Marine Batteries

Marine batteries get our days on the water started! They power all of our fun, from playing music to helping us catch fish. » Read More

Learn More About Boat Batteries

Contents


Marine Battery Types: Starting, Dual Purpose, & Deep Cycle Batteries

There are three basic types of boat batteries as far as application is concerned. The first, and most predominant, is the starter battery. As their name implies, they’re used for starting your boat’s motor. These are designed to provide a lot of energy for a short burst. Read More


Advances in Marine Batteries

Battery power has made leaps and bounds across all applications from phones to electric cars. Marine batteries are not an exception. In the past 20 years boat batteries have improved across the board. Old technology has been improved and new technology has been introduced and adopted with great success. Read More

Battery power has made leaps and bounds across all applications from phones to electric cars. Marine batteries are not an exception. In the past 20 years boat batteries have improved across the board. Old technology has been improved and new technology has been introduced and adopted with great success.

The chemistry and composition have a lot to do with their performance, and each kind has drawbacks. There are four different types of batteries when it comes to chemical composition.


Flooded Batteries

The flooded battery, or wet cell, is the oldest and most traditionally used type of battery in both the automotive and marine world. The flooded battery use lead plates, a sulfuric acid electrolyte, and plate separators to store and discharge energy. The wet cell has a few advantages and disadvantages. They are not sensitive to overcharging, and they’re cheap. They have quite a few drawbacks, such as weight, gaseous discharge, and maintenance. Read More


AGM Batteries

The absorbed glass mat battery, commonly called AGM, has a fiberglass mat in between each lead plate. These fiberglass mats hold the electrolyte solution in between each plate through capillary action. The AGM battery has its advantages and disadvantages as well. It’s maintenance-free and won’t leak or spill. It’s a sealed battery, so there are no worries about maintenance, or leaking battery acid. Read More


Gel Cell Batteries

The gel cell battery is made by using a gel cell to suspend the battery plates. The thick paste allows electrons to flow between the plates when in use. It’s similar in characteristics to the AGM battery. The gel cell battery is maintenance-free, leak-proof, and spill-proof. It’s also similar to the AGM battery in its susceptibility to damage if it is overcharged. Read More


Lithium Batteries

The newest type of battery to hit the boat market is the lithium battery, which is frequently referred to as lithium-ion. These batteries offer phenomenal performance but at a hefty price tag. They’re great for use with trolling motors for multiple reasons. First off, they’re much lighter than the previously mentioned options, up to 60% lighter than lead acid batteries. Read More

Lithium-ion batteries also have some incredible options. The Abyss 36-volt battery has a Bluetooth connectivity option to track the charge of your battery on your phone. Not only are lithium-ion batteries maintenance-free but they can also be discharged almost completely without causing any damage to the battery. Lithium-ion has a massive upfront cost, but with lifetimes of over eight years, and double the run time, the upfront investment makes sense.

The small size of lithium batteries has led to some interesting innovations in their use with electric reels as well. Abyss Battery has designed them specifically made to power electric reels for use in deep drop, teaser, and kite reels.


Marine Battery Charging

Now that you have picked your battery, how are you going to charge it? On certain boats, the battery can be removed and brought indoors to be charged. In a lot of the boats, they are stored in a way that makes them difficult to remove, and they aren’t exactly light. Read More


Marine Battery Maintenance

Battery maintenance is necessary on all batteries to varying degrees. Wet cell batteries have an electrolyte solution that needs to be refilled on occasion. To check the levels in your battery, pry off the plastic covers over the cell ports. If the plates are exposed or coming close to being exposed, add distilled water. Be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses when checking your battery, as prying off the caps can sometimes cause acid to splash loose. Read More


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Commonly Asked Questions About Marine Batteries

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