What to do with battery during the off season?

[Ks]

What do guys do with the batts during the off season?

- Keep them on charge?

- remove them from the boat?

- Nothing?


We bought the boat in Nov, and it has been in the garage for the winter, today I took the cover off and am just kinda tinkering with it ( mostly sitting in it, waiting for summer) LOL

I have the duel battery set up, I had the main power off for the winter storage, I flipped the switch and everything has power, Lights/ stereo/ everything seems to have power without fade.

So am I good to go? or should I charge them up for good measure?

With respect to charging, there is a large yellow label telling me to disconnect the batteries before charging? I can't see why you would have to do this... what does everyone else do?

Thanks

[ggalbraith]

I also have dual batteries and I take them out, put them in the garage, wrap them in some old blankets and charge them to full about every 4-6 weeks or when I think about it. I have been told that keeping them fully charged will make them last longer. Seems like mine have lasted a full three years or so on the last several batteries. I also do jetski batteries the same way and it seems to help as they don't last very long at all.

The best thing would be to trickle charge them all the time, but I have 4 batteries to keep charged and haven't figured out how to charge all 4 with a trickle charger.

Oh well, hope that helps. I would definitely charge it on a slow charge before I went out. They sell some good chargers pretty cheap now that are totally electronic and seem to work well for me.

[hoopykat]

I disconnect my battery during storage, and charge it up before I re-install it. You should disconnect batteries before charging because they generate hydrogen gas during charging, and it removes the temptation to try and start the engine with the charger attached...a spark could cause an explosion. You should probably top off the charge before your first outing so you're not stranded with dead batteries at the launch ramp.

Mike

[zad0030]

We remove ours from our boat and keep it in the basement. THen charge them full before our first outing.

[TigeDuner]

I leave them in the boat because I start the boat monthly through the winter just to keep the impeller wet and give the batteries a short charge.

[Coach]

I give mine a good charge and turn everything to off and see the boat in 4 months. If I had electical in my storage I would plug in my charger and leave it on. My charger has a cycle set for every 21 days to give it a trickle if it needs it.

[TigeDuner]

Coach, I went with the 20 amp charger over the 40. My Wetsounds threesom is being installed as I write and should have it back in a week. Can't wait...

[marchone]

I remove my batteries (dual set up), give them a full charge and keep them in the garage. Then I start counting the days until spring. Usually I will give them another good full charge before reinstalling in the spring. Have not had any problems with them doing this. Do the same for the RV 6V batteries as well.

[Ks]

Is that the only reason their is a decal on the battery boxes that reads " Disconnect battery before charging or damage to electrical can occur"

I bought a nice fancy charger that I can set times and shedules to, If possible I would like to keep the batt's in the boat ( the boat is in the garage) and have the charger do it job when needed... but that warning label freaked me out.

Thanks all for the advice.

[Coach]

Coach, I went with the 20 amp charger over the 40. My Wetsounds threesom is being installed as I write and should have it back in a week. Can't wait...

The more I was thinking about the charger that is a good call. Can't wait to see your final product. It will rock with the wetsounds.

[race fan]

If I remember correctly the reason for disconnecting the battery when charging is to protect the computer and electronics. I leave mine in the boat year round but disconnet them. When the season starts I check the water put a good charge on them and its ready to go.

[Carter13]

I have dual batteries and put the switch onto 1 and 2 then let my trickle charger do its magic over the winter. No battery removal necessary.

[akdoc]

Why don't tow boat manufacturers offer those 2 bank chargers like you see on bass boats? That would make life much easier, just plug an extention cord in and your set!

[Coach]

Why don't tow boat manufacturers offer those 2 bank chargers like you see on bass boats? That would make life much easier, just plug an extention cord in and your set!

Many Tige dealers will put them in if you ask. This is exactly what I had installed when I had my stereo done. It is much easier to plug in than open up a bunch of stuff and hook up the aligator clips. It would be a great option to ofter directly from the manufacutre.

[tktige']

Bass Pro smart charger, Keeps a samll float charge on the batteries all time. Mine is the 5/5/5 that places a float charge on 3 batteries