Thread:

No more house brand batteries for me...

Just got my fresh 460 together and headed out to the lake for a little test and tune...
I was really looking forward to a nice afternoon.

Well, my day was cut short...very short...due to another [email protected]$$ battery failure.
My fault entirely for actually believing that a $60 marine battery would last more than 6 months.

My luck with batteries is about as bad as you can get.
I had an optima yellow top.
It lasted a year.
Had an Interstate.
It was bad off the shelf.
Tried a Wally World Marine batt.
It lasted 6 months.

And yes, I checked voltage drops everywhere. Nothing higher than .3v anywhere other than the starter motor.
And yes, my alternator works fine.

I am really tired of this.

What is your guys go-to battery brand/type, if there is one?

I can't seem to find anything anywhere rated more than maybe 850cca.

I don't trust autozone/kragen brand stuff.

I need overkill here.

been running yellow tops in my boat for a year and a half, and never had a problem!

I am using the same red top I bought 3 years ago! I don't even float charge it during the winter , I just un hook it if the boats not gonna be used any time soon.

Autozone. I get 6-7 seasons out of em.

This boat kills batteries so quickly I am starting to think the starter is at fault.
I just had it rebuilt, and it's worse than ever.
It barely turns the motor even with a 1000cca Cat battery hooked up.
I have 2 ga battery cables.
No voltage drops over .3v anywhere, and the drop from the starter +terminal to ground is about 10v, and the starter gets blazing hot.
I'm going to pull the starter tomorrow and take it back for re-examination.

Base timing is about 10*BTDC, so no real worries there.

Originally Posted by jet460

This boat kills batteries so quickly I am starting to think the starter is at fault.
I just had it rebuilt, and it's worse than ever.
It barely turns the motor even with a 1000cca Cat battery hooked up.
I have 2 ga battery cables.
No voltage drops over .3v anywhere, and the drop from the starter +terminal to ground is about 10v, and the starter gets blazing hot.
I'm going to pull the starter tomorrow and take it back for re-examination.

Base timing is about 10*BTDC, so no real worries there.

im sure the batteries are fine, its just up to you to find out why your electrical system is killing them. the starter should not get hot. my wal-mart cheap-o for my new boat always gets unhooked and put on the float charger and havent had a problem since.

Originally Posted by 84Condor

been running yellow tops in my boat for a year and a half, and never had a problem!

Originally Posted by Marcsrollin

I am using the same red top I bought 3 years ago! I don't even float charge it during the winter , I just un hook it if the boats not gonna be used any time soon.

I've also had good luck with Optimas, I have two yellow tops in my Glastron that I purchases back in '03.

I agree you prob got a starter issue. Let us know what you find, I'm curious. I've had great luck with Optima, but I've run a ton of turd batteries pulled out of something else last minute LOL. Keep in mind that there are only like two manufacturers of batteries for most of the parts houses (excluding the optimas, etc) They will put their own name on them (Duralast, Champion, etc) but most of the time they are interstate or GMB(?)

I have been running a 2nd no name brand for 4 years and no problems! Do you have a bunch of tunes in your ride? And I would replace the starter if it is draging that means it's dying or motor compression is weak!

Originally Posted by Widetrack

I have been running a 2nd no name brand for 4 years and no problems! Do you have a bunch of tunes in your ride? And I would replace the starter if it is draging that means it's dying or motor compression is weak!

No stereo at all in the boat, and yes, this is a brand new 460.
Just turned it over by hand, and it is pretty tight, but it turns.
When I built this thing all journal clearances were .001" via plastic guage.
Between the weak batteries, hot starter and tightness of the motor, I don't know what to do at this point.
I hope this thing loosens up a bit.

Originally Posted by bigdog

I've got a Walmart battery in the boat. Its going on the third season and no issues with the battery. I don't even unhook it. Like said previously there are only like two manufacturers of batteries. I am not sure about marine batteries but I know for sure that you should not start your boat with a deepcycle r.v. battery. They are made for the small but constant draw, and not the huge sudden draw of the starter. If you don't have a radio in the boat why not use a car battery? One of the biggest factors of longevity with a battery is the shelf life, and nobody has more customers than Walmart. Therefore I would think that their batteries would be pretty fresh. Check the starter out. There might be an issue there. Good luck.

I have a walmart marine battery in it.