MacGregorSailors.com

Ditto Russ, except mine is off the starboard rear. It's mounted on a ball joint so that you can turn it pretty much any way you want.

Put on my wish list. Father's day is coming up !

From what I am reading here, am I correct in thinking AGM batteries are not lead acid ?
Or am I off base in my thinking ???

AGM's are lead acid.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/arti ... ss_mat_agm

Any battery questions this is a gret site to go to.

Though there are differences in the chemistry and metallurgy as well, both types have lead plates and acid electrolyte in them. The acid electrolyte is absorbed and contained in a fibreglass mat in an AGM battery.

The non-AGM battery is technically called an FLA, for flooded lead acid, the acid just splashes around inside it.

In a gel-cell, a gel is substituted for the glass mat and acid. They (gel cell and AGM) are technically called VRLA, for valve regulated lead acid, because they are sealed unless internal pressure builds and a pressure-regulated valve opens to relieve it to prevent explosion.

Supposedly the new carbon foam AGMs are supposed to be a "game changer" You can deep discharge much lower and let them sit half charged without doing harm. There are some discussions on them on the other forums and a practical sailor article this month.

http://www.bruceschwab.com/advanced-ene ... -group-31/

Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...

Or you can check out LiFePO4 batteries for half the weight, smaller size , and more cycles for the same AH. Just more $$$

Here's another power source to consider. Much cheaper than a battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c

Jeff L wrote:Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...

dlandersson wrote:Here's another power source to consider. Much cheaper than a battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c

Jeff L wrote:Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...

Looks familiar. Oh, yeah - that's what powered the Prius I used to have.

Tomfoolery wrote:

dlandersson wrote:Here's another power source to consider. Much cheaper than a battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIj4rLYo0c

Jeff L wrote:Thank you for your replies, Gents. It appears I have some catching up to do,
as sailing is a new hobby for me. All of my other experiences with batteries
have been automotive, as I am an old gearhead. As long as the battery started
the car, ran all the electrical systems in the car properly, I give no more thought
to the battery...

Looks familiar. Oh, yeah - that's what powered the Prius I used to have.