The best marine battery for you depends on what type of boating you plan to do. Do you head out for the day to pull your kids on water skis? Are you trolling for trophy fish from sunrise until sunset? Or, perhaps your boat is your home. All of these applications put different demands on your boat battery. Let’s look at how this impacts your choice of the best boat battery for you and what options are available.

What is Special About a Marine Battery for a Boat?

Your car battery’s job is to provide enough power to turn over, or start, your engine when it is cold. To do this, the battery needs to deliver a lot of amperage for just a few seconds. After the engine starts, the alternator takes over to power all of the electronics in your car and recharge the battery.

Boat batteries often have different demands on them. Your boat motor still needs a battery to start it, but there may be many other power needs that the battery will supply. In smaller, day-use boats, your marine battery must also power the lights, gauges, pumps, and other electronics. On the other hand, fishing boats and live-aboard vessels may require multiple battery types to run household systems or electric motors. 

There are three general types of marine batteries to consider: Starting boat batteries, deep-cycle marine batteries, and multi-purpose boat batteries. 

Starting Boat Batteries Vs. Deep Cycle Marine Batteries

Starting boat batteries are similar to the starting battery in your car. They provide a short burst of power (cranking amps) to start your boat motor. Draining them below 50% causes damage to them and shortens their lifespan. 

Deep-cycle marine batteries can be drained slowly over long periods. Depending on the type of deep-cycle battery, you can repeatedly drain them to 80% or more of their capacity without causing damage. This is called “deep cycling.” However, deep-cycle batteries cannot provide the cranking amps needed to start large motors.

Multi-purpose boat batteries combine some of the benefits of a starting battery with a deep-cycle battery. The construction of the multi-purpose battery allows it to start small boat motors while also powering lights and gauges that don’t draw a lot of power.

How Boats Use Batteries

There are typically three types of boat power and battery systems to consider when selecting the best boat battery.

Single Multi-Purpose Boat Battery Bank

The simplest system is the single multi-purpose battery bank. Multi-purpose battery systems are common in day-use boats, like speed boats or for general recreation. The battery’s main purpose is to start the motor and maybe power your radio or running lights if it gets dark on you. The sustained power draw on the battery is very low, and you typically wouldn’t be draining it enough to cause damage.  Accidently leaving lights on or running the radio too long could damage the battery however and leave you stranded, unable to start your engine. 

Separate Starting & Trolling Motor Battery

Dedicated fishing boats with a trolling motor require a starting battery and a deep-cycle trolling marine battery bank. Trying to power a trolling motor all day on a starting or multi-purpose battery would not work. Not only would the battery drain quickly, deep cycling a starting or multi-purpose battery damages the battery.  This could also leave you stranded because your trolling motor could kill the starting battery. 

Separate Starting & House System Boat Battery Banks

Live-aboard vessels such as houseboats, sailboats, and catamarans also require multiple battery types. Like most boats, they need a starting battery to start the motor.

Unlike recreational boats and fishing boats, live-aboard boats need battery systems to provide power to all of the electronics and appliances that you need for daily living.  This includes lights, fans, DC appliance power and possibly inverters.  In many ways, a houseboat system battery bank is no different than a battery system for an off-grid home or an RV. 

What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Boat Battery? 

Your application will determine if you need a starting battery, a deep-cycle battery system, or maybe you only need a single multi-purpose battery. The best boat battery for you will always depend on how you’re using it. Regardless of your application, there are some things to keep in mind when looking for any marine battery. 

Efficiency is critical. Efficiency in a battery means that you can discharge your battery to 80% or more of its capacity without damaging it and then recharge it quickly.

Reliability and lifespan are also essential to consider when selecting your marine battery. You don’t want to be a few miles off-shore on a fishing trip and not be able to start up your motor to get home because your battery died. Likewise, imagine taking your friends out on your sailboat for a weekend and having your battery system croak on you. That’s not going to make for a fun vacation. Beyond that, batteries are expensive. Having to replace them frequently because they don’t have a long lifespan or warranty will add up quickly. 

And last, but certainly not least, weight. Batteries can be very heavy. This starts to become a significant consideration in live-aboard and trolling battery systems where you likely need multiple batteries to provide the capacity you need.

Ultimately, you’re looking for the lightest, most efficient, and reliable battery you can afford. Let’s look at some options.

Types of Deep Cycle Boat Batteries

Lead-Acid Deep Cycle Boat Batteries

Lead-acid deep-cycle marine batteries come in two main varieties: flooded lead-acid (FLA) and absorbent glass mat (AGM). 

Flooded lead-acid batteries are the most basic type of lead-acid battery. They contain a sulfuric acid solution with lead plates suspended in it. You need to monitor them continually and periodically add water to the batteries to keep them operating correctly. 

Absorbent glass mat batteries are also sometimes referred to as sealed lead-acid batteries. As this name implies, the batteries are sealed and don’t require the same maintenance as FLA batteries. AGM batteries also have lead plates in them, but they sit between electrolyte saturated fiberglass sheets.

Pros

Lead-acid batteries are the most common and readily available type of deep-cycle battery. Since they are readily available, it’s usually pretty easy to find a replacement if you need one. They also have the lowest upfront cost, which can be enticing to those on a budget.

Lead-acid batteries do not have any electronics in them, which allows them to provide a large amount of current. This makes them a good option for starting batteries. 

Cons

Lead-acid batteries have a few major drawbacks. The first is that they require more maintenance than other deep-cycle batteries to ensure they remain in peak working condition. While AGM batteries don’t need the same maintenance as FLA batteries, they cost significantly more without adding any additional capacity. 

Deep-cycle lead-acid batteries should not be discharged below 50% of their capacity. Doing so will damage them. Additionally, as lead-acid batteries discharge, their voltage also drops. Combining these two factors means that you typically only get about half of the rated capacity out of a lead-acid battery.

While deep-cycle lead-acid batteries have the lowest initial cost, they also have the shortest lifespan, lasting only 2-5 years. Because of the lead plates, lead-acid batteries are very heavy, which is not ideal for boating applications where weight is a vital concern. Lastly, FLA batteries are not sealed, so you must install them upright to prevent the acid solution from leaking. 

Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle Boat Battery

Lithium-ion deep-cycle batteries use lithium salt to store energy instead of sulfuric acid and lead plates. They are relatively new and are still the most expensive type of deep-cycle battery. However, their high upfront cost is often justified by their many advantages, especially in boating applications. 

Pros

You can drain lithium-ion deep-cycle marine batteries to 80% or more of their capacity without damaging them. Additionally, with the proper charge controller, they charge much faster than lead-acid batteries. This combination makes lithium marine batteries much more efficient than their lead-acid counterparts.

Lithium-ion batteries have an integrated battery management system (BMS) that monitors the battery’s health and eliminates the need for periodic maintenance. The BMS also optimizes charging and discharging across the battery’s cells and ensures the battery is always operating within its safe limits. These features result in the lifespan of a lithium battery being 2-5 times that of a lead-acid battery.

Lithium-ion deep-cycle batteries don’t contain heavy lead plates and weigh about half what lead-acid batteries of the same capacity do. As we mentioned earlier, this is a massive advantage in a boat where every pound counts.

Cons

The biggest disadvantage of lithium-ion marine batteries is their initial upfront cost. However, you often end up saving money in the long run since they usually last at least five times longer than traditional lead-acid batteries. 

One other thing to consider is that the maximum amperage output of lithium-ion batteries is much less than lead-acid batteries. This means that lithium-ion batteries are not a good option for a starting battery where you need high cranking amps.

The Best Boat Battery For Your Use

Your particular application will determine which type of boat battery is best for you. However, a lithium-ion marine battery will be your best option for any application where deep cycling is required. The only time a lithium-ion boat battery won’t outperform a lead-acid battery in efficiency, reliability, overall cost, and weight is when you need a starting battery. 

So, whether you’re heading out on the water for a fun day of cruising around the lake, trolling for a trophy fish, or living on your houseboat, choosing the best battery for your use is critical. Unfortunately, there isn’t one battery to rule them all. Understanding your application and the benefits of the different options allows you to choose the best marine battery for you.

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