Boat Battery Maintenance
Once you’ve purchased a boat and it’s in your care, you’ll find that brushing up on ownership tips leads to a long list of responsibilities. We won’t lie—owning a boat is a big investment and requires a lot of upkeep. One area that may not get the attention it deserves is the battery. You can’t enjoy a day on the water if you’ve got a faulty battery, so you’ll want to know how to care for it and how to spot when something’s wrong. That’s why Hampton Watercraft and Marine has provided some tips on boat battery maintenance to help get you started. If you have additional questions, stop by our location in Hampton Bays and Eastport, New York, to chat with our friendly staff. We also serve Eastern Long Island.
Battery Not Working After Storage?
If you’ve already had your boat for some time, odds are it’s been in storage for the past few months. Now that you’ve pulled your boat out for the summer, you might be encountering some battery issues. You need to ask yourself if you properly prepared your battery for winter:
- Did you clean it before storage?
- Did you put it in a dry, temperature-controlled environment?
- Was it fully charged before storage?
- Did you leave your battery hooked up to the motor during storage?
All these issues can lead to poor battery health and even a dead battery by the time you’re ready to hit the water again. Unfortunately, at this point, you might just need to buy a new battery for your boat, but take notes for this next winter so you can properly prepare.
Cleaning Your Battery
This is an easy way to maintain good battery health. Simply clearing away corrosion using a solution of baking soda and water can prevent poor performance. In fact, if you notice your motor isn’t running the way it normally would, consider checking the posts for corrosion first.
Bonus tip! Lightly grease the posts after they’re clean using dielectric grease.
Getting the Right Battery
This is another simple problem that can make all the difference in performance. Marine batteries in particular offer a few different selections to fit varying needs. Some vessels come with a trolling motor while others might come with a cranking motor. Some of your options include deep-cycle (a must for trolling motors), starting or cranking models, and dual-purpose. Think about your motor and what you’ll be doing so you can get a battery that’s right for your boat.
Bonus tip! After you’ve chosen the right battery and installed it, mark the date of installation, so you know how old your battery is.
Recharge After Every Use
One of the biggest differences between your car battery and a boat motor one is frequency of use. Cars are designed to be used on a daily basis so their battery system requires minimal upkeep. You probably won’t use your boat on a daily basis, so if you’re relying on your alternator to keep your battery charged, it won’t thank you for it.
Recharge your battery after every day on the water, no matter how long the usage lasted. Make sure you check manufacturer recommendations to buy the right charger to match your battery.
These should cover some of the basics, but sometimes the basics aren’t quite enough. Even those who are already savvy with maintaining their battery and engine will run into trouble they can’t correct themselves. That’s when you’ll want to contact our service department here at Hampton Watercraft and Marine. Our experienced technicians will help you discover the root of your mechanical problems and help you get back on the water in no time. We welcome all on-water enthusiasts from Eastern Long Island, Hampton Bays, and Eastport, New York.