Introduction.

In previous chapters of the online book ELECTRICITY ON BOARD, we discussed the most common types of batteries currently in the marine environment, which are lead-acid batteries (AGM, GEL, etc.), how they work, how to care for them, why they fail, and so on.

Until recently, lithium batteries were rarely installed on sailboats, firstly because these types of batteries were not sufficiently developed (or tested at sea) and secondly, because of the complexity and cost they add to our electrical system.

However, the technological evolution and maturity of these types of batteries means that it is increasingly common to see LifePo4 lithium batteries on newly built sailboats. It is also common for a sailboat that is going to update its electrical system or needs to replace obsolete batteries to install lithium batteries.

Is it worth switching to LifePo4 lithium batteries on my sailboat? Is now the right time?

This is a question that many boat owners may often ask themselves, and there’s no single or obvious answer, as it depends on several factors and circumstances.

To try to make this decision easier, in this chapter we’ll look at the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of lithium batteries for sailboats, concluding with some final considerations.