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Types Of Boat Batteries

7 September 2021 by Hugh Lowe

As a marine vessel owner, you need to invest in a durable battery. A boat battery provides power for starting your boat and keeping your vessel on the move. Additionally, a battery provides power for lighting and operating your electronic devices and machinery such as pumps. Therefore, you should purchase the ideal marine battery. To help you make the right choice, here are the various marine batteries to consider.

Lead Acid Batteries

Flooded lead acid (FLAs) or wet batteries have liquid sulfuric acid with suspended lead plates. Note that FLAs are sensitive to vibration. Thus, they require upright installation to avoid leakage of the sulfuric acid if the battery tilts. Also, a wet battery needs distilled water, and you must maintain the water at the required level.

Additionally, wet marine batteries produce hydrogen gas during charging. In this regard, you need to ventilate the battery boxes to avoid the buildup of hydrogen gas. Further, a wet battery needs charging even when your boat isn't in use since the battery loses charge when idle. While FLAs are high maintenance, they're durable and can withstand accidental overcharging. Overall, wet batteries can produce large currents and are an ideal option for starting batteries.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries

AGMs don't require high maintenance like wet marine batteries but are more costly. Nonetheless, AGMs are safer than FLAs since the AGMs don't have liquid sulfuric acid that may leak if the batteries tilt. These batteries offer flexibility as you can install them sideways or upright, making them ideal for tight spaces.

While AGMs are dry, you should vent them when charging for safety reasons. Additionally, the batteries aren't susceptible to corrosion as they don't release gas while operating, protecting the metal parts and cables against corrosion.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion marine batteries are lighter than AGMs and FLAs since they don't contain lead plates. They charge quickly and have a high depth of discharge. So you can access ample marine battery supply, making these batteries very powerful. 

Additionally, these boat batteries are more long-lasting than other marine batteries. That's because these batteries have a battery monitoring system that prevents the battery from overcharging, overheating, and over-discharging of current. These controls increase the battery's longevity.  However, a lithium-ion battery costs more, but its benefits outweigh the high upfront cost.

Lead acid, AGMs, and lithium-ion batteries are the common marine battery types available. Consider these marine batteries when shopping for your boat's battery.

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