Need Advice on battery configuration

[James Derz]

What is the best battery set up and battery type.  I have a FB that has very little electrical demand.  I have the boat set up pretty bare bones with of course the must have items.  Running lights, bilge pumps.  No radios, bait pumps, bottom machines etc.  The boat is used inshore 95% of the time with some near shore trips.  It currently has 1 crank and 1 deep cycle onboard with battery switch.  2nd...normal batts. or Gel?  Finally I am pretty budget minded so I don't want to go buy $2-300 batts.  Thanks for the advice!

[LilRichard]

If you NEED to replace your batts, I would run two Optima AGM batteries.  The only other suggestion is to isolate your charging system - BEP makes a setup that is pretty sweet:

This allows you to charge two batteries at the same time, but if one batt shorts, the VSR diverts charge away from the bad battery so you do not kill both.

http://www.bepmarine.com/html
(ignore "dead link message" and click on "products)