Boat Battery Maintenance

Your boat’s battery is a critical component that requires regular and thorough maintenance. Without this routine maintenance, your boat’s battery won’t function as well, and will eventually stop working all together. That’s why you should use the tips in this article from the experts at Team Winnebagoland Marine Center in order to maintain your boat’s battery.

Install The Correct Boat Battery

Common boat battery types include deep-cycle, crank-start, and dual-purpose. However, the most important thing to know is which kinds of batteries are compatible with your vessel. If you’re not sure about compatibility, take a look at your owner’s manual or find an expert. We also recommend recording the date every time you install a new battery in your boat. This will make it much easier to determine the battery’s age.

Clean Your Boat Battery

Overtime, corrosion will build up on the posts of your boat’s battery. Since this corrosion can cause reduced performance and even permanent damage if you let it build-up, you should occasionally clean the posts using a mixture of baking soda and water. Once you’ve cleared away the corrosion, allow it to dry completely before lightly greasing the posts with dielectric grease.

Recharge The Battery Often

Most types of batteries should be kept well-charged whenever possible to promote long-term battery health, and boat batteries are no exception. That’s why we recommend recharging your boat’s battery after every voyage, or as often as your owner’s manual recommends. The owner’s manual will also be able to tell you which chargers will be most compatible with your boat’s battery.

Store The Boat Battery Correctly

By storing your boat’s battery in a cool, dry place whenever it’s not in use, you can help ensure good long-term battery performance. Don’t forget to keep the battery well charged while it is in storage! We recommend monthly recharges at the least. You’ll also need to occasionally clean your boat’s battery of corrosion.