AGM Batteries

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:10 pm

In order to put my batteries in and take them out, I have to turn them on their side to slide them under the port exhaust. I'm thinking of purchasing AGM batteries so I don't have to worry about spilling battery acid when I install/remove them. Does anyone have any experience with AGM batteries?

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:22 pm

I live by them... I use Lifeline batteries made to aircraft/military specs and am very happy with the service life per $$.
They handle that kind of movement.

vabeach1234 · Post by **vabeach1234** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:29 pm

No experience with AGM batteries. But I do have a 1972 F26 with the V-drive and battle the same thing you are experiencing. I have found if I temporarily remove the exhaust hose from the exhaust elbow, you can raise up the exhaust a little to get the batteries under them. Or you can consider a different muffler that isn't as big if that is the choke point.

FYI, I replaced my original exhaust through hulls so I could get some flappers on them. I had to go to 4" thru hulls because of the original thru hulls required a larger diameter cut in the transom than the typical 3" through hulls you can purchase now adays.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:32 pm

So, I may get some resistance here but I say bring it on! First, I'll ask why you're removing them? Then I'll assume you're removing them during the winter and taking them home. If not, then no need to read on. If that's the reason why, stop taking them out! That is old school. If treated right and put to bed properly on board before winter, they will be fine come spring time. In fact, you do more damage by moving them. If the battery is in good shape, top up fluids, make sure they are fully charged, check specific gravity if you must, disconnect them, then walk away. If you did it right, you'll be surprised to find how little they have discharged since they discharge very little in cold weather. If they don't make it to launch, you didn't put them to bed properly or they were bad to begin with and should be replaced anyway or they'll let you down. I'm sure those that disagree with this also believe that you should still keep batteries off concrete

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:42 pm

leave it to D to confuse me!

i use a boat from late march, till late january. think I left 6 weeks out of the year. will I have battery issues and winterization problems? I fish and or play 1-5 times a week? boat is 10 minutes away

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:54 pm

If you start off with good batteries and put them to bed properly, they'll be fine when it's time to commission the following season. If you start off with bad batteries, take them out and don't even bother putting them back in

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:58 pm

To each his own re battery regimen. I take mine home in the winter, and I DO NOT PUT THEM ON CONCRETE!!! (sorry King D). They sit on a sheet of 1/2" plywood.

Yes, maybe I am old school. But the battery I needed to replace this year was bought in 2005. How many people get 6-7 years from a dual purpose starting / deep cycle marine battery?

Probably real battery life is dictated by how they are used - how often you are running, vs sitting in the slip, vs battery charger running and burning it up, how much draw you have when not running, etc... but I have no complaints about the results of what I have been doing for the past 35 years.

Sorry D.

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:58 pm

jefflaw35 wrote:leave it to D to confuse me! i use a boat from late march, till late january. think I left 6 weeks out of the year. will I have battery issues and winterization problems? I fish and or play 1-5 times a week? boat is 10 minutes away

You must have a huge backyard, if the boat is 10 mins away.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:10 pm

Torcan wrote:
jefflaw35 wrote:leave it to D to confuse me! i use a boat from late march, till late january. think I left 6 weeks out of the year. will I have battery issues and winterization problems? I fish and or play 1-5 times a week? boat is 10 minutes away
You must have a huge backyard, if the boat is 10 mins away.

BAHAHAHA you got me on that one!!!! but i have another boat I fish year around here, thats what im asking, once the trojan is done, she will be primary.... never rest always use if my health is good. we are winter fishers

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:15 pm

captainmaniac wrote:To each his own re battery regimen. I take mine home in the winter, and I DO NOT PUT THEM ON CONCRETE!!! (sorry King D). They sit on a sheet of 1/2" plywood.

Yes, maybe I am old school. But the battery I needed to replace this year was bought in 2005. How many people get 6-7 years from a dual purpose starting / deep cycle marine battery?

Probably real battery life is dictated by how they are used - how often you are running, vs sitting in the slip, vs battery charger running and burning it up, how much draw you have when not running, etc... but I have no complaints about the results of what I have been doing for the past 35 years.

Sorry D.

No need to appologize captain, I'm all for "to each his own". Let me just add this; the battery on concrete thing for example was brought about years ago when the cases used were made from a material that conducted much easier from one post to another in the presence of moisture. By leaving them on concrete which wicks up moisture from below, the battery would sweat and discharge. Thus the practice of putting them on wood was born. With the advent of newer plastics, this issue became irrelevant but the practice of putting them on wood continued. Now in fact, it's actually better to put them on concrete since concrete is typically cooler which delays discharge. If you feel comfortable with what you've been doing for 10s of years and it gives you peace of mind, you should keep doing it. I'm just saying that pulling them out isn't necessary if you treat them right.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:15 pm

oooops double post.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:19 pm

i dont worry about it these days unless its gonna sit for months, like 20! hell by then then its gonna need a charger anyway. batteries have changed IMO Im looking to never have to pull mine out until replacement so.....

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:46 am

Big D wrote:
captainmaniac wrote:To each his own re battery regimen. I take I'm just saying that pulling them out isn't necessary if you treat them right.

+1

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:19 am

You are correct in that I take them out during layup in the Fall and put them back in during fitting out in the Spring. I thought about leaving them in the boat over the Winter, but feel much more comfortable bringing them home to a warm (50 degrees) garage where I can put them on the smart charger and check the electrolyte levels. I typically charge them a couple of times throughout the Winter, and they always take some charge. I also keep my batteries on wood when I store them. I've been doing this for 17 years, and always get 6-7 years out of a battery.

I guess my biggest concern is finding out in April that I need a new battery. I'd much rather find out in November or January.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:15 am

I run into this all the time, and trying to get folks to change their way of thinking regarding certain battery myths and practices they've been comfortable with for years is a hard sell, and I'm ok with that. I'm sure there are things I feel comfortable doing as I have for years, but if I find the reasons for having started off that way no longer apply, and logic dictates otherwise, I have no problems changing my views, but that's me. I can say that I've discussed this with hundreds of boaters, some I've convinced it's ok to leave batteries in the boat, and on concrete, and of course some I haven't convinced, again, I'm good with that because in the end it's one's comfort level that's important here. But I have yet to have a properly serviced battery fail simply because it was left on board over the winter, and I've done hundreds.