara FW owners here?

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Welcome! I do have a dual batteries but if either one of them is on then all the accessories work. Not sure on a single battery setup if there is a switch to turn everything off.

_________________
Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

Most single battery setups do not have a switch.

First thing to upgrade...add a second battery and a Perko switch. Don't be caught with a dead battery after a day of listening to tunes.

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Yep adding a second battery is a great idea. That, and making sure that the battery cables are in good shape with clean and tight terminals.
With my old'88 I had issues with slow starting and weak batteries that were completely solved with new and properly sized battery cables. The OE stuff was cheap automotive corroded junk. Anchor Marine cable is the way to go.

_________________
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

Adding a second battery is not a bad idea at all. For reference, our new boat came with a single battery, and a switch to turn it on and off. We have been out on the water a record number of times this year, typically run the stereo constantly for 6+ hours, and have never drained the battery yet. Also, our 1989 Sea Ray cuddy had a single battery and an on off switch as well, same scenario. Unless you have mutiple power amps , subwoofers, blinged up LED's all over, one battery will be fine. So it is possible you do have a switch, just trace the wires from the battery and see if you find a switch in line somewhere, likely near the stern and fairly close to the battery itself. Enjoy your new 205 !

Also "cabwizard" is a Four Winns owner that boats the Niagara River and Western New York area.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks all for the help....I have crawled all over the inside of my boat and can't locate any type of switch to cut the power so I am fairly certain there isn't one. I like the idea of 2 batteries and will definately put it at the top of my list for mods.

Again, thanks....see ya out there.

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Not sure which kind of seating you have. On my u-wrap seating there is a tiny sunpad that flips open to the rear. My battery switch, hour meter and stern light are all under there.

_________________
Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

I had a 1999 Sundowner with a single battery; if I remember correctly, the battery switch was on the starboard side panel, low down and near the stern. If your boat doesn't have the Sunsport seating ( i.e.it has a central engine box at the stern with a seat either side), the position of the switch, if it's fitted and is in the same place, would be underneath the starboard seat squab/ base.

Ok, crawled all in and out, ran down the positive and negative cables from battery to starter, noooo switch....thanks for all the tips on places to look. On to the water! (If I didn't leave something on and drain the battery, LOL)....

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

get a trickle charger until you get the time and funds to add the second battery. That way you always know you have a fully charged battery when you head to the lake.

Absolutely Cabman, actually gonna get one that mounts to inside bulkhead of battery compartment and is always hooked up, that way I just plug in it at night and don't have to lug the charger back and forth from garage to boat. Somewhere on here is a thread describing the charger, I saw it as I was acclimating myself to the site...

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Yep Cap'n, similiar to that. However, reading the customer reviews, that particular ones doesn't sound too good, one guy said the included instructions state to NOT use it onboard, but instead remove battery to charge. Thanks for the link tho, lots of other goodies at that site....

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Yep!

Make sure it is a 3 stage marine charger. As in == http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... &id=185438

Thanks Paul, thats exactly what I'm looking for....

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X