Battery Questions... Optima deep cycle/Starting battery, others?

[gb387]

Sorry for all the questions I have been posting, here is a quick background so you know where I am coming from.

I have had several Sea Doo PWCs over the years originally we started with a couple 1994/5 SPX's back in the day. I am new to their sport boats after selling my 2011 RXTX and I am keeping my 2012 RXPX and we bought a 2010 Sea Doo 210 Challenger giving us more usable space for friends and family. To make a long story short we bought the boat right with only 30 hours, had a few minor issues after sitting for quite sometime all are fixed and its running like a champ. We were told it had a new battery a year ago, turns out its 5 years old (I should have checked the date code my bad) seems now we are running on borrowed time.

I am not going to cheap out on a boat battery, it just doesn't make sense as you need reliability on the water. I was looking, and it appears Optima has a deep cycle/starting combo marine battery. This seems like a good option for these boats as adding a second battery in the limited space is possible but time consuming. Anyone use this battery? Any other suggestions on batteries deep cycle vs starting or 'combo'? Is there a minimum cranking amp needed for these motors?

Any thoughts would be great, thanks again for all the help.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Deep cycle is specifically designed for electronics. They are not the best cranking batteries. Odyssey batteries are great, but not cheap. I just bought a full metal jacket sealed battery. $162. Found an online discount code and got %15 off. They can be mounted in any direction due to being fully sealed.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Another strategy for improving reliability that some people chose, is to replace their lead-acid battery on a frequent basis.

We have some customers who insist on replacing theirs at the beginning of each season and of course we advise this is most likely unnecessary but they insist so we comply.

So happens, our battery guy doesn't receive those still-good batteries for recycling or whatever is done with them, many of them end up right back in other boats courtesy the marina for the guy stuck on the ramp with his family in full picnic attire with a no start.

Win-win!

 

[gb387]

Deep cycle is specifically designed for electronics. They are not the best cranking batteries. Odyssey batteries are great, but not cheap. I just bought a full metal jacket sealed battery. $162. Found an online discount code and got %15 off. They can be mounted in any direction due to being fully sealed.

Those are some pricey buggers!! I may not spend that much but definitely worth a look, sounds like a quality battery and long lasting!!

 

[gb387]

Another strategy for improving reliability that some people chose, is to replace their lead-acid battery on a frequent basis.

We have some customers who insist on replacing theirs at the beginning of each season and of course we advise this is most likely unnecessary but they insist so we comply.

So happens, our battery guy doesn't receive those still-good batteries for recycling or whatever is done with them, many of them end up right back in other boats courtesy the marina for the guy stuck on the ramp with his family in full picnic attire with a no start.

Win-win!

I know of people that do this around here, seems like overkill to me but at the same time it is great insurance..

 

[Coastiejoe]

Those are some pricey buggers!! I may not spend that much but definitely worth a look, sounds like a quality battery and long lasting!!

True, not cheap. The research I have done shows these lasting 5 ish years. For that reason alone, worth every penny. Found two members that are in their 8th year with them.

If they last even 5 years, they are a bargain as a decent battery pushes $100 and Lasts 2 yrs.

 

[gb387]

True, not cheap. The research I have done shows these lasting 5 ish years. For that reason alone, worth every penny. Found two members that are in their 8th year with them.

If they last even 5 years, they are a bargain as a decent battery pushes $100 and Lasts 2 yrs.

Do you have it in a boat or PWC?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Do you have it in a boat or PWC?

PWC for me.. Tired of replacing one every year (Two skis, one battery always seems to be bad every other year).

 

[gb387]

PWC for me.. Tired of replacing one every year (Two skis, one battery always seems to be bad every other year).

I understand, I have had great luck with batteries on my pwc's. Hope it continues with the boat so I'm not gonna skimp on the battery there either.

 

[shelley603]

PWC for me.. Tired of replacing one every year (Two skis, one battery always seems to be bad every other year).

I've got a yellow optima for a 2006 speester 200 34 series good battery with 3 year free replacement kinda expensive but it's a good one

Sorry for all the questions I have been posting, here is a quick background so you know where I am coming from.

I have had several Sea Doo PWCs over the years originally we started with a couple 1994/5 SPX's back in the day. I am new to their sport boats after selling my 2011 RXTX and I am keeping my 2012 RXPX and we bought a 2010 Sea Doo 210 Challenger giving us more usable space for friends and family. To make a long story short we bought the boat right with only 30 hours, had a few minor issues after sitting for quite sometime all are fixed and its running like a champ. We were told it had a new battery a year ago, turns out its 5 years old (I should have checked the date code my bad) seems now we are running on borrowed time.

I am not going to cheap out on a boat battery, it just doesn't make sense as you need reliability on the water. I was looking, and it appears Optima has a deep cycle/starting combo marine battery. This seems like a good option for these boats as adding a second battery in the limited space is possible but time consuming. Anyone use this battery? Any other suggestions on batteries deep cycle vs starting or 'combo'? Is there a minimum cranking amp needed for these motors?

Any thoughts would be great, thanks again for all the help.

 

[gb387]

So I got a killer deal on an cranking/deep cycle Odyssey Battery in the Amazon warehouse. I think it was the right choice, read lots on them as well as the optima. My boat comes out of storage this week so we will see how it works soon! I'm excited, should be a winner!

 

[gb387]

We will see but I am fairly confident that this will work for our boat. I also installed a NOCO charger hopefully help extend the life of the battery.

 

[weave]

We will see but I am fairly confident that this will work for our boat. I also installed a NOCO charger hopefully help extend the life of the battery.

Love the NOCO idea, thanks for sharing. Did you get the external plug for it too? I have no issues popping in the 2" hole, just need to visualize the best location for it.

 

[gb387]

Yes, I have an external plug work great. I believe jpass has a similar set up.

 

[weave]

Put the NOCO in the same spot as yours, looks great and seems to work extremely well. I put the external plug on the starboard side in the same general location as the gas hole on the port side. Removing the speaker lets you get your hands in there to run the cable.

Thanks again for sharing this with us