> Also, I found that my analog battery charge meter was STUCK at about 90% -
> i.e. if i disconnected the battery, it still read 90% charge. Argh. My
fancy
> battery is toast. it doesn't want to hold a charge at all now. :( Any
> recommendations?
My condolences. My original gel-battery was definitevely fried by a fellow
at the trailer/RV shop who "tested" it's ability to hold a charge with too
high a voltage. I got a Group 27 Concorde AGM (95 amphours) to replace it.
Also got an "intelligent" charger to charge it. Mucho $, but worth it to me
for the performance and safety features.
The advantage of the AGM and Gel batteries are that you can mount them in any
position, no battery acid spills if the boat bounces around or the case
cracks, and longer life which translates into a lower cost per amphour over
the life of the battery. The disadvantage is the high initial price.
Check out Wind 'n Sun's battery info page at
<A HREF="http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Deep_Cycle.htm">All About Deep
Cycle Batteries
</A> . Be sure to read their Battery FAQ. It's one of the best on the web.
Regards,
Judy B.