Battery help in Ft Lauderdale

Darn… I just replaced both starting 8Ds on my boat. Too old for these 8D, had to ask a friend to help me. Not too long ago I would replace 8Ds alone

paid $260 a piece for Continental lead acid. Incidentally the previous ones, West Marine branded lasted almost 6 years.

Deka makes the WM batteries...

BTW, Been installing these 4Ds in place of 8D batts.
Saves in weight. Saves the back. Saves the check-book.
You still have lotts of cranking amps.
Still pushes house loads fine.
Minimal loss when used for deep cycle applications.

WM Model # 15020209
Deka Mfg # 904D

I have a dedicated 24v house bank curently two 8Ds but will probably switch to golf cart batteries next time I replace that bank

I picked 8Ds for the mains based on Cummins requirements.

I have to say that while these lead acids lasted almost 6 years, I have never had AGMs lasting that long on any of the boats I ve run.

4Ds deliver 1280MCAs (some more, some less).
Your Cummins spec (worst case scenario) would be around;
1250 CCA @ 12V, 625 CCA @ 24V
1560 MCA @ 12v, 780 MCA @ 24V

I think that dual 4Ds will work as well as 8Ds for you (IMO) starting and house.

I have never witness an AGM to last in any starting configuration. It is not designed to provide that big rush of current without damaging itself in the long run.

The ideal config is starting batteries and then separate AGMs for the house. ACRs used when no gen-set is running when underway.

One of our past heavy teams included one of these gorillas. Big sweet guy and naturally built.
I would not allow him to do abusive work like that. He did not understand at first but later understood as I started to walk next to him, limping and bent over.
Still, in those cramp places, he could arm curl those big batts all day long and lay them gently in place.
Yes, he was paid well.

Caught him single man handling a 6-71 head out of a boat for another team.
Grounded him for a week.

Even for house duties, I ve never had AGM making it past 5 years. Never abused, never discharged too low, quality multistage chargers. Nothing more annoying than waking up in the morning to smell of rotten eggs

Rolls are great but cost 3 times as much… they d have to last 3 times longer to make sense

Our vendor in Jax stopped selling the Dekas and picked up the Continental line.
They do seem to be very good batteries and we have a few onboard.

Question, Did Rolls purchase Surrette or have they always been the same company?

My personal experience with AGM 8D batteries has been the opposite of Pascals. I replaced the Start, House and Inverter 8Ds after 7 yrs because I knew they coming to their end. All were Lifeline AGM 8D. I still have two of them handling thrusters and are at the 8 yr mark. Clearly they don't see much use. I'll most likely swap them out at the end of boating season.

Ahhhh, So Surrette owns the Rolls brand.
Very interesting.
Thank you Brother
rc