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