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AGM Battery recommendation

 

Its time to replace our 4D AGM house batteries.? For how we use the boat AGMs are fine and I don't want to switch to Li.
Would anyone have recommendations for a specific manufacturer?? Many members of our club are using Interstate Marine AGMs and seem satisfied.
Second question I see? some manufacturers have switched to L lug terminals.? They seem awkward to connect.? My current battery has a bolt that screws right into the battery. Are there adaptors for the L lug terminals?
?
--
Bob
S42
Vitesse
Lake Ontario
 

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I suggest you look into the Victron Super AGM's.? I put 3 of the 125 AH ones in a couple years ago & so far so good.
They pack in more AH for their size and claim a better discharge tolerance.? Installed prior to a Newfoundland trip where we, unfortunately, did not get to fully test them as we had a lot of motoring.
You might fit their 230AH ones.
3 of the 125AH were $1175 del'd January 2023
Likewise Li does not make sense for my use.

On 5/15/2025 9:41 AM, Bob Fields via groups.io wrote:

Its time to replace our 4D AGM house batteries.? For how we use the boat AGMs are fine and I don't want to switch to Li.
Would anyone have recommendations for a specific manufacturer?? Many members of our club are using Interstate Marine AGMs and seem satisfied.
Second question I see? some manufacturers have switched to L lug terminals.? They seem awkward to connect.? My current battery has a bolt that screws right into the battery. Are there adaptors for the L lug terminals?
?
--
Bob
S42
Vitesse
Lake Ontario


--
Dave Short
SV One Timer 1997 S362
Mt Desert, ME

Datasheet-AGM-Super-Cycle-battery-EN.pdf
Datasheet-AGM-Super-Cycle-battery-EN.pdf

 

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Lithium nearly doubles the battery capacity in the same footprint since they can be drawn down much much further.?

Be sure to consider in your eval.?



Please consider the environment before printing this email. Thank you.


On May 15, 2025, at 7:07?AM, David Short, SV One Timer, 1997 362, Mt Desert, ME via groups.io <dhs.short@...> wrote:

? I suggest you look into the Victron Super AGM's.? I put 3 of the 125 AH ones in a couple years ago & so far so good.
They pack in more AH for their size and claim a better discharge tolerance.? Installed prior to a Newfoundland trip where we, unfortunately, did not get to fully test them as we had a lot of motoring.
You might fit their 230AH ones.
3 of the 125AH were $1175 del'd January 2023
Likewise Li does not make sense for my use.

On 5/15/2025 9:41 AM, Bob Fields via groups.io wrote:
Its time to replace our 4D AGM house batteries.? For how we use the boat AGMs are fine and I don't want to switch to Li.
Would anyone have recommendations for a specific manufacturer?? Many members of our club are using Interstate Marine AGMs and seem satisfied.
Second question I see? some manufacturers have switched to L lug terminals.? They seem awkward to connect.? My current battery has a bolt that screws right into the battery. Are there adaptors for the L lug terminals?
?
--
Bob
S42
Vitesse
Lake Ontario


--
Dave Short
SV One Timer 1997 S362
Mt Desert, ME

Datasheet-AGM-Super-Cycle-battery-EN.pdf
Datasheet-AGM-Super-Cycle-battery-EN.pdf

 

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LifeLine and Victron AGMs are top of the line. ?The Lifelines may be a better deal given the current international trade issues.


Dave
Second Star
S362 #113
Fair Haven, NY/Lake Ontario


On May 15, 2025, at 9:41?AM, Bob Fields via groups.io <Fields@...> wrote:

Its time to replace our 4D AGM house batteries.? For how we use the boat AGMs are fine and I don't want to switch to Li.
Would anyone have recommendations for a specific manufacturer?? Many members of our club are using Interstate Marine AGMs and seem satisfied.
Second question I see? some manufacturers have switched to L lug terminals.? They seem awkward to connect.? My current battery has a bolt that screws right into the battery. Are there adaptors for the L lug terminals?
?
--
Bob
S42
Vitesse
Lake Ontario

 

We have just replaced our 4 D batteries in our "not.a Sabre" with two Full River 4 D AGM batteries . They came well recommended and another boat in the marina has had them so far for eight years with no problem.

Cheers,
David

Ex "Solitaire 1" Sabre 402
now " Chinook 1 " Catalina 42 Mk 2
Kingston Ont.

 

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I put four Group 31 AGMs from Blain’s Farm & Fleet into my S34-2.? They were made by a well-known manufacturer, but at half the price.? So far so good.?

?

And yes, sports fans, three Group 31s will fit into the quarterberth battery compartment of an S34-2.? The fourth one is in the rear locker on its side.?

Rick McLaren

S34-2 POLARIS

Chicago


Virus-free.

--
Rick McLaren
34-2 Polaris?

 

With AGM, everything, EVERYTHING, depends on how they were treated.? When we bought our current boat, it had a 4 AGM house bank that didn't make it through 4 years of use.? The AGM starting battery, on the other hand, is still going strong after 16 years.

AGMs were invented, designed, and intended for use as aircraft starting batteries, which are more or less guaranteed to be fully recharged before the start of the takeoff roll.? Used on a cruising boat that lives on mooring and without solar, AGMs are a disaster.? Topped off daily from solar, no problem.? Topped off daily while plugged in at a marina, fine unless you take extended cruises.

But frankly, word of mouth without knowing the details of installation and usage isn't going to tell you anything worth knowing.

[The other question is whether to convert to LFP now or wait until the new batteries crap out.? I'm told that among the best things about LFP is that you don't have to worry about them.? But I haven't reached that point...]

On 5/15/2025 4:13 PM, David & Catherine via groups.io wrote:
We have just replaced our 4 D batteries in our "not.a Sabre" with two Full River 4 D AGM batteries . They came well recommended and another boat in the marina has had them so far for eight years with no problem.

Cheers,
David

Ex "Solitaire 1" Sabre 402
now " Chinook 1 " Catalina 42 Mk 2
Kingston Ont.



--
Jim Starkey, AmorphousDB, LLC

 

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I bought our Delphia 40 three years ago and haven’t worried. As some of you know I use a stock Yanmar alternator and a Victron DC/DC that maxes at 30amps. ?I’ve run the 200ah (2x 100ah) down to 30ah total a couple times w no impact. ?And still getting the reqd voltage at that level.?

My two 125w panels and two Victron controllers just arrived yesterday from CMP.?



Please consider the environment before printing this email. Thank you.


On May 15, 2025, at 2:03?PM, Jim Starkey via groups.io <Jim@...> wrote:

?With AGM, everything, EVERYTHING, depends on how they were treated.? When we bought our current boat, it had a 4 AGM house bank that didn't make it through 4 years of use.? The AGM starting battery, on the other hand, is still going strong after 16 years.

AGMs were invented, designed, and intended for use as aircraft starting batteries, which are more or less guaranteed to be fully recharged before the start of the takeoff roll.? Used on a cruising boat that lives on mooring and without solar, AGMs are a disaster.? Topped off daily from solar, no problem.? Topped off daily while plugged in at a marina, fine unless you take extended cruises.

But frankly, word of mouth without knowing the details of installation and usage isn't going to tell you anything worth knowing.

[The other question is whether to convert to LFP now or wait until the new batteries crap out.? I'm told that among the best things about LFP is that you don't have to worry about them.? But I haven't reached that point...]

On 5/15/2025 4:13 PM, David & Catherine via groups.io wrote:
We have just replaced our 4 D batteries in our "not.a Sabre" with two Full River 4 D AGM batteries . ??They came well recommended and another boat in the marina has had them so far for eight years with no problem.

Cheers,
David

Ex "Solitaire 1" Sabre 402
now " Chinook 1 " Catalina 42 Mk 2
Kingston Ont.




--
Jim Starkey, AmorphousDB, LLC





 

Hi Bob

I bought new AGMs for our 402 3 years ago and went with Rolls Batteries, they have great reputation and are made by Surette Batteries in Nova Scotia. ?They have a good selection of marine AGMs on their website and we’re very happy with their performance.?
?
Allan
?
Dagny
S 402-59

 

Thanks to all for recommendations!? Because of the more complex LI systems and cost I decided my AGMs are good enough.? Mine? lasted 12 years.? They were made in China, don't know the brand , and I piurchased them in Marsh Harbor.? I didn't stress them and carefully monitor their condition when cruising.? We have a Xantrex charger, Ballmer regulator and 400 watts of solar.? All programed for AGM .
?
The new Interstate batteries? specify a charging voltage of 14.4 to 15.0 V.? My system is charging at 14.4V.? ?Should I be concerned that? I am on the low end? I'm hesitant to reprogram the charger and regulator to a higher voltage, I just using the preprogramed voltages for AGM batteries.?
--
Bob
S42
Vitesse
Lake Ontario

 

Hi Bob - I have a 30-3 Sabre 1986 purchased new. I completely rebuilt and upgraded to a battery box with 450 amps hours and separate staring battery many years ago because of wanting refrigeration etc. I purchased 6Volt AGM batteries because they are easier to handle and plates are 30% thicker than 12V batteries and they last 600-800 cycles.? Two placed in series then another two in series are paralleled to make 450 in house bank and separate 120 V 12 volt starting battery on battery isolator illiminator so starting battery is always fully charged an "hot".? 8 AGM 225 6 volt batteries purchased 2013 and replaced again last summer 2024 from Aims Invertor store for about $900.

They are: AIMS AGM6V225AH

Size 13” L x? 7” W x 9.0” H

Have flat screw in bold terminals on top

Float Voltage 13.2-13.8 V

Charge Voltage 14.4 -14.7 V

Max amps charge of 64 amps

Should be good for 600-800m cycles (50% discharge)
Hope this helps.
Earl Nirvana 1986 30-3? West Bend WI on Lake Michigan.

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