Battery Question?

[son_of_a_sailor3]

i bought a Deka Big Crank Power Sports ETX16L AGM Battery
It is used for Jet Skis and motor Cycles, i was thinking because its Smaller then normal size it would be perfect for my 21 Reynolds. ALL i want to do is wire in a Stereo and maybe some lights later, do you guys think that it will work ok? Or do i need to take it back and get a full size battery. I will have a 6watt solar panel too to recharge it?

thanks

[djmarchand]

What type and size of engine are you trying to start with it? I doubt that it would reliably start most large outboards (or inboards). These batteries are ok for starting a 1 liter motorcycle motor, but a 150 hp outboard is double that size.

If all you are using it is to run the stereo and a couple of lights, it won't last very long. Motorcycle batteries are typically rated at 10 amp hours. The stereo and a couple of lights will draw maybe 3-5 amps. It will be dead in three hours.

David

[son_of_a_sailor3]

Oh ok NO no MOTOR! if i do get one it will be a 3hp

[son_of_a_sailor3]

what is a good battery to use? Or what have any of you experienced?

[djmarchand]

Not knowing what a 21 Reynolds is I jumped to the conclusion that it was an outboard center console or something. Sorry, I should have figured it out from your user name.

Get at least a Group 24 AGM battery. This will have about 60-75 amp hours of capacity and will run your stereo and lights all day (and night). Your 6 watt solar panel should work ok for recharging as long as you don't use the boat for a week in between. But the solar panel will be a bit marginal.

Solar panels put out approximately 1/3 of their wattage rating in amp hours during a normal, mostly full sun day. That is only 2 amp hours. For the 6 days in between this will recharge only 12 amphours. But it might work if you don't use the boat every weekend. With a Group 24 you will have enough capacity to cover several weeks of weekend use.

David

[son_of_a_sailor3]

Here is a link to MINE! Thanks i will take this back what i got.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1136186...eat=directlink

[djmarchand]

Wow that looks like a fast one. Raising the mast must be an effort. I sailed a Venture 22 (a monohull of course) for several years and my wife and I could easily raise the mast ourselves. Yours looks much taller and the rigging to raise it looks formidable.

David