If the electrical system on your boat were to suddenly (bear with us here) rise in the night, thirsting for your blood, where would you bury the wooden stake to end its abominable unlife? The storage battery, that’s where! It acts like the beating heart of your boat’s power structure, feeding juice through the various circuits that wind through your vessel. This battery is comprised of several “secondary batteries,” which are recharged by the mechanical action of the motor, solar panels, wind, or water turbines, depending on your set-up. “Primary batteries” are the kind you put in a stereo or remote control, and can’t be recharged. So don’t try. Because they will explode.
Seriously.
Now, the battery that’s powering the vampire boat in the confusing and poorly thought out analogy above is a 12 volt battery. Astute and loyal readers may remember 12 volt batteries mentioned in, well, nearly every entry posted before this one, and often in reference to cars, trucks, or RVs. While it’s true that they all use 12 volt batteries, it is not true that all 12 volt batteries are created equal. This is why 12 volt batteries do not have a Declaration of Independence. Well, one of the reasons. No, different 12 volts have different intended purposes, and while you certainly can use a car battery in a boat, you might not be getting the most life or value out of your battery if you do. If you don’t get a marine-specific battery, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make using a car battery worth your while.
First, get the heaviest one you can. This usually indicates a greater density of the metal plates and acid which help the battery do its thing. It can also indicate a sturdier casing. Next, get one with a long warranty. Many stores don’t differentiate pricing between heavier and lighter batteries, nor with batteries that have differing warranty lengths. Go ahead and get the best one you can. Finally, when you’re not using the battery in your sailing vessel, put it in your car, or some other vehicle you use frequently. Long periods of stagnation do no good for a battery, so keeping it active is advisable.
And again, apologies for the nonsensical vampire analogy. Don’t blame us just because vampires are totally “in” right now. That’s Twilight’s fault.
