2013 R29 battery life

K

kskogerson

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
101
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Vessel Name
swede dreams II
After having spent most of the day yesterday "launching my R29" and not being able to start the engine regardless of the parallel switch position, I've concluded my batteries are all dead. They are sealed, I don't know exactly what they are sitting here typing this but I presume they are AGM.
I have shore power hooked up overnight and will try to start this am, but am probably due for some new ones. I have also spent considerable time reviewing the forums on batteries and have to admit there are as many opinions as there are stars!
So, simply, does anyone have a real opinion as to the need for renewing the batteries and are Walmart batteries any good?
I haven't tried the thruster battery as I can't get the boat off the trailer! I presume it's dead. Just a note, I was in covered storage with the batt switches off for 9 months. No, I didn't disconnect the batt wires and no I didn't use a trickle charger, probably should have. And since it was covered storage the solar panel was useless.
Kent
 
Kent:

How old are the batteries? We had AGM in Kismet (3 1/2 years) and after consider research Tugnut research and posts we decided to go with the Everstart 27 DCM from Walmart. At $400.00 including tax and then a $50 core refund we are out $350.00. My research indicated they had more cold crank power then others but they do require a little maintenance once in a while....distilled water. Your R29 ma require a larger size, you should check.

Have you taken all of your cable off and cleaned the terminals and connectors? If not this may be worth doing, then charge the batteries up and see where you are?

Keep us posted as to the outcome.

Jim F
 
Thanks Jim. I presume the batteries are as old as the boat....bought it new in early 2013.
Haven't cleaned the terminals but they "look okay".
I prefer to stay away from flooded cells since they are a hassle and they "gas".
Kent
 
Ouch ! I can feel your frustration from here !
It's unlikely that everything simply died without a contributing factor . Let's narrow it down .
1. Did you test the batteries directly ? Are you sure they are dead or could it be that power is not getting from them to where it needs to be ? Check relays , fuses , connections and each battery individually .
2. Was the boat under a roof or wrapped in white plastic outside ? If it was the latter , enough sun does get thru to act as a trickle charger . That has been my direct experience .
3. A continuing parasitic drain would explain what happened . Did you pull the bilge pump fuses ? Was everything really off during storage ?
4. Any replacement batteries need to be deep cycle marine type , wet or AGM . A lot of people get the much cheaper wet cells and simply replace them regularly . I Use AGM because they fare better in extreme cold -10 F during winter storage .
This is just a start , I'm sure many more good suggestions by others will follow as this is a pretty popular topic .
 
Thanks for all.
The batteries all read 10 v or less when bench tested. ..tells me the "stamped replace date is correct".
The boat was under a hard cover, so no solar trickle.
I didn't pull the bilge fuses.
Kent
 
If They are AGM you may be in luck. AGM batteries can take more abuse than flooded. The worse thing you can do is have your batteries go dead. If they charge up the next thing to do is to see if they hold the charge. If I were to guess I would say that leaving them connected and not using the boat in a covered storage is the reason for the dead batteries. I believe the R-29 uses size 31 batteries and has 4 house batteries, so replacing your batteries with AGM will be quite an expense. In any event we all have our battery opinions. I am a Walmart flooded proponent. The reason is I change them every three years regardless of their state, They are very affordable and even with changing them out every three years it will take a long time for the AGM cost to break even. Albeit, you have to check the water level and add some occasionally, but compared to the cost I will go for the inconvenience. The pros of the AGM is service free and they can be placed at any angle. Buy what meets your needs and pocketbook and you won't go wrong.

Mike Rizzo
 
Well....end of day...end of story....
After an all night charge...nada...10 volts for all 6 and not coming back....so trip to batteries plus where I purchased 6 agms...yes expensive but nobody's fault but mine.
Actually 269 list but got them for 199ea.....65lbs ea...got my exercise today!
Everything back to normal now except no reading on no 3 which I presume to be a fuse.
Every 2 to 3 years is what everybody seems to agree on...can't bump start a boat!
Kent
 
KISKOGERSON:

It is unique that they ALL have indicated a failure.
I would disconnect each battery and slow charge each EACH. To be sure the problem is actually defined as failure. After 8 hours, I would check the voltage. ( of course, if any are wet type, add water before charging. I have actually drained wet batteries and added all fresh bottled water and then recharged. High probability they will restore.)

Having all the batteries failing together is so rare--- it invites further diagnosis.. ( Although it can be common for of all the batteries being dicharged together.) After charging, et al, I would also place a volt meter to each battery to see if there is some drain source , ala the eng. compartment light or?
If more comfortable, the resolution to the situation : The Walmart and Sam's Club wet batteries have proven reliability and durability commensurate with lowest cost.

A friend with a 48' Ocean, had the SAME brand Walmart wet golf cart batteries for over 11 years. But, to me that's a pushing the envelope.

Steve
 
Andiamo is a 2012 Ranger 29 and is wired quite differently from our 2007 Ranger 25. I replaced all four of the house AGM's in December 2013 after they were all dead and would not keep a charge. My discoveries: Andiamo has a number of resident pulls on the battery that is happening 24/7. So, even though "everything" is off, it is not. Also, turning the red battery switches off also stops those batteries from being charged. All AGM's are not created equal. We got a screaming deal on the ones we have but I have no expectations that they will last longer than 3 years. If you are able to maintain flooded batteries, they will probably be more cost effective in the long run. If you cannot maintain them, by location or just inability, the AGM's may be the best value.
 
The OP has made his decision, so this is just my general tendency to run off at the keyboard :mrgreen:

I will advise him to take that expensive set of batteries home at the end of the season, get one Battery Minder (By name - the one with the desulphating circuit), strap up the batteries as one set (18 ga wire is just fine), and let the Battery Minder run continuously until next spring. Doing this will give you many years of battery life.

I use flooded plate, screw cap, batteries on the farm and yes, in the Tug - because they fit the mission best.
The intent in the boat is to change the batteries out every three years by the calendar.
So if I expect the very expensive AGM to last some 7 or 8 years in the boat (not a guarantee BTW) at nearly $300 a pop I can go through three cycles of changing out the flooded batteries (at $70 - $80 each) over a nine year period and still be money ahead. I will always have fresh batteries in the boat - assuming I take care of them over the winter.
You can set the used, but good, batteries out on the dock with a for-sale sticker and they will go like hot cakes. (I use mine on the farm so I don't sell them)

My experience with Marine battery chargers is that they suck. They overcharge and just generally abuse the cells. I have ranted on about this before.
I will say in closing that feeding a set of $300 batteries as sacrificial lambs to the marine charger gods does not thrill me.
cheers
 
Denny makes a great point about taking your batteries out for seasonal storage maintenance when your boat is put away. No matter what type battery you have, another tip, when doing this is to get a bag of larger zip ties and a black magic marker. When you disconnect the cables from each terminal put a zip tie on the battery post hole as well as one to connect all of the cables/connectors to that terminal. Mark each set of zip ties to correspond with each other so when you reinstall the batteries and cables life is a whole lot easier, at least it is for me.

Lastly, while at anchor this morning, I heard a buzzing/humming noise. I turned off the inverter and the noise was still there. I opened the engine compartment up and found that the rear bilge pump was running with no water in the bilge...they do this once in a while because scum gets on the sensors thereby letting the bilge pump sensor think that water is in the bilge. I bring this up because if one does not disconnect there batteries while a boat is in storage and a bilge pump comes on....well it could wear out your batteries.
 
Kent,
As you said, everyone has an opinion. I have been using Wal-Mart batteries in my cars and boats for at least two decades. I change them out every three years. Never had a problem. That's my two cents worth.
 
Steve k":ay87zf4r said:
KISKOGERSON:

I have actually drained wet batteries and added all fresh bottled water and then recharged. High probability they will restore.)
Steve
Click to expand...

You really drained them and added bottled water?? The liquid in the batteries is acid. Without getting into a big scientific explanation, the water used to replace the water burned off during charging is supposed to be distilled water. Because of the burn off of water the acid is more concentrated, hence the adding of the water brings it back to the original solution strength. I find it hard to believe that after you drained the batteries of the acid, then filled them with bottled water that they lasted much longer after that.
Perhaps I misunderstood your post. It would be good to clarify just in case anyone else misunderstood it as well and started draining their battery acid.
 
Thanks all for your opinions and comments....I appreciate it. Lessons learned
Use it or lose it
out of sight out of mind...not to be considered good in this case
heed good advise
if you own a boat or an airplane there are no substitues for failure

Kent
 
Kent,

So, what will you do differently next fall when putting the boat to bed for the winter?

Tom A
 
For Tom A:
When I park the boat I have a couple of options:
Connect a trickle charger
Disconnect all batteries
 
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