[Bill1954]

My Starboard Engine will not start, probably due to a dead battery.  My 1997 31 Tiara has 2 batteries for the engines located on the port side fore and aft of each other.  How do I know which battery services the starboard engine, the forward or aft battery?  Also does anyone have a fairly lightweight replacement battery suggestion?

Thanks,

Bill 

[Uhehner]

First go to Lowes / HD and purchase a digital multimeter. Then set it to measure 20 volts DC. The good battery should read over 12 volts, almost 13. Mark this cable PORT with a SHARPIE. With the engine running it should read 13.8 volts. The dead battery should read very low volts, maybe 8 to 11 depending on how dead it is. Mark this cable STBD. There are NO lightweight batteries that will last on a boat. Buy one with the highest amp hour rating that will fit in the battery tray. Then join the US Power Squadron and take the "Marine Electronics Course".  Capt. George

[DavidB]

You should probably replace both.  If one is dead, the other is not far behind.

[justrollin]

You can also follow the battery leads buy a good battery I have deep cycle starting batteries that are great.