What is a leisure battery?
First and foremost, we need to figure out what a recreational battery really is. It houses many different names on the market for basically the same battery types today.
Also to recreational battery, this type of battery is also called marine battery and consumable battery. But that’s really wrong. A leisure battery is something of a hybrid in the battery world. It is a battery built for both start and consumption. Usually, leisure batteries are also cheaper in price, because they are not the best in each area, but capable of doing both.
A leisure battery is valued in ampere hours (Ah), but also CCA / EN = starting current. So it works for both, and there is nothing negative. Rather the opposite. If you have a fishing boat with an outboard and at the same time electronic equipment such as sonar, you can operate both via the leisure battery.
What is the difference between starter and leisure batteries?
The difference is that the battery that is marketed as starter batteries is only there for just that. Starting a vehicle. A leisure battery can usually handle both starting and consumption — but rarely has as high a starting current as a pure starter battery of the same size.
Leisure battery or a consumable battery?
A consumable battery rarely has starting power at all. It is only for continuous power supply, where deep cycles are a requirement. Here are some common uses where you should have a consumable battery:
- Living area in caravan / motorhome
- Battery bank for solar cells
- Living area for boat
- Battery for electric motor
- Battery for trucks, lifts and cleaning machines
- But the disadvantage of pure consumer batteries is that they also cost accordingly. A leisure battery can definitely work for the areas of use above, but not as efficiently. But then it does not cost as much either. It is up to you what you choose to invest in.
We will go through four different batteries, where one battery is a consumable battery, one is Dual Purpose, and two are traditional leisure batteries. We will also nominate the best leisure battery.
Here are some of the best leisure batteries
Delkor Leisure Battery
Travel across the oceans with Delkor Marine & Leisure batteries. Developed with thicker plates, these enduring batteries power up your fun adventures, offering steadfast power over long journeys and in all kinds of weather.
Perfect for marine craft and recreational vehicles. Perfect for the well-deserved leisure time you’ve been waiting for.
OPTIMA YELLOW TOP 12V
Dimensions: 325 x 165 x 238 mm
Battery type: AGM
Ampere hours: 75 Ah
Start current: 975 CCA
Product type: Dual Purpose
Most people who have bought batteries before have come across Optima. Optima builds batteries for the extreme, and their Yellow Top series is no exception. They do not market the battery as a recreational battery, but that is exactly what it is.
75Ah is good considering the size of the battery, but the starting current is what impresses. 975 CCA is about what a truck battery emits, and then it is three times as big. That battery is suitable for larger boats, where a lot of power is needed. They are also widely used for tractors and wheel loaders. It is the best leisure battery in terms of performance, but it also costs accordingly.
