When you enjoy spending time on the water, your boat is easily one of your most prized possessions. With that being said, nothing is quite as disheartening as preparing for a day on the lake, river, or sea, and finding that your boat battery needs to be replaced.  

If you have recently discovered you need a new marine battery, it is helpful to know how to find the best for your watercraft. Marine batteries can differ in terms of purpose and type, so picking the right battery can take a bit of discernment. Take a look at a few guiding points to remember below. 

Find out the purpose of your battery

Depending on the type of boat you have and how it is set up, you may need different types of marine batteries. Some batteries are purely used to crank the motor, while others are used for powering other electrical equipment on the boat. Depending on your watercraft, you may have a:

• Cranking battery—Used for cranking the motor 
• Dual-purpose battery—Used for cranking the motor and powering electronics 
• Deep-cycle battery—Dual-purpose battery that offers more charging cycles 

Look at the battery capacity compared to your needs as a boater

Battery capacity is displayed as an Ah (amp hour) rating on marine batteries. This number refers to how many amps that battery can deliver for a single hour. For example, if you find boat batteries that have a 100Ah rating, this would translate to mean the battery can provide 100 amps of power for one hour under ideal operating conditions.

Look at your needs as far as power usage on the boat to determine how many watts of power you will use during operation, and find a battery that can support those needs. If you are unsure of what you need, look at the battery capacity of the unit you are replacing to get a good idea of what the boat requires. 

Consider the other boat battery specs to get the right model 

There are several other factors to look at with marine batteries, such as battery weight, whether it will fit in the battery box, and even added features that may be important to you. For example, you may prefer something like a lithium-ion battery or a gel battery that is essentially maintenance-free and usually comes with an extensive warranty. Discuss your options with a local marine battery supply store to learn more.