Marine & Boat Batteries in Auckland

Marine batteries have reinforced internals to handle constant vibration, fully sealed cases to prevent acid spills when the boat rocks, and chemistry designed for marine discharge patterns. Car batteries fail quickly on boats because they’re built for smooth roads and rapid alternator recharging – neither exists on the water. The extra cost of proper marine batteries like Endurant reflects this specialized engineering.

Starting batteries typically deliver 3-5 years of reliable service, while quality deep cycle units often reach 4-6 years with proper care. Auckland’s saltwater environment is tough on all electrical components, so regular terminal cleaning and keeping batteries charged extends life significantly. Endurant’s marine-specific construction helps maximize longevity compared to automotive batteries used incorrectly in boats.

Small boats with minimal electronics sometimes get away with this using dual-purpose batteries, but it’s always a compromise. Starting batteries don’t handle deep discharge well, and deep cycle batteries don’t provide the instant high current engines need. Most boats over 5 meters benefit from separate batteries – one for starting, one for everything else. We can assess your specific situation and recommend the best setup.

Usually it’s either parasitic drain from bilge pumps, electronics, or stereo memory functions slowly emptying the battery, or a charging system that isn’t properly refilling the battery while running. Sometimes it’s just an old battery that won’t hold charge anymore. We test the entire electrical system to find the actual cause rather than just replacing the battery and hoping.

Cold Cranking Amps measure how much starting power a battery delivers in cold conditions. Higher numbers mean more cranking power. Check your engine manufacturer’s recommendation and match or slightly exceed it. In Auckland’s climate you don’t need to worry as much about cold weather performance, but the CCA rating still indicates overall starting strength. Bigger engines need higher CCA ratings.

It depends on how long you’re leaving it. For a few weeks, modern Endurant batteries hold their charge well. For months of storage, either disconnect the negative terminal or use a quality battery maintainer. If you have equipment that needs constant power (like security systems), a maintainer is better than disconnecting. Never leave batteries sitting discharged – charge them fully before storage.