7 Best Sailboat Batteries

How to Choose the Best Sailboat Battery for You

Here are the most important factors when choosing the right marine battery for your boat.

The Type of Battery that You Need

The type of battery that is ideal for your boat will very much depend on what you need the battery to do. Let's go into the details.

Cranking Battery - The main purpose of this boat is to start the boat's engine by delivering a quick burst of energy. However, such a battery may not be ideal to keep your boat's accessories going all day long.

Deep Cycle Battery - This is ideal for keeping your boat going throughout the day. It offers a low but steadier rate of power than a cranking battery so it can run all your equipment and accessories without having to charge your battery while out there on the water.

Dual-Purpose Battery - Offers a combination of both cranking and deep and is a good option if you have a boat with less room for two batteries. However, such a battery may not perform both roles as efficient as separate batteries.

Design and Build

While most marine batteries are built with AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) to make them maintenance-free and spill-proof, you should go for a battery that is robust and sturdy. This is because the seas are always rough and you need a battery that can withstand the worst weather conditions, vibrations, and impacts.

Battery Capacity

The battery capacity is one of the most important things to consider when looking for the best sailboat battery. Generally, a battery that has a rating of 100-amp hours can deliver 5 amps for 20 hours and this should be more than enough for your daily escapades on the water.

Price

We have to note that marine batteries are more expensive than car batteries. But if you're looking for the best marine battery, you should consider your budget and look for a battery that is within your budget.

Best Sailboat Batteries

Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST Marine Dual Purpose Battery

This marine dual-purpose battery incredibly and efficiently achieves the double role of a cranking and deep cycle marine battery. Offering 1,150 CCA, this battery is capable of providing an enormous cranking power that can perfectly start an inboard or outboard engine or motor. And it doesn't matter whether you're sailing deep in the winter season; this battery is designed to be extremely temperature tolerant. In other words, it can operate in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius.

As far as deep cycling is concerned, this battery can last for up to 400 cycles while discharging at 80% depth. This means that it can provide 5 amps of current per hour for about 20 hours. Needless to say, this is more than enough time to go out there on the water and enjoy yourself without recharging or worrying about your battery running out and leaving you unable to operate.

It can take between four and six hours to charge to full capacity. Its AGM design makes it far much different from the conventional wet-cell batteries. Simply put, you do not have to worry about spilled battery acid or the stress of having to top it up with water. Better still, its AGM design enables it to be more resistant to vibration and high impact. This battery may be a bit pricey but it's cheaper than buying separate deep cycle and cranking batteries of the same quality.

Pros

‍Offers both cranking and deep cycle power
Very efficient and reliable
Very durable and comes with a limited 3 and 4-year full replacement warranty
Offer longer life cycle
Very high recharge efficiency
Resistant to vibration and high impact

Cons

‍Quite expensive

Optima 8006-006 34M BlueTop Marine Cranking Battery

Are you looking for a reliable marine battery that offers medium power for starting an outboard or inboard engine? Look no further than this dependable Optima option. Designed with 800 amps CCA rating and a 100-minute reserve capacity, this is extremely more than enough to start most types of boat engines, even at the height of the coldest winter season.

This battery relies on one of the latest battery technologies: SPIRALCELL, which is widely revered for providing more power in a single burst than any of traditional flat-plate batteries. This is not only essential in ensuring that the battery recharges faster but also allows for tripling the number of recharges.

In terms of its construction, this battery is tightly wound and is one of the strongest and most robust marine batteries. This is essential in mitigating the plate movement, thereby offering a vibration resistance that's 15 times more reliable than most marine batteries. In essence, you won't have to worry about this battery even if you're sailing in the roughest of conditions.

Like most boat batteries, it is designed with AGM to make it spill-proof and maintenance-free. All you have to do is mount it in whatever position that's perfect for your boat's configuration and you'll be good to go.

Pros

‍Comes with a super-low rate of self-discharge
Can hold a charge for up to a year in room temperature or lower‍
Quite affordable
Robustly constructed to withstand vibration and rough conditions
Very powerful

Cons

‍Not ideal for a deep cycle as it doesn't offer a dual-purpose role

VMAX XTR31-135 AGM Marine Deep Cycle High-Performance Battery

If you're looking for a top-quality deep cycle marine battery that promises reliable power while out there on the water, this is the right option. Thanks to its AGM design, this battery is maintenance-free and spill-proof and can be installed at any position of the boat as you see fit. Better still, this design means that it can survive in the roughest of conditions without getting damaged. Imagine a battery that can be temporarily submerged in water without causing any damage!

This battery is robustly constructed with superior plates and float service application to give it a lifespan of between 10 to 12 years. As far as power is concerned, this battery provides 6.75 amps per hour for over 20 hours and has a 135Ah rating. In essence, this battery can last for 265 minutes when fully charged and can provide 10.5 volts when delivering a continuous current of 25 amps. This battery may be meant for deep cycle, but can also be used for starting medium-sized engine motors in emergencies. Well, this is because it has a 730 amps CCA rating.

Pros

‍Very powerful
Maintenance-free and spill-proof
Robustly constructed and very tough
Resistant to vibrations and shock
Comes with an incredible reserve capacity of 265 minutes
Has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years

Cons

‍Only has a one-year replacement warranty

Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery for Solar Marine and Off-grid Applications

Even though it has a very simple design, don't be duped into thinking that this is just another normal sailboat battery out there. Well, this is a quite powerful marine battery that's bound to serve you exceptionally well during your open water escapades. All you have to do is follow the simple instruction on how to use it and it will power your boat like never before.

In addition to its high quality, this battery is robustly built to withstand anything that the rough seas throw its way. It's designed with the improved electrolyte formula, which not only offers it a stable battery capacity but also an incredible discharge performance even at the lowest of temperatures. With its high battery capacity, this battery can hold the charge from your solar panels so that you have a continuous level of power that you need for your sailing adventures.

This battery can be used to power virtually everything in your boat including the TV, lights, refrigerator, ventilation, and many more. No matter your needs, this battery will serve you reliably well.

Pros

‍Its AGM design makes it maintenance-free and spill-proof
Highly resistant to vibration and impacts
Offers a very high power capacity
Very versatile and can be charged using solar panels
Quite affordable

Cons

‍Very large and heavy

Mighty Max Battery ML35-12 Deep Cycle Marine Battery

As one of the most affordable marine boat batteries out there, this battery is not only reliable but can be a great option if you're on a tight budget. Designed for small-thrust trolling motors, this battery is perfect for small-sized boats, canoes, and kayaks.

It can provide 70 amp hours at much less than the top brands. Despite its affordable price tag, this battery doesn't compromise on efficiency and reliability. It's designed with AGM to ensure that you don't have to worry about maintenance or spillage. The fact that it doesn't need any ventilation to perform efficiently means that you can mount it just about anywhere on your boat and you'll be good to go. In other words, it can easily fit in around other accessories, especially if the deck space is limited.

In terms of durability, this battery is built with a calcium-alloy grid that not only guarantees top performance but also extended service life and durability.

Pros

‍Very Durable
Quite affordable
Maintenance-free and zero leaking
Can be fitted anywhere on the boat and doesn't require any ventilation
Great for small-sized boats

Cons

‍May not be ideal for larger boats

Universal Power Group Solar Wind AGM SLA Deep Cycle Marine Battery

This is unquestionably a great marine battery to consider if you're looking for something that provides extended life and versatility. The fact that it doesn't need any ventilation to operate means that you can mount it on any position within your boat and it will serve you just right. This is, of course, one of the main features to look for if you are worried about having enough space for accessories on your boat.

With an installation process that's simple and straightforward, this marine battery is well designed to resist vibration and shock impacts. It can operate extremely well in the worst of weather conditions. It doesn't matter whether you're planning to sail in tropical climates or during winter, this battery won't be affected by such weather conditions.

Like many marine batteries today, this battery is maintenance-free and spill-proof as it is designed using the AGM battery technology. Although this battery isn't lightweight, this shouldn't be a problem if your main priorities revolve around affordability, versatility, durability, and efficiency.

Pros

‍Very durable and versatile
Quite affordable
Powerful and efficient
Maintenance-free and spill-proof
Resistant to vibrations and shocks

Cons

‍Quite heavy

Bass Pro Shops Pro Series Deep-Cycle AGM Battery

Delivery professionally-tested balance of superb performance, great power, and extended battery life, this battery is unquestionably an excellent option for those looking for a dual-purpose marine battery. It has a reserve capacity of 120 minutes at 25 amps and a CCA rating of 545 amps, which is enough for your dual-purpose needs. Simply put, this battery is outstanding in its role both as a cranking and deep cycle battery, so you don't have to worry about overloading your boat with numerous batteries. All you have to do is buy it at the nearest store or online, fix it on your boat and you'll be good to go for both operation modes.

While it comes with one of the best warranties in the marine battery industry, its best warranty is perhaps its rugged and robust construction. This means that it will perform without you having to worry about what impacts the rough seas and weather conditions can have on it. In other words, this battery gives you a worry-free performance as it can work excellently in any type of weather condition. That's not all; this battery is designed with AGM to make it resistant to vibration and impacts while also remaining leak-proof.