Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

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UncleWillie

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Oct 18, 2011
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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

I am surprised that we have gone 42 posts and no one has mentioned that in some circumstances if you do not remove the battery for the winter, come Spring, you may find that someone removed it for you! :eek:
 
MH Hawker

MH Hawker

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

Depending on the location some have just a tray instead of a box and it is approved, personally I use a box just in case the battery case cracks.

Put me down in the charge before storage and charge in the spring club.
 
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82rude

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

UncleWillie said:
I am surprised that we have gone 42 posts and no one has mentioned that in some circumstances if you do not remove the battery for the winter, come Spring, you may find that someone removed it for you! :eek:
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that can happen anytime.recently somebody stole a pair of elect downriggers right off a fellows boat in his driveway on a fairly busy street in my town.
 
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haulnazz15

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

82rude said:
that can happen anytime.recently somebody stole a pair of elect downriggers right off a fellows boat in his driveway on a fairly busy street in my town.
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Agreed, and it depends on where the boat is in general. Many years back, we had a bass boat that was kept in a private dock (gated community) on a lift, along with several dozen other boats. One night, thieves came down to the docks (marina 100yds never saw them) and had their run of the place. We lost 3 batteries and some miscellaneous items, many boaters lost much more. Without a battery in it, the bilge pump is obviously inoperable, so had the lift failed and we had some type of leak, the boat would be gone. The bad part was, we didn't find out about the incident until we came down to use the boat, turned the key, and nothing happened, lol!

If a boat is kept on the water (lift or otherwise), I'd say it's crazy to remove a battery for winterization.
 
NYBo

NYBo

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

smokeonthewater said:
Dunno why everyone is so worried about acid in a battery box... had a one boil over and had maybe a few cups in the box... Turned the garden hose on.... rinsed the bat as I pulled it out of the box and set it aside... then filled the box w water and let it overflow into the bilge and out the drain... dumped the box into the bilge and flushed w water for a few minutes... I think folks have watched too many batman movies where people and various items liquify in seconds in a vat of magic acid..... sure, left to work on metal over time it can take a toll but it doesn't melt a boat away in the time it takes to dilute and flush away
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I would have VERY SLOWLY added some baking soda first to neutralize the acid somewhat before letting it get into the bilge.
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

crossed my mind but the acid in a battery is pretty weak and it was diluted about 30:1 when I dumped it.... at that concentration ya could prolly go swimming in it without incident... and then I flushed it out right away too.....

I have a friend who I occasionally help w masonry work, chimney repairs. we wash houses with stronger acid than what is in a battery.... it gets on his aluminum ladders and steel flashing with no damage... it EATS concrete tho so if you have a concrete boat, be really careful w acid LOL
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

grub1grub2 said:
dlngr said:
Nope,they should be and are in a battery box!
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JimS123 said:
I believe battery boxes are required everywhere.
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They don't have to be in a battery box if they are in an enclosed area. Even in an unenclosed area, they aren't required. Only requirement is that they don't move.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2005-title33-vol2/pdf/CFR-2005-title33-vol2-sec183-420.pdf


I have never removed a battery from a boat once in over 30 years. If you keep them charged all winter, you will never have a problem in 99% of areas.

No matter where the battery is stored, it should be kept fully charged. Letting a battery discharge allows it to sulfate and shorten its life.
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Maclin

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May 27, 2007
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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

I pull mine out and charge them monthly or so. This is mainly because the boat is stored far enough away both from me AND any electrical outlet as to make it a hassle to charge them in their boxes in the boat.
 
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BRICH1260

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Jul 6, 2011
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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

I store my boat off site in a large shelter. I take both batteries out and store them separately in my garage and keep them on a trickle charger all winter.
I would say that if you can charge them during the winter, keep them in, if not take them out for optimal life.
 
JimS123

JimS123

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

UncleWillie said:
Since when is an Optima AGM Battery Not a Lead Acid battery?
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The 3 classifications for batteries are "Lead Acid", "AGM" and "Gel Cell". They all have lead and all have acid, but are called by different names. Optima is a AGM.
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Winterizing - storing you battery in the boat

The proper name is "Flooded Lead Acid".
 
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