T&T: Starting Batteries

[Tsiscoekid@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/2/2007 12:00:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com writes:
 
Gill wrote-

For  those of us with with diesels producing less than 400HP, or so, I've 
never  figured out why the boat manufactures are hung up on giving us 8D starting 
 batteries

Reply:
 
I totally agree with you Gill and in 2004 I created one starter bank for my  
twin V8  3208 Cats  before leaving on an eight month cruise from  Florida to 
spend the summer in Canada.  
 
Remember that I start two engines from this bank each time I stop so in  2004 
we  
-Started the engines almost 200 mornings
-Started the engines after stopping in over 200 locks 
-Started the engines another 100 or so times after waiting at blue lines  
while they prepared  the locks
-Started the engines another 50 times or so after fueling, stopping for  
lunch, Stopping engines to wait for bridge openings,  etc
-Started the engines over 200 more times in 2005 and 2006 as we  cruised the 
Bahamas both of these summers.
 
That's well over 1500 engine starts since 2004 and I did this  with a battery 
bank made up of two of the largest group 24 batteries (850 CCA)  that I could 
find without experiencing even a single starting failure  since this 
installation.
 
This is been proof to me that we do not need to use these gigantic  batteries 
that most of our boats come equipped with.
 
And in a year or two when I have to replace that starter bank I will be one  
happy boater when I do not have to wrestle those heavy 8D  monsters out of  
the boat.
 
YMMV
 
 
John and  Karen Siscoe
CHATEAU/ Defever 46 Sport Cruiser
Karens Cell 813 765 6660  (Cingular)
Johns Cell 813 951 3610 (Verizon)
Currently Lying St Pete  Beach, Florida

Remember that the best boating accessory is a good  owner!



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.