Battery, etc.July 2020
Grant MacLaren's
1972 Correct Craft Skier

MacSkier

When we moved to Kirkwood in late 2019, I left MacSkier stored indoors -- in Springfield.

Best
Best Storage in Springfield, IL
Click photo for larger image.

In late June, 2020, Dennis Bickel and I drove to Springfield to retrieve the battery. I had to cut the tie-down straps in order to remove the battery. (It's a long story.)

When I rebuilt MacSkier, I moved her battery to the center of the boat, beneath the deck, between the front seats. Previously, the battery had been located under the forward observer's seat and protruded above the deck.

I 'glassed a shallow wood frame to restrict lateral movement of the battery and used "footman's loops" to anchor nylon "hold-down straps." (See here.)

Dennis
Dennis Bickel at Best Storage
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Best
Best Storage interior
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In its new location (over the keel, between the front seats), the battery is accessed through a carpeted floor panel with a thumb hole. The hold down straps (webbing) are fastened to footman's loops screwed to a wood and plywood "box" that prevents the battery from sliding. The battery's new location provides vertical clearance beneath the new 3/4 inch plywood floor; a low profile 12 volt Exide 75X battery was selected and used with success.

Best
The Exide Battery - Model #75X
Click photo for larger image.

When I was rebuilding the boat, a friend wrote:

  • You need a starting battery.
  • A deep cycle (or "marine") battery is designed for a small amp load for long periods of time like a trolling motor.
  • The high amp draw of engine starting will damage a deep as indicated by your low voltage reading.
  • Many have made the mistake thinking they need a "marine" battery and ended up with a deep.
  • A regular starting battery just like you put in your car -- works great.
  • The only difference with a marine is the addition of threaded studs besides the lug type terminals on ether a deep or starting battery.
  • Do check your battery cables for signs of corrosion especially if they are the originals from 1988.
  • Even if they look good, but are the originals, I suggest new ones.
  • Go with a heavier gauge and in this case do go with "marine" rated cables which are a higher quality and all the strands of wire are tin plated. (I did.)
  • When you are getting the new battery, pick up one of the battery post cleaners. They have a male and female wire brush for both the battery lugs and the cable terminal ends. (I did not do this; found that emory paper does a good job.)
These are the specs for a "Series 75" battery:
  • Cranking amps: 825 at 32 degrees F.
  • Battery Capacity: 58 Ah
  • Power Source: Lead Acid
  • For Device Type: Automobile, Truck, Boat
  • Connector, Port Interface: Side
  • Reserve Capacity: 100 minutes
  • Power Capacity: 690 CCA
  • Terminal Type: A
  • Current: 825 Amps
  • Voltage: 12 V
  • Includes: Exide Premium Extreme NASCAR, 75X, Auto Battery, 40 Months, Jumpstarts
  • OEM Compatible: Yes
  • Dimensions: Length = 9.33" -- Width = 6.8" -- Height = 7.2"
  • Weight = 38 Lbs.
  • UL Listed: No
So, the Exide battery was chosen with the above in mind. However, one very important requirement for me was that the battery must fit in the place provided for it. So I picked out a 12 volt battery that would fit in its "box." ( Battery size is 9.33" x 6.8" x 7.2" and it fits the space provided. See "the box" pictured here. )

On a recent (July '20) visit to a NAPA store, I learned they no longer carries the EXIDE brand. I was told that my EXIDE was a "Series 75" battery and all manufacturers make that size battery. Sure enough, they had a "NAPA Legend" in that size. Now, is the battery taken out of the boat any good? The "MFD" date is OCT 2014 and I think batteries in cars today usually don't last 4 years.

I put my charger on the EXIDE for about two days. When first connected its ammeter jumped to 10 amps, then quickly dropped to 7 amps. The next time I checked, it was reading about 1 amp. (One amp.) I think that's good, but I want to have it checked under load at the parts store, so I'll take it in for testing.

After charging, the volt meter measured 13.03 volts across the Exide's terminals.

Many car batteries today are AGM batteries, but the EXIDE taken out of the boat is a standard old wet cell -- electrolyte in free liquid form. An AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery contains a special glass mat separator that wicks the electrolyte solution between the battery plates. This material's design enables the fiberglass to be saturated with electrolyte – and to store the electrolyte in a “dry” or suspended state rather than in free liquid form.

Best
The NAPA Battery - Model #75X
Click photos for larger images.


7/7/20 Tested the Exide at Auto Zone, Kirkwood today. Test result = "Good Battery."
Looked at their "Series 75" battery -- with side posts. Came home and looked at their batteries on-line: This image and this image.


From Ford website: What is a battery group and what size battery do you need?
Batteries come in various sizes called groups. Group size refers to the height, width and length of the battery. Although some vehicles may accommodate a battery from more than one group size, it is important that you use a battery approved for your vehicle. You can find the size you need by checking your owner's manual or looking at your present battery.
Is your battery strong enough?
Another thing you will want to consider is your battery's reserve capacity. That is the built-in “juice” that lets your battery continue to produce power when the vehicle is not running. While traditional lead-acid batteries are still the norm, today's vehicle electrical systems often do much more than previously, such as powering mobile phones, charging outlets and electronic safety systems. Some new vehicles come with more advanced absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, which can better stand up to heavy power drain.
A visit to Wal-Mart turned up this battery in Kirkwood. I'm pretty sure it would be OK for MacSkier:

"It needed a little work, but what boat doesn't?"

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Another pretty good web page by Grant MacLaren