Optima Bluetop

So I purchased the Optima Bluetop Dual purpose battery today for my 69 Mustang 302 HM. According to their website, the battery works as a starting battery and deep cycle. My thought was this battery will work great so that I can park and listen to the stereo without worrying about killing my cranking battery.

Being such a small boat, there's really only room for 1 battery so perfect solution.

But, does it work as claimed? I wanted to check with the forum here to see if anyone has experience with this battery. Should I have gotten just the starting bluetop? I'd like some info before I hook her up, in case I need to bring back and get the starting only one.

Thanks for the help!

Got the D34M, has to fit under my seat in the Mustang. Figured it had plenty of cranking amps.

So far I don't even have the boat in the water much less a radio, but by next summer I will. Don't plan on pushing too much though. Would rather not be stranded.

I'm sure I'll be very happy with it.

Thanks for your input. 18 generators huh. Wouldn't mind a Cummins in my boat, get a bit better millage.

Vondy,

I have two of the Optima Blue Top installed with a Hellroaring isolator/combiner.
I just added the second Blue top as my starting battery, It has no problem starting the engine. I really like this setup because I can turn the boat off and blast the stereo, which has a 5 channel amp, and not have to worry about my starting battery being dead when I go to start the engine.
I have run the stereo/amp all day in the garage and the battery was still going strong.
I highly recommend the two battery/Hellroaring setup.Nice not to have to worry if your going to be able to start up after a good long float.

I think as long as your not running any amplifiers and just powering the speakers off of the head unit, you should be OK for a couple hours of music before having to worry about a dead battery.
Maybe run it through some tests while in the garage/driveway before hitting the water so you know what to expect.

Good question, perhaps a call into Optima's tech line is in order. We have a mix-match of post connections and have had the battery in there a couple years as well.

Randy-
Not sure that the 93 is the same as my 89, but where do you find space for the second battery in your Sport?

Adam,
I mounted it behind the panel under the helm.

79nautique wrote: With a ring terminal and the small contact area it creates higher resistance at the joint. Higher resistance less amperage and that is not what you want on the starter.

The starter end or solenoid always has a ring terminal on it so it can't be that bad.

Looks like another fancy way of spending more money....

The $40 battery that I put in my boat 4 years ago is still working. Don't complain about gas prices when you have money to blow on a battery that does the same thing of one half its price.

quinner wrote: BTW, have run my entire system; sub, 6 cabin speakers, tower speakers and (2) amps for several hours at low to moderate volume and started right up no problem.

I had the same experience last year with my one multi purpose blue top, I fully expected to need to jump it a few of the times we used it only two amps but fairly loud for a few hours out swiming with the ladies and it never missed a beat.

I know some people like to be concerned about how other people spend thier money on these boats, but for some the joy is in getting it done in the cheapest functional way, However others of us really enjoy the fit and finish of a 40 dollar chrome battery terminal (thats the price for one terminal mind you) with a 4 digit blue led voltage readout sitting in a bank of optimas connected with more 30 dollar chrome terminals and blue/clear 1/0 gauge stinger HPM wire. Maybe we are compensating for something (like a slow boat, get your minds out of the gutter) but chances are its just how we enjoy our hobby.   

Hollywood wrote: 79nautique wrote: With a ring terminal and the small contact area it creates higher resistance at the joint. Higher resistance less amperage and that is not what you want on the starter. The starter end or solenoid always has a ring terminal on it so it can't be that bad.

It's not an issue of applying the current to the device it's about getting the current out of the battery to start with and into the cable and the interface style makes a hugh difference on the current you will get from the battery. Go get a fancy current meter, attach it the the pos cable that has the battery post style tremination and meassure the current now do the same with the ring terminal attached to the battery and the current will be 1/4-1/3 less amps than with the post style connection.

after all i was wrong on the post being different oooohhhh maybe that wasn't me that said that sorry but you should listen better and question less.