Keep your boat juiced up
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Whether you're a bass fishing pro or a scuba diving fanatic, if you have your own boat then a marine battery is right up there on your list of must-have equipment. Choosing the correct marine battery is a difficult task and one that takes into account several factors. The first step is deciding whether you need a cranking or deep-cycle battery. The former’s sole job is to provide the short, sharp burst of power required to start your inboard or outboard engine. A deep-cycle battery delivers less energy over a long period and is used to power your trolling motor and/or onboard electronics (like a marine stereo). Alternatively, some marine batteries fulfill both purposes.
Key features to look out for include the battery’s cold-cranking amps or CCA, its reserve capacity, and its amp hours. There are different types of marine batteries, but the best are generally AGM or absorbed glass mat batteries. We researched the top options, considering these features as well as weight, size, and price.
Odyssey’s Marine Dual Purpose Battery fulfills the twin roles of a cranking and deep cycle battery with incredible efficiency. It offers 1150 CCA, giving it a massive cranking power capable of starting any recreational inboard or outboard motor, even in cold weather. It also has impressive deep cycling capability, lasting up to 400 cycles at 80 percent depth of discharge with a reserve capacity of 142 minutes. Rated to 100Ah, it should deliver 5 amps of current per hour for 20 hours, giving you plenty of time to troll your local lake, river, or ocean without recharging.
A full recharge takes just four to six hours. The battery’s AGM design means that you don’t have to top it up with distilled water or worry about spilled battery acid as you would with traditional wet-cell batteries. AGM batteries are also more resistant to shock and vibration and have a lower self-discharge rate. Although expensive, it’s still cheaper than purchasing separate cranking and deep cycling batteries of the same quality.
Price at time of publish: $583
Dimensions: 13 x 6.8 x 9.4 inches | Weight: 77.8 pounds
Not good for high horsepower engines
If you have a small to medium horsepower engine that doesn’t need all the cranking power provided by the other dual-purpose batteries on this list, you can save big bucks with the Bass Pro Shops Pro Series Deep-Cycle Marine Battery. Despite a retail price of around $200, it has a CCA rating of 545 amps and a reserve capacity of 120 minutes at 25 amps.
Once your engine has started, the battery’s deep-cycling capabilities power your trolling motor and other electronics (your fish finder or electric radio, perhaps). It is built to withstand repeated deep discharges and is conveniently quick to recharge. You can rely on the durability and vibration resistance of the AGM construction, while the dual terminal design makes installation easy. A one-year free replacement and a 36-month pro-rated marine battery warranty back your purchase.
Price at time of publish: From $200
Dimensions: 6.75 x 8.75 x 10.87 inches | Weight: 56 pounds
Well under the $100 price point, the Mighty Max ML35-12 Deep Cycle Battery costs less than a sixth of the price of the most expensive battery on this list. It is made with small-thrust trolling motors like the Minn Kota Endura C2 in mind and is rated to just 35Ah.
Some customers recommend wiring two batteries together to provide 70 amp hours for less than the price of a top-brand single battery. Despite its affordable price, the battery offers all the benefits of AGM construction, including zero leaking or maintenance. It doesn’t require any ventilation and can be mounted at almost any angle—making it easier to fit it around other accessories when deck space is limited. Its durable calcium-alloy grid promises excellent performance and extended service life.
Price at time of publish: $75
Dimensions: 5.16 x 7.68 x 7.13 inches | Weight: 23.25 pounds
Functions in warm and cold weather
The deep cycle Mighty Max Battery 12V 55Ah Trolling Battery is an affordable, effective option for those that want to power a small to medium trolling motor. Depending on the size of your motor and the speed at which you plan on traveling, it can last for a weekend-long fishing vacation without needing to be recharged. It's ideal for tenders, inflatables, fishing kayaks, and canoes.
The battery has a 55Ah amp hour rating, 350 CCA, and AGM technology. Sealed, spill-proof batteries are a reliable, environmentally conscious choice that require zero maintenance and can be stored at any angle in an unventilated battery box. The Mighty Max battery has a wide operating temperature range, making it a good choice for year-round use. The manufacturer's one-year warranty protects you if you're not completely satisfied with your purchase.
Dimensions: 9 x 5.4 x 9.1 inches | Weight: 38.58 pounds
If your sole reason for buying a marine battery is to start your medium-power inboard or outboard engine, the Optima 34M BlueTop Marine Starting Battery is a trustworthy choice. It has a 100-minute reserve capacity, 50Ah amp hour rating, and a CCA rating of 800 amps—more than enough to start most recreational engines, even in winter. The battery’s patented SpiralCell technology delivers more power in a single burst than conventional flat-plate batteries and allows for triple the number of recharges. It also recharges faster.
The battery’s tightly wound construction keeps plate movement to a minimum and offers 15 times the vibration resistance for reliable cranking power even in rough conditions. The sealed AGM batteries are spill-proof and maintenance-free (a win for vulnerable marine ecosystems like coral reefs), and you can mount them in whatever position best suits your boat’s configuration. Infrequent boaters will appreciate the battery’s super-low rate of self-discharge, which means that it can hold its charge for up to a year as long as it’s kept at room temperature or lower.
Price at time of publish: $310
Dimensions: 6.88 x 10 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 38.4 pounds
Though it requires an investment upfront, the Odyssey Marine Dual Purpose Battery boasts impressive efficiency, AGM construction, and keeps your motor going all day long. If you're looking to power a smaller rig and want to save a bit of cash, we recommend the Bass Pro Shops Power Series Marine Battery.
There are three types of marine battery: cranking, deep cycle, and dual. Cranking is perhaps better known as the starting battery, while deep-cycle batteries supply the devices (think lights, fans, plumbing, GPS, etc.) on your boat with constant, even power. A dual, as the name suggests, does both. You can't substitute a cranking for a deep cycle or vice versa. It's best to install separate batteries, but if your boat is small and there's only room for one, go ahead and get the dual-purpose battery.
Marine batteries come in a myriad of weights and dimensions. Sizes are usually categorized by groups, including 24, 27, 31, 4D, and 8D. You should check the dimensions of your existing battery to see which group your new battery should fall into. Making sure you pick the right one for your boat sets you up for a good day on the lake. Without the proper power, you likely won't be able to start your engine or run gadgets like GPS.
Marine batteries can cost upwards of a few hundred dollars. However, they're worth investing in if you use your boat often. Cheaper batteries may not have as much power or last as long and may need more repairs than expensive ones.
Generally speaking, marine batteries will last anywhere between two to five years. However, that's entirely dependent on how well the battery is maintained. You can extend the life of your boat's battery by connecting it to a charger when not in use.
It's best to start by switching the battery off and removing it from its box. From there, ensure you have the correct charger for your battery size and connect the charger clips to the terminals. Then switch on the battery—it should start charging. Smart battery chargers with LED displays will let you know when your battery is fully charged. When it is, switch it off, disconnect the clips, and place the battery back in its box. It's as simple as that.
Jessica Macdonald is TripSavvy's Africa travel expert and Commerce Updates Editor. As a professional scuba diver (and part of a fishing-mad family), she's spent many, many hours at sea and knows the importance of a reliable marine battery. Products included in this article were chosen to meet a wide range of requirements, according to extensive industry research and the comparison of real-life customer reviews.
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