When you are looking for a battery for your car or truck, you go to an auto parts store. For boat batteries, you go to a marine battery supply. But using a marine battery in your automotive application means finding the correct battery, and where you get it is not always as important as ensuring you have the right one. Marine batteries offer some advantages over a standard automotive battery that could be relevant in your vehicle, but there are some essential things to consider before going down this road. 

Automotive Versus Marine Batteries

Automotive and marine batteries may both be twelve-volt batteries and may be similar in size and appearance, but that is typically where the similarities end. Marine batteries come in two different types: deep cycle and starting batteries. The deep cycle is designed to be charged and discharged repeatedly and is used to store power for things like trolling motors, lighting, and radio equipment in the boat. They do not make a good starting battery because they do not provide a large amount of amperage for burst use.

A marine starting battery, on the other hand, is similar to a car starting battery, but it is a sealed battery and has a much higher vibration resistance, so the battery is physically stronger and more durable than a standard automotive battery that you might use in your car or truck. 

Trucks and Offroad Vehicles

If you own a truck or SUV that travels offroad a lot, you may want to consider using marine batteries in the truck for the added durability you get. If you choose the correct starter battery that has the same or more CCA (cold cranking amps) as your standard automotive battery, you get the power you need, as well as the water, vibration, and shock resistance that marine batteries offer, in your truck.

When you consider using marine batteries in automotive applications, it can take some research to find the right one. The dimensions of the case need to match, the position of the battery terminals need to be correct, and the height of the battery needs to allow enough clearance under the hood. Using the old battery as a reference for the size and layout of the battery can help, and if you go to a marine battery supplier and tell them what you are trying to do, they can help you select the correct battery. 

It is common for marine batteries to be used in motor homes and other recreational vehicles, and for offroad enthusiasts, a marine battery swap for your rig is not only practical but may save some frustration because of the added durability these batteries offer.