Battery Care and Maintenance

Batteries are the most important and most heavily relied on pieces of equipment in your boat, but are often forgotten about until there are problems which can turn a wonderful day on the lake into a miserable one. There are a few simple things you can do to ensure your batteries perform properly and that will also extend the life of the battery.

• Get the Right Battery
  Make sure you use the correct battery for the application. Starting batteries should be used as starting batteries because they are designed for extremely heavy amp draw for short periods of time. Trolling batteries are designed to perform for extended periods of time with moderate amp draw.
  
  
• Stay in Shape!
  Second, the age and condition of the battery: A high quality marine battery will last about three years, if properly cared for. Now that we are dealing with the right kind of battery and it is in good shape let’s talk about what you can do to take care of it.
  
  
• Electrolyte Level
  The most important thing is electrolyte level. The battery should be filled to manufacturer’s recommendations. When filling batteries be sure to wear proper P.P.E. including facial protection. Also be sure that there are no open flames or ignition sources present while filling. Battery gases are explosive!
  
  
• Charging Up
  Battery life can also be extended by charging the batteries as soon as you can after use. Leaving a battery discharged for extended amounts of time will drastically shorten the life of the battery.
  
  
• Connections and Cleaning
  One thing that is also very important is to keep the terminals clean. Corrosion can build up at terminal connections if not cleaned every couple of months. You can also use connection grease or a similar product to deter this corrosion nuisance. It is equally important to keep all connections tight, a loose connection can cause several problems even when every thing else is in good condition.
  

I hope these pointers help make your Lund boating experiences trouble free and keep you focused on fun.  For more tips and tricks from the Pros, check out our Pro Corner.