Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello all

I Have a new Harris cruiser 200 with a merc 90. there is a lot of information on the web and this site about adding an additional battery. But do i really need one? The longest we set on the water without running the engine is 3-4 hours max with just the OEM stereo on. and it always starts easily. we are on a smaller inland lake 900 acres so it is not like we are on big water, in fact where we float i could walk to our lake house in about 10 minutes if i had to. How long would a battery last just running a radio.

Thanks

Mike

You should be just fine. Your battery if in good condition should be able to run that stereo all day no problem.

Agreed,

I have a similar situation but I like having an extra battery on board but that's just me. Been using two batteries on my ocean going boat so many years that I would feel naked without the second battery.

With one battery, just make sure you treat it well. Keep it fully charged at all times and replace after 5 years. Never let is discharge below 50% if it's a deep discharge battery and don't let it discharge much at all if it's a starting type battery.

You can all ways carie a jump box for a just in case.

I always have had 2 starter batteries on my pontoon. I'll use one going out and the other coming back. Or if just short trips, use one that day and the other next day. In the 6 years that I have owned this 2004 pontoon, I have never had to charge a battery. The 2004 Mercury 50hp 4 cycle does all the charging. Some day a battery will wear out, but I know there is a backup.

The question is "Do I Need an Additional Battery". In your case it could be one of three definitive answers, Yes, No, or Maybe. Personally I'm thinking it's maybe myself. You're boating a small lake so I'm thinking you're not actually really putting any running time in per an outing because you really don't have anywhere to go in a small lake. Now it sounds as if you hang out is only about a half mile from your slip, based on a 10 min walk time.

So I'm thinking it may go something like this. Starting the boat Saturday and a half mile run may recover the battery drain from starting. Play radio for four hours, start the boat and return to slip. Now we've probably parked the boat at a less than full capacity battery. Get back into boat Sunday and repeat Saturday and get to your hang out at a neg four hours carried over and play the radio and additional four hours, start her up and return to the slip. Now you've parked the boat with an accumulated eight hours of radio battery use without enough hours of engine use to replenish the battery.

Given enough times of accumulated use without really running the motor enough to fully charge the battery sooner or latter you'll most likely be finding out exactly haw long it takes to walk to you lake house.

You can never go wrong with an extra battery, but I don't think you need it. I only have one on my boat, but like someone else suggested. I do carry a jumpbox on board.. I bought a JNC 660, keep it charged up and ready to go... more then enough juice to turn over my 75 hp yamaha if needed.. so far ( fingers crossed ) haven't needed it.. but it's there, just in case.

I carry a PowerStation in my SUV. When I go to the pontoon I take it to the pontoon. It's not that much effort and ensures I never need to worry about my boat batteries.

And the funny thing is I have never used the PowerStation to jump start my boat or any of my vehicles but have used it to jump start the vehicles of other people, both at the lake and store parking lots. It is probably one of the best birthday presents I have received, for the peace of mind it represents.

in most cases, i fully recommend a 2nd battery, however, in your case it is likely overkill. i do like the idea of a jump box for security, but that may even be overkill. one good piece of advice may be to invest in a decent charger so you can top off the battery when you dock. as was mentioned above, the trip out and back may not be enough to top off the battery.

crookedlaker wrote:Hello all

I Have a new Harris cruiser 200 with a merc 90. there is a lot of information on the web and this site about adding an additional battery. But do i really need one? The longest we set on the water without running the engine is 3-4 hours max with just the OEM stereo on. and it always starts easily. we are on a smaller inland lake 900 acres so it is not like we are on big water, in fact where we float i could walk to our lake house in about 10 minutes if i had to. How long would a battery last just running a radio.

Thanks

Mike

You can answer your own question. When you were on the water for 3-4 hours listening to your stereo, did you think to yourself; "I hope my engine starts after this?" If so, then get yourself a second battery. Peace of mine is priceless.

Our pontoon time is similar to yours. Only a few hours at a time and OEM stereo. So, we carry a jump booster battery instead of installing a second battery, just as others have commented. Gives us the back up we need plus it's portable so uou can help others. In my 20 years of boating, I've never needed a jump start, but I've probably assisted 20 other people on the water that did. The portable unit is great way to go. Just be sure to keep it charged.

Don't need it till you turn the key and it doesn't start. Always better to have it and not need then to need it and not have it. Myself I havealways had two reason I have been there when it didn't start.

I'm thinking two batteries a battery switch, and a solar powered trickle charger.

i usually take a hot lap around the lake before and after we anchor so the battery should get charged. we have the rear center walkthru entry access so the battery is in the rear starboard corner seat, there is only room for one battery there so i would have to put the battery in the rear port corner seat, sounds like more work than i want to do at this time, also do not want to lose much storage, i like the idea of carrying the booster box. has anyone seen the new mico battery booster only about 6" long x3' wide 1.5" high uses a lithium battery, can jump car battery's, charge cell phones and laptops exc most have a build in light and comes with charging cables and canvas case. looks like Santa may be getting me one for Christmas.

Thanks for the feedback

crookedlaker wrote:i usually take a hot lap around the lake before and after we anchor so the battery should get charged. we have the rear center walkthru entry access so the battery is in the rear starboard corner seat, there is only room for one battery there so i would have to put the battery in the rear port corner seat, sounds like more work than i want to do at this time, also do not want to lose much storage, i like the idea of carrying the booster box. has anyone seen the new mico battery booster only about 6" long x3' wide 1.5" high uses a lithium battery, can jump car battery's, charge cell phones and laptops exc most have a build in light and comes with charging cables and canvas case. looks like Santa may be getting me one for Christmas.

Thanks for the feedback

Is this the one you're referring to?

http://www.amazon.com/15000mAH-Starter- ... umper+pack

A friend of mine tested it with 30 car jumps with out re-charging. may something to look in to.