Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    One of my fellow bassers just responded to me in mail and I realized
    that I forgot to mention that I'm also running a fair amount of
    accessories off the cranking battery as well. 
    
    Livewells, 3 sonars, surface temp guage, motor guages, power trim, 
    bilge, and occassionally lights (navigatiion, held spot or fishing light).
    
    -donmac

I have a 150 hp Mariner and never had to charge my battery during the seasons.
However I do a lot of trolling, sometimes for hours.  I run color crt fishfinder
loran, radio, and bilge pumps off this battery.  Also the auto bilge pump
which runs a bit during a good rain.  I have never had a problem starting the 
engine with it.

I do turn off the fishfinder and loran when the engine is stopped.

I suspect that you got a bad battery.  I would check out the engine chagring
system though.

Gordon (only 2 more months)

    One thing about bass boats is that during tournaments we're running our
    electronics all day, often 8 hours, of that time typically the outboard 
    is only on for an hour tops, often started for just a few mins.  So
    we do put alot of demand on our cranking batteries.  
    
    Good idea about having the charging system checked though, can't hurt.
    
    -donmac (getting boat out of storage in just SIX saturdays from now...)
    

Don,

I also agree that your battery was probably questionable.  The electronics 
on your boat, even with all of them on at the same time, will not draw that 
much.  The livewell pump should draw no more than a couple of amps when it 
kicks on.  I also agree that 5-10 mins. of running time is insufficient to 
recharge the battery.

Out of curiosity, did you periodically check the acid level in the cranking 
battery during the season?  If it is allowed to fall below the top of the 
lead plates, even for a short period of time, the battery will not last 
long.  Also, if you do add water (distilled water is best but I just use 
tap water), be sure to put the charger on it for a while.  Adding even a 
little water will greatly reduce the specific gravity in the cell.

-HSJ- 

    re: did i check the acid level
    
    no, it was a sealed maintenance free, stowaway, a large dual purpose
    (crank/deep)
    
    -don mac

    Don,
    	Look up the specs for your engine.  I believe an engine that size
    should have a pretty good size alternator on it (40amps or better).  My
    70 hp only has a 15 amp alternator on it.  I hook up the battery
    charger probably 3-4 time a season (except when the kids get into the
    boat and turn a switch on that I don't know about).  I wouldn't think
    you'd have to worry about recharging your cranking battery much of your 
    alternator puts out the kinda current I believe a 200 hp should.
    
    							Gary

    True, the alternator puts out alot of juice, but it also takes alot of
    juice to crank 6 cylinders.  And typically the alternator is not 
    going very long at all, typically just a few minutes.  Not much of 
    a chance to make up for the big burst of energy required to crank 
    the motor.
    
    Plus the livewells pumping all day long (only a problem for those of us 
    who actually catch fish, Legend still thinks his boat came with a wet 
    bar... 8^).
    
    I will have the alternator checked though, to verify that it's working
    properly.
    
    re: kids flipping switch
    
    I've experienced that myself.  What I don't have is a master accessory
    on/off switch that can kill power everywhere except the engine.  I'm
    probably going to install one.
    
    -donmac

Don,

I have not placed a charger on the cranking battery of my new ranger.  The
alternator of the outboard should recharge it in 10 minutes.  Takes 5-10 seconds
to start at 40amps or so.  Electronics draw less than an amps.  Tilt/trim
maybe 10 amps.  Alternator puts out about 30 amps.

keith

Hay Don,

	A 150 gt has a 36 amp alternator.  I have a 1986 acid water
crankin battery.  I run all day two wells and or lights and have never had
a problem starting the big boy.   I had a crack in the battery so I chnaged
it this past year.

	Before a big tournament I would put the charger on the crankin
batery when I got up in the morning, by the time I was out the door the
charger would be in trickle mode.

	So if you have a 1/2 way decent battery don't worry too much about
it.

Bassin Bob

    Well, right now I don't have any cranking battery, I returned it 
    last fall.  I'll get a replacement in a few weeks.
    
    Typically I'm out of the driveway within a 30-40 mins after the alarm
    goes off on tournament day.  If I were to use your method I'd get maybe
    20mins of 10amps, once a month, not a whole helluvalot, but maybe
    enough.
    
    Assuming my alternator is working correctly, I must have had a bad
    battery.  I'll be pulling the boat out of storage in a few weeks. I'll
    probably wind up bringing it straight to Owens (it's stored right near
    there), where I'll have them check it out.
    
    -donmac

Hay Don,

	Thats about all mine gets 10-20 mins.  
I have a 20amp charger.   Some times only about
5 minutes and it is already trickle charging.

bob 

    Anyone seen any good deals on large cranking/deep cycle batteries 
    lately?
    
    Need to pick one up this week, picking up the boat this weekend...
    
    -don mac

    Mac, I can get one for you at BJ's for $53 or $54 bucks It's a Delco 
    Voyager.
    
     Regards
    
     Don B,

    thanks for the offer don b, but i got the big (m27f?) delco at kmart 
    on fri night, had the boat on the merrimack on sat, cranked like a
    charm... probably could have saved a few bucks at bjs... see ya in a
    couple weeks...

    That is the big delco for $53 at BJ's.
    
     See you in a few!!!!
    
     Regards 
     
     Don B,