Maintaining Your Boat Battery

Boat batteries are a lot like car batteries, but there are some considerations you need to remember to maintain them for long-term use. Boat batteries may sit dormant for weeks, which means you need to know what to do to prevent a dead battery. Most marine batteries come in three types, including lead-acid, gel cell, and AGM. If you are looking for an inexpensive option, choose a lead-acid battery. Learn more about maintaining the quality of your batteries below. Visit Chatlee Boat & Marine, and our team will show you around our complete inventory. Our dealership, located in Sanford, North Carolina, proudly serves Raleigh and Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Keep Batteries Clean

Both the connections and the tops of the batteries need to stay clean. The connections to the batteries should always be well-made. There should be at most four direct connections to the battery post. The tops of a boat battery also need to be well-maintained. Enough dirt can cause a battery to self-discharge and cause problems. Clean off the white powder using a simple baking soda mixture that neutralizes the acid. 

Keep Battery Compartment Ventilated

Gasses can escape from batteries easily. Keep the battery compartment well-ventilated to avoid problems when these dangerous gasses build up. An overcharged lead-acid battery is the most dangerous because the gasses from it can be explosive. 

Top Up Lead-Acid Batteries

A lead-acid boat battery needs more electrolytes occasionally. Check the levels with a flashlight, and if necessary, add more electrolytes according to the recommendations from a manufacturer. 

Practice Safety Precautions

Be safe when working with a boat battery. Safety precautions include wearing the proper gear when handling the equipment. Wear gloves when handling lead-acid batteries, and be careful with the acid around surfaces. 

Do Not Mix Battery Types

You should only use one type of battery on your boat. Do not have two lead-acid batteries and one gel cell battery. It is not recommended to mix battery types if you want to lengthen the life of your battery bank. 

Check for Correct Connections

Check to ensure the correct connections are created whenever you are hooking up a battery on a boat. A mix up between the terminals can cause issues with the electrical system. The negative (black) cable should always be removed and reinstalled first.

The battery is the heart of your boat, and you need to remember to maintain it properly for the health of your vessel. If you do not know where to start when maintaining batteries, bring your questions to Chatlee Boat & Marine in Sanford, North Carolina. Our team is happy to help customers from Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina.