Air Starters?

[Top Hatt Craig]

Do bigger boats use air starters? I wouldn't mind trading 500+ lbs of expensive and relatively short lived batteries for an air tank and maybe a generator driven compressor in our humble 43' DC. One or two Group 31s instead of four (starting) 8Ds, that would be nice. Obviously it's not practical, why is that?

 

[Boatsb]

I was working on a 115 foot crew boat with 3 3412 cats and air starters. 2 generators and 2 compressors for them. It's more efficient to use electric in our boats.

 

[Glory]

You don't need 8Ds to start the boat. You could use group 31s as I do to start my 8-71s. If you have 3208s, VT370s or 6-71s you likely have 41MT Starters they about 1,800 cold cranking amps (CCA). Two G31s, 1,000 CCA, would do it, I use three.

Wrestling with 8 volt batteries is the main reason I got away from 32 volt DC equipment.

 

[eze2bme]

One 8D Heavy Duty will easily start 6-71Ns - but having two will give you extra starting capacity if the weather is very cold. Having two for the house bank also gives you more capacity.

 

[rsmith]

The first 63 Monterey “Glass Machine” used air start for the 12/92’s there were a series of scuba tanks that held the air. That boat also had pneumatic controls for shifting and throttles. It all worked pretty well.

 

[Boatsb]

A single 8d is more powerful than 3 group 24 batteries that fit I the same space. I haven't done a comparison to 3 group 31s

I have. Started my boat with a pair of group 31s and it worked but a single 8d was spinning it much faster. I have 8v53s. For tge once in 3 or 4 years I change them it's not worth rewiring the starter bank cables.

 

[krush]

Pick your poison. Big tanks with 100psi. Small tanks with higher pressure. I'm pretty sure the air start will require more space than the batteries. They work well in certain situations.

 

[Boatsb]

I bet seatow doesn't have a jump pack for air start

 

[rsmith]

Pick your poison. Big tanks with 100psi. Small tanks with higher pressure. I'm pretty sure the air start will require more space than the batteries. They work well in certain situations.

That’s why they used hi pressure tanks used a scuba compressor to fill them. But you still need batteries for house and generators.

 

[krush]

That’s why they used hi pressure tanks used a scuba compressor to fill them.

I think a 2000psi+ air compressor, piping, and tanks takes up more space than a few batteries.

 

[Boatsb]

I think a 2000psi+ air compressor, piping, and tanks takes up more space than a few batteries.

And a scuba compressor which may have another use on the vessel requires maintenance.

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

Well alrighty then, thanks all for your thoughts and expertise. I'm quite privileged to have this resource. With Rusty's help I recently replaced our four 8Ds (I swear our arms are now longer) and now it's time to replace the eight six volt batts for the inverter bank. I'm tempted to take one 8D from each side and reconnect them as inverter batts but will probably order eight Interstate U2300UTLs from Costco, then leave two of the 8D battery boxes empty at the next 8D change out. Maybe just two 4D AGMs would be good? Thanks, Craig

 

[wpc691]

Well alrighty then, thanks all for your thoughts and expertise. I'm quite privileged to have this resource. With Rusty's help I recently replaced our four 8Ds (I swear our arms are now longer) and now it's time to replace the eight six volt batts for the inverter bank. I'm tempted to take one 8D from each side and reconnect them as inverter batts but will probably order eight Interstate U2300UTLs from Costco, then leave two of the 8D battery boxes empty at the next 8D change out. Maybe just two 4D AGMs would be good? Thanks, Craig

Where do you put 4 8D’s and 8 GC2’s on a 43DC? I have 3, 31XHD’s and 6, GC2’s, and I can’t imagine getting any more batteries on the boat.

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

Where do you put 4 8D’s and 8 GC2’s on a 43DC? I have 3, 31XHD’s and 6, GC2’s, and I can’t imagine getting any more batteries on the boat.

PO has the eight 6V in a box between transmissions, four 8Ds are in original boxes outside each engine. Regards, Craig

 

[wpc691]

PO has the eight 6V in a box between transmissions, four 8Ds are in original boxes outside each engine. Regards, Craig

Thanks. My electrical service panel is where your manifold is, and my manifold is under that, which would be kind of buried behind the box. Looks like it works well in your boat.