There’s been a boom in boat sales over the past few years, with many Australians seeking an alternative to leisure travel. If you’re a boat enthusiast, you should check out whether your marine battery is up to scratch.

Routine maintenance, testing and the way you store your battery all play into marine battery care. If you don’t have a boat battery maintenance strategy, you’re likely to shorten your battery’s life.

Don’t risk an emergency on a boat that won’t start. Use these Redlands boat servicing tips to keep your marine battery ship-shape and prolong its life as long as possible.

Test Your Marine Battery Regularly

Routine testing can help boost the life of your marine battery and mitigate the risks of getting stranded while out on the water.

Have a maintenance charger at the ready to preserve a battery when you’re not using your boat. This simple step can extend your marine battery’s lifespan and should be part of your boat battery maintenance plan.

Safely Jumpstarting a Marine Battery

Would you know what to do if you discovered your battery was dead? If not, you should research jumpstarting a battery so that you can begin boating again as quickly as possible. It’s a fairly straightforward process that you should be able to manage by yourself. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Ensure you have adequate ventilation to reduce exposure to fumes from fuel
  • Check connections are secure in case loose wiring is the cause of the problem
  • If you’re unfamiliar with your jumpstarter, study the manufacturer’s instructions carefully
  • Watch any appropriate online tutorial videos

Remember that you could use another boat or a car battery for a quick jump start. Take care to connect negative to negative and positive to positive. The process will take several minutes. After allowing a little time for the charge, turn the key and check if the engine starts.

Store Your Battery Correctly

Storing your boat battery the right way during the off-season will help keep it in optimum condition. Storing batteries in a dry, cool place is essential to good marine battery care. You should also check the manufacturer’s storage instructions carefully, as these can vary depending on the kind of battery you have.

It’s wise to keep batteries topped off during the cooler months. Check your manual for the correct levels. Extreme temperatures, in summer and winter, can increase battery degradation. High temperatures put a strain on batteries, leading to electrolyte loss and excessive discharge. When it’s too cold, batteries can go into overdrive, causing them to lose power more quickly.

Remember to keep a close eye on fluid levels and store your battery in an appropriately dry location and at a moderate temperature.

Understand Recharging Specifications

Many boat owners inadvertently damage their batteries during the recharging phase. Specifications and guidance for recharging will depend on your battery type. Always check the charging instructions.

If you use a voltage that’s too high, your battery may experience sulfation, rust and faster discharges. Never overcharge your battery, and consider purchasing an onboard charger. If you have the correct gear while out on your boat, you’ll have done your due diligence, which will help keep your battery in the best possible shape.

Ensure Battery Cleanliness

A critical part of boat battery maintenance is ensuring the marine battery is always clean.

Use a bi-carb soda paste to clean the battery case and terminals to help neutralise any acid.

If you notice the cells of conventional batteries are running low, top them up with a little distilled water. Distilled water is purer and mineral-free, mitigating any adverse impact on your battery’s internal plates.

Surround the positive terminal with a cover to prevent shocks and corrosion. Use dielectric, non-conductive grease and also ensure your battery is always secure.

Use the Correct Kind of Marine Battery Charger

If you’re unsure which type of marine battery charger you should use, you would not be alone. It’s important to check this out and ensure yours complies with manufacturers’ recommendations. Using approved chargers reduces the danger of damaging your battery.

Charging the battery for the optimum length of time is also a crucial part of marine battery care. Undercharging can cause sulfation and an excessive build-up of sulphate crystals on the plates. This can hurt the battery’s capacity to charge as it should. Overcharging will also shorten the life of your battery.

Invest in Nyloc Nuts

Too much vibration over prolonged periods can lead to internal parts becoming loose. To stop this from happening, substitute regular wing nuts with nyloc nuts, as these will not come loose. The result is a better connection and more efficient charging.

A carefully secured battery is less likely to suffer catastrophic impacts.

Charge Batteries Before You Store Your Boat

Ensure your battery has a full charge before putting your boat away at the end of the season. Marine batteries will gradually discharge even if you’re not using them. If you want your boat to be good to go for the following season, ensure you leave it fully charged before storing it for long periods.

As a rule of thumb, you should recharge your marine battery after every trip you make out on the water.

Before you store your boat, disconnect any gear that could drain the battery more quickly by turning off any switches.

If you’re keeping the boat in storage for a long period, check its charge and, as a general rule, recharge it approximately every month or two. You may also want to think about investing in a trickle charger as part of your boat battery maintenance strategy.

Make Choosing the Right Battery Part of Redlands Boat Servicing

It’s crucial to select the most appropriate battery for your boat. If you’re unsure, ask the Redlands boat servicing experts at Mike’s Marine. We love talking about anything boat-related! That includes boat battery maintenance and marine battery care.

Call in or get in touch with us today for all your Redlands boat servicing needs.