Optima red top batteries

[Sailfree]

When boat commissioned in 2005 I insisted on 2 spiral wound batteries for bow thruster.

By complete oversight the have never been replaced and now 13 yrs old.

Bow thruster still works OK but wonder if the majority of power is coming from alternator and charging circuit.

In Portugal been quoted 2x UK price so on shopping list for my July UK visit.

Does anyone know whether spiral wound batteries usually have such long life or is it due to infrequent use but kept fully charged.

 

[Yngmar]

We don't have spirals in our batteries, they're normal AGMs from 2006 and still doing their job just fine. Not at the original capacity anymore, but still plenty left. I attribute this to the boat sitting in a marina plugged into shorepower with batteries being kept at float charge at all times for many years before we bought the boat and started using them again. We try and treat them well and do not discharge them below 50% (and now that days are long and sun is plentiful, a lot less than that even).

 

[matthewriches]

Not uncommon for them to last a while. Good batteries! Although if you were to drain it completely flat and leave it then recharge a week later for example, it wouldn't last very long at all.

I have a bank of SLA which accidentally got discharged but I changed them immediately once I saw they were flat and they seemed ok. I also have a AGM bank of Victron's and I look after them dearly!

 

[Richard10002]

Bow thruster still works OK but wonder if the majority of power is coming from alternator and charging circuit.

If the batteries are there so that the Bowthruster works OK, and the Bowthruster works OK, what does it matter where the power comes from. I'd carry on with the free ride, and see where it takes you.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If the batteries are there so that the Bowthruster works OK, and the Bowthruster works OK, what does it matter where the power comes from. I'd carry on with the free ride, and see where it takes you.

:encouragement: Makes sense to me.

 

[Sailingsaves]

I was given a 'dead' red Optima from a unimog owner (he'd left the lights on for about a year).

It was at a very low voltage and he had tried to charge it unsuccessfully. After a lot of tinkering I nursed it back to some health (they are well made batteries) ; enough to start an Fordson Major tractor time and again.

Youtube has some good and bad videos about how to 'nurse' Optima batteries. Optima have their own video IIRC.