Important

[little bubba]

It does no good what so ever to have 2 batteries in your boat if you are going to put the switch on both and kill both batteries. Today I was fishing on the NNReef. We had chummed out and had our limit. Pulled all lines and prepared for the ride in. When we started to pull the anchor in I see a gentleman waving to me to come his way. After getting the anchor secured we preceeded over to his boat. Well he was dead in the water. Both batteries dead. Ask if I had jumper cables. No I didn't. Called Smith Point Rescue for him and they said it would be 20 to 30 minutes before they would leave their dock. Told them to wait for me to try plan B. I removed one of my batteries and handed it over to the stranded boat. He hooked it up and she fired right up. He was heading to the Public ramp so I told him I would meet him at the ramp and get my battery back. I did get my battery back.
As I stated at the start of this post. I does no good to have duel batteries on your boat if you are going to put the switch on both so you drain both batteries at the same time. Put the switch on either ONE or TWO not both. By putting the switch on either or you will drain only one battery. You will have the other to start your boat so you can go home. What I do is put the switch on 1 to go out and switch to 2 for trip home. This way you keep both batteries charged. Was glad to be able to help this fellow today. I did give him an education on how to use the switch in the future.
Bubba[angel][angel]

[capt. dave]

Right on Bubba. Ya did good.

[Ware Fisher]

Great lesson for all and thanks to you for being a good boater. It seems there's a lot of techniques for battery usage. I like yours.

[rmlewisjr]

Even number date use battery 2, Odd number date use battery 1.

[capt. dave]

I put the switch on BOTH as I am running out. When I get there I put it on either no.1 (preferred as it is a bigger battery) or no.2. Then back on BOTH as I am running back in. I have never run out of juice that way and I run two radios and the sounder much of the time at anchor plus the loran if drifting.

[little bubba]

Capt. Dave,
I like your idea also. It works for me. The gentleman that was broken down told me that he was told to leave the switch on "BOTH" all the time. Like I said previously we had a quick school on proper use . I'm sure he won't have the same problem again. Anyway I hope this post keeps someone else from having this problem.
Bubba[angel][angel]

[docjr03]

Thanks for the info, guys! I've had battery issues in the past, and just had a second one added this winter; I use both in and out and one when the engine is shut down and OFF when the boat is in the boatel.

Also, with marine batteries, I've heard any more than 2 years usage is borrowed time. Maybe the original guy had two old batteries!

[capt. dave]

My no 1 battery is a big Deka. I've had it for 51/2 seasons and it is still holding a charge even after being in storage all winter.

[riverwatcher]

Good suggestions for charging batteries without draining both.

Here's another couple of ideas to help you get home.
I provided a short tow to a boat stranded in the creek near my home on Sunday. His fuel line had a pinhole leak and was spraying gasoline. I have spare hose line clamps on my boat and electrical tape, but now I have added some duck tape.
Another low cost but valuable item to keep on board is a filter wrench for the water separator - you do have a water separator, don't you?
I have been out on a boat which wouldn't run until the water had been removed from the fuel/water separator. This boat owner had the wrench with him and we were able to fix the problem and get home without a tow.

[capt. dave]

My seporator has a drain cock on the bottom of the lower bowl. That is very convenient for draining the water out.