Golf Cart Batteries

[cb32863]

So I have read in numerous places the graces of using golf cart batteries for your battery banks on your boat. Anyone able to recommend a certain brand or are they pretty much the same? Sharing your experiences with them would be appreciated as well.

Very interested as I am trying to get a few things in my head before I jump in the deep end of the pool with you other boat owners.

Thanks,
CB

[billyruffn]

Trojan wet cell 6V golf cart batteries are tough and very reliable. I had one set that lasted 7 years and another that went another 7.

To get 7 years useful life you do need to properly size the bank for the loads it will be subjected to and generally take care of them....keep them charged, watered, checked occasionally for specific gravity in each cell, etc.

It also helps if you speak softly to them and complement them when they work particularily hard on a long passage.

[cb32863]

Thanks for the info Billy.

Originally Posted by billyruffn

It also helps if you speak softly to them and complement them when they work particularily hard on a long passage.

I will keep that in mind for future reference.

[night0wl]

Really - I dont know if the premium for Trojans vs normal 6v golf cart batteries is warranted. Most if not all batteries maintained properly (fluid topped up, equalized periodically, etc) will go for many years. Unfortunately, I've seen premiums of up to $60 per batter for Trojan T-105s vs Exide golf cart batteries at Costco or Sams Club. Considering I need/want 4...I just couldn't justify the premium especially considering I still need 4 battery boxes and a whole host of cables made of expensive battery wire (and this is if I make the cables myself).

[aeventyr60]

I bought some Dyno brand 6v golf cart batteries in seattle 12 years ago. Got 6 years of very hard use out of them. Now on my second set of another 'no name brand" batteries and they are still going strong. Can't see paying the "premium" for Trojans either. keep em charged up, check the watar levels every 3 months and you are good to go. I'm also using 360 watts of solar, a wind generator and run an adler barber super cold machine for my refrigeration. Always have ice for my G & t's, beer always the coldest in the anchorage.

[mitiempo]

There is another thread on Sailnet about this topic. The Exide GC2 6 volts are apparently being used by more and more golf courses and they find them lasting as long as the Trojan T-105's - and for less money. Trojan is a good battery but it seems other brands are their equivalent.

[micheck]

Costco's 225ah 6 v golf cart battery goes for $78/ Hard to beat

[night0wl]

Originally Posted by micheck

Costco's 225ah 6 v golf cart battery goes for $78/ Hard to beat

Think they may be even less if you give a core deposit....

[olson34]

Since there's no such thing as "just golf cart batteries" and in fact they come in markedly different amounts of AmpHours... how does the group feel about the differences? Worth paying more for?
I can already see that many of you buy 'em as cheaply as possible, without regard to brand name or construction, and seem to get about a similar amount of years of use.

I ask because I have been using the higher-AH Trojans for our house bank. I got 5+ years out of the first bank and so replaced them with the same ones. What with prices going up so high I may be forced to shop around more the next time around.
What we have now are two of the Trojan T-145+, rated at 260 ah for the bank.
If I go with the T-105 (or a lower price competitor) the AH is only 225.
I like being able to run the whole boat, including the refrigeration, while on the hook for two days, and still have ample power to start the diesel.

Thanks for your help and for for documenting your experiences.

LB

[night0wl]

Originally Posted by olson34

Since there's no such thing as "just golf cart batteries" and in fact they come in markedly different amounts of AmpHours... how does the group feel about the differences? Worth paying more for?
I can already see that many of you buy 'em as cheaply as possible, without regard to brand name or construction, and seem to get about a similar amount of years of use.

I ask because I have been using the higher-AH Trojans for our house bank. I got 5+ years out of the first bank and so replaced them with the same ones. What with prices going up so high I may be forced to shop around more the next time around.
What we have now are two of the Trojan T-145+, rated at 260 ah for the bank.
If I go with the T-105 (or a lower price competitor) the AH is only 225.
I like being able to run the whole boat, including the refrigeration, while on the hook for two days, and still have ample power to start the diesel.

Thanks for your help and for for documenting your experiences.

LB

I dont think the T-105 are any higher amp hour than the exide gc-2h. T-145 is a different class altogether....and frankly having 4 GC-2 would give me ~450 AH in serial/parallel configuration and marginally less than the T-145...for a whole lot less money.