For the bay with occasional auto pilot, I use a 32 amp gel battery from West Marine, though I have had to replace it 3 times under warranty. It's fine now and nothing has changed in my electrical system. I think it was a bad batch. For 2-4 ocean days, I use an 80 amp lead acid battery with solar chargers. I also take my small 32 amp as back up.

I'm impressed with Roger's outboard alternator. I wonder if I can do that off my two stroke.

Joe

:: Try this outfit for your battery and charger needs.

:: BatteryStuff.com

:: I recently bought a <5lb deep cycle agm battery from
:: them. Great price, great service. Great technical
:: advice. I use this little battery for running intruments
:: and led lights. When using auto pilot I drop in a AGM 32
:: (about 25 lbs) that lasts for a day. I recharge with a
:: solar panel. SDK
::
:: :: I use a motorcycle battery for around the bouys, just
:: :: charging tacktick, vhf, then I switch to two 12 volt
:: :: tractor size batterys for cruising, off shore. tiller
:: :: pilot takes a lot of draw and I do some overnight races.
:: :: I charge those off my mercury 5 hp outboard with
:: :: alternator
:: ::
:: :: :: Nothing special here.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Integral batteries/solar for buoy racing.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Larger central battery for longer stuff. When I bought
:: :: :: it, which was 5-6 years ago, it was the lightest model
:: :: :: that had decent capacity... it still weighs far more
:: :: :: than I'd like.
:: ::
:: :: :: Not LEDs yet either.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: This is an area I can improve upon.
:: :: ::
:: :: ::
:: :: ::
:: :: ::
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I'm wondering what sort of battery systems people are
:: :: :: :: running; specifically what type of battery, what
:: :: :: :: capacity, and where are you putting it?
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: For buoy racing our only electrical needs are keeping
:: :: :: :: the TackTick hull transmitter charged and we plan to use
:: :: :: :: solar or AA's for that.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: For offshore we will need to power nav lights (LED), a
:: :: :: :: small GPS, and it looks like a fixed mount VHF too
:: :: :: :: (which we don't plan to use much)....all for 2-3 nights.
:: :: :: :: May add a tiller pilot too for occasional use.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I've still got to work out the current draw, but want to
:: :: :: :: get some ideas of what others are doing.
:: :: :: ::

:: :: :: :: -dan