leave battery in boat?

[wahlejim]

I agree that a $10 trickle charger is not needed, but a float charger is different than a trickle charger and can be found for $10. Float chargers or tenders ill only charge when it is needed.

 

[MTboatguy]

Seems like I used to have to replace my ATV battery every single year, because despite using the ATV during the winter for plowing, somehow that thing would freeze up and by the end of the next summer it would not take a charge or hold a charge, so off to the store for a battery.

 

[KJM]

i don't think the cold would hurt, car batteries are outside all winter and my garage where i usually store it is not heated. I was more thinking if the charge went down then it might damage the battery.....but i've read that deep cycle batteries can be discharged down low without any damage. one last battery related thing i was wondering......if i decided to run an extension cord to the boat and put a trickle charger on one battery and turned the battery switch to "both" would the charger keep both batteries charged? i'm thinking it should.

 

[MRS]

Leave mine in but do unhook plus my shoulders do not like lifting those heavy sucks any more then I have to.

 

[jkust]

Seems like I used to have to replace my ATV battery every single year, because despite using the ATV during the winter for plowing, somehow that thing would freeze up and by the end of the next summer it would not take a charge or hold a charge, so off to the store for a battery.

I've got a polaris 850 touring and keep it on a smart charger for 9 months out of the year for this very reason even though it sits in a heated garage. I know that my sled batteries are now all bad as well given we haven't had any decent snow in five years worthy of getting the sleds out. Think I brought those smart chargers up to the lake for other batteries so thats a couple more hundred dollars right there.

 

[briangcc]

Have always unhooked them and kept them in a semi-heated basement on a battery maintainer. Have yet to leave one in a boat over winter and we get cold up here in NY. Not as cold as elsewhere but cold enough I'm not willing to chance it if a few minutes of my time can prevent it.

 

[KJM]

i've had trouble with ATV batteries before, but usually because they were cheap ones. they last a year or two then dead. the last one i bought was about $30 more then the others but is holding up much better, i guess its a case of you get what you pay for.

 

[dingbat]

The date codes on my grp. 27 deep cycle batteries are 2010 and 2012.

Neither has been removed from the boat since installation.

The 90 degree days are harder on them than the handful of nights in the teens

 

[capecodtodd]

I remove mine and bring it into my shop. It takes minutes and I don't have to worry about it.
I have a custom car that hibernates over the Winter and the battery is not easy to access so I put in a trickle charger that gets plugged in and I start the car at least once per month.

 

[Horigan]

Good conversation. The key point to remember if you're leaving the battery outside is ensuring the battery remains fully charged. A fully charged battery will freeze at -76 degF, but that rises to close to 32 degF for a fully discharged battery (below 12V), according to Interstate Battery. So it's key to disconnect it, or keep it on a charger if there are small loads on it during storage. AGM batteries that don't self discharge fair better here.

 

[JimS123]

When the season ends my boats are polished, shined, all fueled up and covered for the winter. When the season starts I want to throw in the battery, (like someone else said a 5 minute job - piece of cake - no hassle) and put her in the water and go. Having to think about a battery is a hassle.

Stored in the basement, all my boat, trailer, and tractor batteries are checked monthly and charged up. I keep a log. Its really quite simple and takes no time at all. The delta volts per month tells me if the battery won't go thru another season. If that's the case I throw it out and a new battery is installed first week in the season.

No surprizes, no hassle and I go boating whenever I want.

 

[KJM]

what does "delta volts per month" mean?

 

[dingbat]

what does "delta volts per month" mean?

batteries normally discharge over time. DPM would relate to the monthly discharge rate.
https://batteryuniversity.com/index.php/learn/article/elevating_self_discharge

 

[Grub54891]

Ok Dingbat. Lot of info there.
However, I'm still leaving it in my boat, fully charged and disconnected. If it fails in the spring, it was ready......lol

 

[dingbat]

Ok Dingbat. Lot of info there.
However, I'm still leaving it in my boat, fully charged and disconnected. If it fails in the spring, it was ready......lol

I don’t even bother to disconnect them....Switch to off and forget about it until next use

 

[KJM]

i just installed a second battery and a 1/2 switch so i'll be turning it to "off" and taking my chances.

 

[JimS123]

Ok Dingbat. Lot of info there.
However, I'm still leaving it in my boat, fully charged and disconnected. If it fails in the spring, it was ready......lol

Yup, you're right about that.

My issue is that when I'M ready I'm ready. I don't have time to %^$# around. If I get up on a sunny Spring Saturday morning and want to take the boat out, having the battery "not ready" is unacceptable.

If the car battery dies and I can't go to work, the boss can just wait for ME. If the boat fails on my day off its the worst catastrophe ever.....LOL,.

 

[Grub54891]

Yup, you're right about that.

My issue is that when I'M ready I'm ready. I don't have time to %^$# around. If I get up on a sunny Spring Saturday morning and want to take the boat out, having the battery "not ready" is unacceptable.

If the car battery dies and I can't go to work, the boss can just wait for ME. If the boat fails on my day off its the worst catastrophe ever.....LOL,.[/QUOTe}
Sorry, but part of being ready is making sure everything is in order before hitting the lake. In the spring, I charge, load test and check everything over. Before each outing, things are looked over, oil, fuel,power ext.... It's not just pulling the tarp off and expecting it to be perfect.

 

[JimS123]

Sorry, but part of being ready is making sure everything is in order before hitting the lake. In the spring, I charge, load test and check everything over. Before each outing, things are looked over, oil, fuel,power ext.... It's not just pulling the tarp off and expecting it to be perfect.

Prezactly!!! That's exactly the point I was making.

 

[H20Rat]

Disconnect the negative cable in the fall, reconnect in the spring, boat sits outside under a tarp. Don't really do anything else. Also, I get 7+ years out of boat batteries, and I live where -40 isn't impossible, and often hits -20 or lower.