Leave the batterys in the boat.

[agallant80]

What are the thoughts of leaving the batteries in the boat for the winter? I live in NC so the boat will be laid up for about 4 months. If I leave them fully charged and disconnect the ground will they be OK?

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

If the batteries are in good condition they be will fine.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I have disconnected and left connected for many different seasons with no change on life of batteries. Currently leave all batteries (Cruiser, run about, Seadoo) connected all year. Have permanently mounted 3-stage chargers on Cruiser and Run about, and turn off disconnect switches on Cruiser. Add maintenance charger on Seadoo for the winter.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I will have to at least disconnect the ground from the seeing as there are some things like the C0 detector that are hard wired in.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I have left mine in the boat for years, but I am in a mild climate in WV

 

[agallant80]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I am in NC

 

[dingbat]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I'm down maybe 3 months. I don't even bother to disconnect them. Charge them up when I put it to bed the end of December, charge them up when I drag it out in early March

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

Lead acid batteries self discharge around 5% per month. Its better if they are fully charged all the time with a smart charger. The disadvantage of leaving them in is that they will end up having lower capacity because they will sulfate a bit more as they self discharge.

If you can live with that, leave them in the boat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I'm down 3 months. I don't even bother to disconnect them. Charge them up when I put it to bed the end of December, charge them up when I drag it out in early March

Ayuh,.... Winter is Colder, 'n abit longer up here, but I completely agree,...

If they won't hold a charge in the spring, it's time for new batteries,...

 

[woody66912]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

We store some 210 boats from. Oct ---- April - may. We used to take all batt's out charge them and then put them in a tin building. I live in northwest WI. Then on run up day throw a half hour charge on it, kinda makes no sense right. Why remove them, then put them in cold storage. So now we charge them during winterizing and unhook and load test them make a note on the W/O as to witch ones are on the way out so in the spring the customer knows . It's seams that the same number fails either way. Can't make chicken soup from chicken do-do.

 

[zippy83]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

I leave mine in the boat fully charged, you can install a battery kill switch that way it would be easier to disconect the battery

 

[tav]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

i took mine out 2 weeks ago but the charger i had was a car charger (not the right charger). i dicided to put them back in the boat and use my onboard charger for the winter......see how that works out.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Leave the batterys in the boat.

i took mine out 2 weeks ago but the charger i had was a car charger (not the right charger). i dicided to put them back in the boat and use my onboard charger for the winter......see how that works out.

That depends on your onboard charger, we replace 3-4 a season as they are not smart-chargers. A lot of owners don't know that the old school " buzz boxes" are pounding to many amps constantly,burning/boiling out the batteries. If ya have a smart charger,good to go,if not,either change it out,or don't leave it plugged in for more than a day once in awhile. I just unhook mine and re-hook in the spring.
Grub