Barefoot Boating Tips: BATTERIES
Our boat or Jet Ski battery is one of those things we don’t worry or think about until you have guests coming over for a day on the lake and the boat will not start. So how do we avoid a dead battery ruining your day?
THINGS TO KNOW
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS
THINGS TO KNOW
- Automotive and Marine batteries are not the same. Marine batteries are built stronger to take the bouncing and pounding of marine use
- All batteries lose their charge even when disconnected. Older batteries lose their charge faster than new batteries. Under some conditions 60% of their energy per month will be lost.
- Batteries last longer when kept at full charge. Unless you use your boat several times a week all year long your battery will lose its charge and its life will be shortened.
- If two batteries are used they will equalize. If one battery is weaker it will draw down the stronger battery.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS
- Attempting to start the engine with a weak battery causes longer cranking time and will wear out the starter sooner.
- A battery that is allowed to remain at below full charge will build up Crystalline Sulfate on the plates which cannot be broken down by normal charging. This will affect its output and eventually if enough build up occurs the battery will not accept a charge.
- Your bilge pump will stop running if the battery charge is too low and water will accumulate in the bilge causing damage to the starter, trim pump, blower motor or any other electrical component or worse if enough water accumulated the engine could fill with water or boat possibly sink.
SOLUTIONS
- Installing a battery switch and turning it off when not using the boat will prevent inadvertent discharge if any accessories were left on. On a duel battery system it will allow you to isolate one battery to run accessories such as a radio and keep the other battery fully charged to start the boat.
- Installing a Marine rated on board charger to keep the battery fully charged. This will also provide enough power to run the bilge pump for an extended period of time.
- Barefoot Watersports would be happy to inspect, repair or service any of these items.
- Book a service appointment - 704-896-2121 or [email protected]
(c) Barefoot Watersports 2013