T&T: 1) Alternatives to 8D batteries are ? 2) How are the Odyssey Batteries?

[Pascal Gademer]

when i got my boat 3 1/2 years ago, a PO had replaced the 8Ds with golf cart
batteries...  i had to replace them a year or so later but noticed from the
stickers that they had lasted 4 to 5 years, which isn't bad for hot so fl
and considering that they had been ignored (found them low on water when i
got the boat).  turned out the old Pro Mariner was boiling them out, which i
solved by putting a timer on the charger and only running it 8 hours a day,
cutting water consumption by 70%

being a 32v system, each engine has a set of four 8volt exides E4800.  house
loads are handled by either bank, selectable.

they have no problem cranking the big DDs (8V71Ns) altough in all fairness
they start instantly. i've only had to crank for longer time a few times but
even then it wasn't a problem.

the advantage of the golf cart batteries is that they are much easier to
replace (no need for help and a chiropractor the next day !); they are also
cheap...  $320 per bank...  in my case, a set of 4 fits in one original
battery box...

since the fridge and many lights are AC, i also have an inverter bank (12
volts) made of 8 6 volts batteries, Exide E3600.  that runs the full size
fridge/freezer, lights, TV,e tc... for 24 hours.

i know other guys on the hatt forum who have gone the same route and are
happy with the resutls.

on a 12v or 24v boat, not sure how many batteries you'd need...i'd probably
stick with four.  two paraleled pairs for 12V or 4 batteries in series for
24v

an 8d for the genset seems like an overkill, my 4 cyl diesel Norpro 18
starts fine with a "regular" battery...  dont' rememer off hand but it looks
like a g27 or 31 maybe.

pascal
maimi,fl
70 hatteras 53MY