www.iFourWinns.com

The 268 Vista I'm purchasing just had new batteries installed. It should have Group 27's, but it just got new deep cycle interstate group 24's. I was hoping the marina would be able to swap them out and charge me the difference, but of course they won't. Is this that big a deal, or should I just leave them until they go bad and put Group 27's in there?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

My 268 came with Group 29's. I replaced the old ones this year with Group 29's. You could go with Group 27's, but I would not trust the Group 24's. Not enough MCA's in that size battery for the systems on a 268. They will work temporarily, but I would not leave them in for long.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Agree with Capn...replace the 24s.

So go with 27's or 29s? I thought in '04 they came with 27's?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Not sure on the 04'. My 268, another 2000 268, a 2002 268 and a 2003 268 in our marina all have Group 29's in them. 27's will fit, but will be a few inches too short for the battery boxes on my boat. Group 29's fit perfectly. Expect to spend $80 to $130 a piece for good ones. Gel batteries are much more expensive, and I have had good luck with conventional acid batteries so I did not see the point in switching to Gels'.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

The marina that has the boat currently quoted me $106/each for the 27's. I'll find some 29's here locally, and sell these 24's.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

For reference, I paid $89 at Sam's Club for each Group 29.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Interstate?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Nope, overpriced and overrated IMO. These were Energizer's. More CCA, MCA and reserve capacity than the Interstate's at less cost. El No Brainer-o for me.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Sounds good to me. Who wants to buy a new set of 24's?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Our 03 268 came with two group-29s.

A 24 is fine for the engine.

However, for the house battery, I would use 29s. I insalled a second 29 for the house, so now we have a 29 for the engine (since we already had it ... I used the oldest of the two that were there, since the other one was new, just before we purchased the boat) and two 29s for the house.

I use the WalMart Maxx-whatever marine 29s (likely the same as the Sam's Club units that Cappy mentioned). Cheap and made by Johnson Controls ... good stuff.

Mine is set-up similar to this (alf_von_sil 's 258-V, from his post):

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Why not keep one group 24 for the engine and then run 2 group 29's for the house batteries?

I would think you can dish a couple of 24's off on Craigslist for 50 bucks a peice or something... you will definitely want bigger if you are only going to run 2 for the whole boat.

Of course -- it's also less of a concern if you are going to have your generator on board...

How is the boat currently wired? A single, dedicated for the motor? And, a single for the house batteries?

That's basically how my 318 is. 3 batteries... 2 for the motors (one for each) - and a single house battery.

I am finding that I HAVE to run the generator before I go to bed if I want any chance in hell that 2 fridges and toilets and other random 12v stuff wants to make it through the night.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I was thinking along the same lines as Cougar... except thinking of using both 24's in parallel for the house, and getting a new 27 or 29 for the starting battery. I believe 2 24's to have far more amp hours than a single 27. Of course it all depends on how many batteries the new boat is configured for now, and if you want to go to all the trouble of changing that config - even if it is just some cables, and a battery box. The other thing you'll quickly want to identify is if house and starting batteries are truly isolated, and exactly what all feeds off each - could be something like a co2 monitor or bilge pump running off the starting battery, or both house and starting systems at the switch. Nice worries to have these days, I envy you!

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

FWIW, I just picked up 2 27's at my local napa for $75 each plus $10 core and tax. Not sure if that is just local or a national sale, but I thought it was a good price.

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'99 Horizon 200

While we're on the topic..

Where can I find the specs online for the Walmart batteries? I couldn't find them on the walmart website?

I'm really thinking hard of going to twin group 31's for my house batteries... but I would keep 2 group 27's for my motors...

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA