www.iFourWinns.com

Looks like I may be in the market for new batteries for SA. I went to start her on Sunday and with both battery switches set to 'ON' all I got was didididididi. Moving both switches to 'PARELLEL' Both engines fired up fine. I moved the switch back to on, and tested the trim, i got the beep beep when first turning the key and the battery indicators dropped. I know they say three years to replace, this is our third year with the boat and i'm not sure when they were replaced prior. My question is this. All three batteries are deep cycle, i was under the impression the engine batteries should be starter batteries. Any insight would be appreciated. In any case I pulled the starter bats and i'm having them tested today or tomorrow.
Thanks for the input!!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

You will get as many opinions on batteries as there are stars in the night sky. So here is mine....
I have always had deep cycle batteries in all 3 of our boats. Most cruisers with twin batteries come
new from the factory with two deep cycle batteries, that's good enough for me.

Let the recommendations begin.........

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I just replaced the (6 year old) batteries on my Vista. Group 29 dual purpose, bought them at Wal-Mart (the old ones were from Wal-Mart as well). I paid 75.00 each for them. I have two starting batteries and one house. The ones I took out were dual purpose, including the house battery, so thats what I went with.

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

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

I am not trying to hyjack your thread Mike. But since we are on the topic of batteries, I have a quick question. Our 378V with the D6 IPS has two (2) Optima batteries for the engines, and two (2) interstate factory installed batteries. last weekend I was down there and cleaned all of them and inspected them, and everything looked good. But...noticed they are all late 2007 batteries, which leads me to believe that these were all Four Winns installed. Like Cap'n and aguyindallas, I have always used Gp 29, dual purpose batteries. Now...here is the question....do diesel engines need to have the Optima batteries (or comparable) or can I go with Wally World standard Grp 29's? Thanks

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2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon

I have used the dual purpose and deep cycle batteries for starting batteries in previous boats. No problem, as typically you would probably use a bigger group size than what your starting battery was. Our current 328 has a deep cycle battery for its house battery and dedicated starting batteries (one for each engine). Each starting battery has 1000 cranking amps, can't remember if that is marine cranking amps or cca? I just replaced a starting battery last weekend.

If a dual purpose or deep cycle battery is going to be used as a starting battery, I think the only thing you would need to be concerned with is that that battery has the minimun cranking amps available to start your engine without harming the boat engine(s) electronics. Some newer gas powered boat engines have warning labels stating the minimun cranking amps required for the engine starting battery so as to not potentially harm the engine electronics.

As you probably know, starting batteries typically have higher cranking amps and less reserve minutes, where deep cycle batteries typically have more reserve minutes and less cranking amps for the same battery size.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

well the 2 deep cycle northerns i pulled are shot. group 27, 840 mca and 600 cca. Batteries plus didn't have anything close to the mca in a deep cycle, do I neeed that much mca? I'm going to check Sam's club, meanwhile my arms are popping hauling these things around!

_________________
Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Sam's will have what you need in group 27 or preferred group 29's.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Hi Michael,

Both my starting batteries where 1000 cranking amps, so I simply replaced the one starting battery with another 1000 cranking amp one since I knew it would work fine.

I would not think the requirement is to have that much and as others suggested I would agree a dual purpose or deep cycle would work fine for a starting battery. I would be mindful though of just what the cranking amps are of whatever battery you decide to use.

Mike

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

thanks for the input guys! Mike do you have 29's in yours? did they fit in the tray??

_________________
Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Michael,

Both my starting batteries were group 24's when we purchased our 328 last spring. Lots of battery tray room left there, so the battery hold down clamps are snug. 1000 cranking amps out of group 24's is about all ya can squeeze out and I wanted as much as I could purchase from the selection of batteries I had to pick from at the time.

My house battery is a group 27. I would not be able to confirm if a group 29 would or would not fit my existing battery tray without measuring tray and knowing group 29 size.

If I were in your shoes and replacing your starting batteries at least a reasonable quality group 27 battery should get you more cranking amps that the typical group 24.

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Sams or Wal-Mart should have what you need. I assume my trays were stock, but they did accomodate Group 29's (although, I am in a 298 Vista), I would assume yours would too. Typically, you are ok on size up to 29...getting to 31 is where many have the issue with fitting.

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

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

on my 268 I replaced the standard group 28 house battery with 2 6v golf cart batteries and group 28 starting battery with a group 31 all from Walmart. It nice to have enough power to stay on the hook for 4 nights with no generator, the fridge is cold, the radio runs all day and night, and we watch a couple movies. All the batteries fit in the same space but I did get new trays.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

Must be the year for battery issues. Just replaced all 4 of ours last weekend. Michael, your trays are probably 7" x 13". Dual purpose deep cycle/starting batteries will work fine as I've had that for years on previous boats.

Found out our batteries were shot in a strange way. On our boat as mentioned we have 4 batteries...2 deep cycle house and a dedicated starting battery for each engine. All were group 27 flooded. Anyway, had the AC on last weekend in the heat cycle. Middle of the night a awful smell woke me up. I knew it was coming from the heat vents and thought maybe moisture in ducts may have caused mold. Went back to sleep but woke again to the smell so I turned the AC off. In the morning and more alert than in the middle of the night I instantly knew what the smell was...battery acid! I couldn't turn the charger off fast enough. Lights went dim, electric engine hatch wouldn't open but yet the helm gauge showed 13 volt for the staring batteries. Turned charger back on just long enough to raise engine hatch. The house batteries were hot to the touch, damn lucky the didn't explode!

$500 later, three new group 31 deep cycle house and one starting battery.

JAK!

I'm going to get two deep cycle grp 29's from Sams. 85 a piece. Energizers. let's hope they keep going and going and going and going and going.....

although I'm not feeling the warm and fuzzies...anyone have experience with these batts??

_________________
Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Not trying to nose in on your thread as an "all knowing" participant, but, YES, I have had the Energizers. I bought two of them from Sam's Club
for our 268 Vista, that is why I said earlier that Sam's will have the batteries you need. I only had two years on the batteries, but
were still like new and holding charge when we traded the boat last spring.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy