Easy to install, dual purpose marine battery is basically a fusion of a starting battery and a traditional deep cycle battery. With a dual purpose marine battery, you will have the best of the both worlds. Lightweight and compact, dual purpose marine batteries are now being widely used in boats and kayaks as they don’t take much space.
The main purpose of a dual purpose marine battery is to allow you start the motor without facing any hiccup along the way. It will also have to power trolling motor of the boat on a continuous basis. The hallmark qualities of a good dual purpose marine battery are –
- Higher reserve capacity
- Faster charging rate
Dual purpose marine batteries will ensure that there is enough power available to guarantee a smooth basic startup even in cold weather.
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Best 3 Dual Purpose Marine Batteries
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Since there are way too variants of dual purpose marine batteries available in the market, you might find it overwhelmingly difficult to find the best marine battery that suits your need. To help you out, here we have listed the best dual purpose marine batteries that money can buy –
1. Optima Batteries 8052-161 D31M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery
Optima Batteries 8052-161 D31M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery is probably the most popular dual purpose marine battery available in the market. In case you have been looking for a powerful and reliable marine battery that does not need much maintenance, your search ends with Optima Batteries 8052-161 D31M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery.
This deep cycle battery offers strong cranking and its performance never takes a nosedive no matter how extreme the conditions are outside. Worried about acid leaks or toxic fuse discharges? This battery has got you covered. It has got a unique SpiralCell design which is specifically developed to provide a clean power source.
Optima Batteries 8052-161 D31M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery has got an impressive reserve capacity which adds to its remarkable shelf-life. It is highly resistant to vibration and therefore, it is no wonder why it is loved by kayakers.
2. Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery
Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery is spill-proof and a heavy-duty marine battery that promises to perform in the face of extreme odds. It does not require much maintenance which is a kind of relief. In case you are looking for a dual purpose marine battery that offers both strong cranking and longer shelf life, your search ends with Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery.
If you have a large boat that needs a battery with a lot of muscle power, you have to purchase this. Ideal for recreational boats and kayaks, this dual purpose marine battery is made from high-grade Polypropylene. Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery is 15 times more resistant to vibration than any other traditional marine batteries that are available in the market. It has 2 hours of reserve capacity which is impressive by any standard.
3. Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery
Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery offers the best of both worlds. Weighs around 80 lbs, it can be moved around easily and effortlessly. Comes in a rugged case, you will hardly have to deal with leakage. High amp Hrs. is certainly one of its hallmark features. It is probably the best dual purpose marine battery to power your fancy electronic accessories and it has got massive cranking power to kick start your trolling motor.
Compared to a traditional marine battery, Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery has 3 times more shelf life. It is even two times more powerful than a conventional marine battery. Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery is ideal for small boats and kayaks. You can even use it in recreational vehicles.
To improve recycling and to maximize surface area, pure virgin lead plates are used in the construction of Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery. Some of the amazing features of this cool dual purpose marine batteries are – sealed design, flame retardant cell containers, internal gas recycling capability, self-regulating relief valve, terminal seal, tin-plated brass terminals, high conductivity, acid spill resistance, and AMG design. The brass terminals are resistant to corrosion and this is what adds to its durability. To minimize damage resulting from vibration, internal cell connections have been fortified further.
Another major advantage of Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery is that this dual purpose marine battery can be charged in less than 6 hours. Its non-spillable design makes it super easy to use.
What To Look for in A Dual Purpose Marine Battery
Purchasing a dual purpose marine battery is not as easy as it transpires to be. There are a number of factors at play. Ignoring any of this factor can cost you immensely at the end.
1. Marine Cranking Amps (MCA)
The concept of Marine Cranking Amps aka MCA is more or less the same. However, there is a slight difference. MCA is measured at 32F whereas CCA is measured at 0.
2. Charging
Most dual purpose marine batteries are technically AMG batteries and that means to get the best performance out of it, you need to find a charger that has AGM charging capability otherwise you could be in for trouble. It would take some time to get a dual purpose marine battery fully charged. So, you need to be patient.
3. Reserve Capacity
The electronic items and the accessories get the current draw from the reserve capacity of the dual purpose marine battery. So, basically reserve capacity represents the number of minutes or hours a dual purpose marine battery can run.
4. Marine Battery Size
The size of the dual purpose marine battery should not be ignored. It should not be too large otherwise it will not fit the compartment or the battery tray. The weight can cause some serious trouble as well. If the dual purpose marine battery is too heavy, you might have a hard time moving it around on the boat. However, some people think differently; they don’t mind carrying around a massive 80-pound dual purpose marine battery if it can provide a reliable source of power while on water. However, some people prefer small and compact dual purpose marine battery instead as they are easy to carry around. But these smaller versions should get the job done otherwise, it would be another gigantic waste of money and resource.
5. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
The number of amps that are needed to start an outboard engine is referred to as Cold Cracking Amps. You need to examine the engine first to figure out its how much Cold Cracking Amps it will need to get it started. A dual purpose marine battery that has low CCA would make your life miserable. You will have a hard time turn over the engine with that battery if the engine needs higher CCA than the battery can possibly produce.
How Does A Dual Purpose Marine Battery Work?
As the name suggests, a dual purpose battery basically performs the work of two batteries – a deep cycle battery and a starting battery. To start a trolling motor, you need to have a battery that can provide higher cranking amps for the initial ignition process. Whereas you also need to have a deep cycle battery when you are paddling. Your trolling motor needs a reliable deep cycle battery to draw power. The deep cycle battery needs to have enough firepower to allow trolling motors to run for hours. But most boats don’t have enough space available to accommodate two different marine batteries and which is why so many people are opting for dual purpose marine batteries.
