boat battery maintenance

Keep On TrollingA guide for getting the most out of your batteries.

Do you live to fish?

Or just have a need for speed?

Either way a bad battery can leave you high and dry!

So here are some tips to keep you on the water:

#1 Use a corrosion preventative on all connections.#2Keep dirt and mildew off your battery.#3 Keep it tight.#4Get a hydrometer and use it.#5Use distilled water.#6 Charge your batteries when storing your craft.

#1 Use corrosion preventative on all connections.

Don’t let bad things happen to good batteries.

A clean connection is a strong one.

A product like “Whip” coats and protects connections from water.

Lithium grease or petroleum jelly also works well.

Pro Tip: Only apply a product after you install the battery cable, product between the cable and terminal will slow powerflow.

#2 Keep dirt and mildew off your battery.

Battery compartments can be a dirty mildew greenhouse.

Moisture can zap a batteries power, so keep the compartment clean and dry!

#3 Keep your connections tight.

Loose connections cause shorts in your power system and reduce your battery life of worse.

#4 Get a hydrometer and use it.

It is the only reliable method for testing deep cycle batteries.

Hydrometers test the specific gravity of the electrolyte and shows how active your battery chemistry is.

Caution: wear rubber gloves and protect eyes and clothing anytime you may be exposed to battery acid!!

#5 Use only distilled water!

A battery should be filled within a ¼” from the top. If your battery seems dry fill it with DISTILLED water.

Un-distilled water may contain minerals and chemicals that reduce your batteries effectiveness.

#6 Keep your battery charged when storing your craft.

Batteries naturally loose charge over time.

When a battery drops below 12.2V it begins to sulfate and go bad.

Inexpensive low voltage maintenance chargers can be used safely for months at a time.

Equipped with quick connect plugs they are fast and easy to use.

Extreme heat and cold can be really hard on battery life also…

Shelter your craft from the elements and temperatures.

Or remove the battery and store it in a protected place.

Don’t let a bad battery keep you off the water:

#1 Use a corrosion preventative on all connections.#2Keep dirt and mildew off your battery.#3 Keep it tight.#4Get a hydrometer and use it.#5Use distilled water.#6 Charge your batteries when storing your craft.

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More questions?Call the battery experts:1.888.970.4JOE