If you're going to stick with that setup, consider going to lithium iron-phosphate batteries. You'll get half the weight, twice the run-time, and you won't be swapping them out ever 2-3 years. Yes, they cost more up-front, but deliver a lot more when you're on the water and will last 10 years with just reasonable care. Don't try to charge them when they are below freezing, is all.
Thank you for commenting and the sage advice. I recently got a small LiFePO battery for my kids’ power wheel and have been very impressed. There was a major list to starboard with just me and 5 batteries on board. I would love to have a set of those, but the limiting factor is cost. The current batteries are a bit questionable, but that is because they are take-offs.
@@Shoefly007 - Yeah, it's only worth the cost of the lithiums if you're going to use it a lot, and use it pretty hard when you're out on the boat. They are a major step up from lead-acid, but not nearly as expensive as they used to be. For example, Li-Time is making a 100AH battery that weighs about 24lbs and costs $325, if you were to purchase 3 of them. Well worth it, if you're going to actually use the boat quite a bit.
Totally agree. My situation is a bit specific. At this point, It is purely for short (1 hour) cruises around very small lake. At most a few in a day and then it can recharge most of the week. Even with the two batteries I had last year I wasn’t having range issues. I want to do a video with the general overview of the purpose of the pontoon, but it will take some editing.
so cool
Thank you!
If you're going to stick with that setup, consider going to lithium iron-phosphate batteries. You'll get half the weight, twice the run-time, and you won't be swapping them out ever 2-3 years. Yes, they cost more up-front, but deliver a lot more when you're on the water and will last 10 years with just reasonable care. Don't try to charge them when they are below freezing, is all.
Thank you for commenting and the sage advice. I recently got a small LiFePO battery for my kids’ power wheel and have been very impressed. There was a major list to starboard with just me and 5 batteries on board. I would love to have a set of those, but the limiting factor is cost. The current batteries are a bit questionable, but that is because they are take-offs.
@@Shoefly007 - Yeah, it's only worth the cost of the lithiums if you're going to use it a lot, and use it pretty hard when you're out on the boat. They are a major step up from lead-acid, but not nearly as expensive as they used to be. For example, Li-Time is making a 100AH battery that weighs about 24lbs and costs $325, if you were to purchase 3 of them. Well worth it, if you're going to actually use the boat quite a bit.
Totally agree. My situation is a bit specific. At this point, It is purely for short (1 hour) cruises around very small lake. At most a few in a day and then it can recharge most of the week. Even with the two batteries I had last year I wasn’t having range issues. I want to do a video with the general overview of the purpose of the pontoon, but it will take some editing.