Known for its beautiful beaches and rich marine life, Mackay is definitely a terrific boating spot. This Queensland city is perfect for fans of outdoor water adventures, which can also require quality marine batteries. As we all know, regular batteries won't fare well when used in water due to the vibration caused by waves. This is why every boating enthusiast must have good boat batteries at hand, preferably dual batteries wherein one can be used as a cranking battery and the other one for powering appliances on board.
Running your equipment is usually a job for deep-cycle marine batteries, as these have a proven lifespan and are designed to produce a consistent stream of energy so you never lose power while sailing. Naturally, the area has tons of battery shops such as Battery World Mackay and A1 Battery Pro Mackay. If you prefer online shopping, Outbax has some pretty good deep-cycle batteries for sale too, along with other camping equipment like inverter generators and solar panels.
What Are the Best Marine Batteries In the Market?
Ranking at the top of this year's best marine batteries is the Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST Marine Dual Purpose Battery. It combines the benefits of both a starting battery and a deep-cycle battery, so your engine starts smoothly and your appliances stay powered throughout your ride. Boasting 1150 CCA, it can power any recreational motor and can last for up to 400 cycles at an 80% discharge level as well. It's a little pricey, but better than purchasing separate power packs.
If you're on a budget, the Bass Pro Shops Pro Series Deep-Cycle Marine Battery would make a great alternative too. Designed to withstand several deep discharges, this marine battery has a CCA rating of 545 amps plus a reserve capacity of 120 minutes at 25 amps all for $200 dollars only. What a steal! If you want to install a dual battery system and are looking for discount batteries, Outbax has you covered. We have a section dedicated to quality and affordable deep-cycle lithium batteries of different sizes ideal for running your electrical devices.
What Should I Look For When Buying a Marine Battery?
At first glance, there seems to be little difference between marine batteries and regular batteries. However, boat batteries are very different in terms of composition and application. Unlike car batteries with plates designed for smooth roads, they are made with thicker plates to be able to withstand the constant pounding of waves while your boat is running. If you're planning to buy marine batteries for the first time, here are the basic things you need to consider:
Battery application: Decide first if you're going to get cranking batteries, deep-cycle batteries, or a dual-purpose battery. This way, you can easily estimate the cost and plan ahead on how you will set this up.
Capacity: You don't really want to be stuck in the middle of deep waters with a flat battery or zero power. Check if the Ah rating is good enough for you and try to have an estimate of your wattage requirements so you can use all appliances as long as you need to.
Battery size & weight: How big is your boat? Make sure that the battery pack you will buy fits perfectly in the battery box and that it's just the right size instead of taking up too much space inside the boat. If possible, go for something lightweight too, like a LiFEPO4 for easy moving in and out.
Output: Check important metrics in your marine battery, including marine cranking amp rating, reserve capacity rating, and cold cranking amp rating to ensure you have enough voltage output both for the engine and devices onboard.
Technology: Always go for safe, maintenance-free batteries. That's one less thing to worry about while you're enjoying the outdoors plus, easy-to-maintain batteries is a clear sign of excellent quality.
Can I Use a Deep-Cycle Battery to Start My Boat?
Using deep-cycle batteries to kickstart your boat is possible, but not recommended. It can power your ride in a pinch but it's still best to choose either a separate starting battery or a dual-purpose battery for less damage. A deep-cycle battery is not designed to supply a high, concentrated burst of power unlike an actual cranking battery, so using it to initially power your engine is going to erode its ability over time.
More from Outbax
Excited to go sailing? Start your search for marine and deep-cycle batteries in Mackay now. Visit Outbax and mark your picks-local batteries or not, we've got your back. Whether you're after batteries in Darwin, batteries in Adelaide, or batteries in Ipswich, we'll make sure you get the best camping battery at a wallet-friendly price. Outbax is every camper's go-to shop, complete with excellent gear and outdoor experts ready to assist you with your purchase.