Battery Removal?

[Soulshine]

I removed my batteries today and I swear they’re getting heavier.

I keep them charged and maintained all winter.

They’re very easily accessible but the 4 1/2 foot lift out of the ER then off the boat and down a ladder is getting old and so am I.

Most people I know just leave ‘em in for the winter and don’t seem to have any problems.

What do you folks do?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Best practice is to have them on a smart charger/maintainer all the time. But if they're fully charged, they won't freeze over the winter and as long as they're healthy to start with, they'll be just fine in the spring - will most likely start the engines up just fine, too. Just remove the negative cables.

 

[sbw1]

All the advice about storing them in the basement, garage, blah blah, is way over rated. Put your boat away properly laid up with its batteries fully charged and all the switches and breakers turned off and you will be fine. In the Spring plug the boat in while you do your recommissioning work and launch it. Been doing this routine for 40 plus years and have never ever had a battery problem.

 

[boatman37]

I keep ours in an underground mine and the rule is to remove batteries but even if not I would still remove them. I keep mine in my basement office on a maintenance charger all winter. Alternate batteries every few weeks

 

[pyro]

Do you guys also take your car batteries in overnight on those cold below freezing nights? Nope, and then you attempt to draw hundreds of amps from them in the morning. Way more harsh then leaving them over the winter fully charged with no loads.

But I still charge mine a number of times over the winter on warm days, especially if I'm working on it.

This last year I added solar panels which I expect will charge a little even under the shrinkwrap. I'm likely going to disconnect this as it's prob not great to be charging in very cold temperatures.

I vote to leave them.

 

[Soulshine]

...on a maintenance charger all winter. Alternate batteries every few weeks

Exactly what I do. I gives me a chance to clean them and their boxes upon reinstallation too.

As I said, I’m sick of moving them around and they are getting heavier the older I get.

 

[Express 390]

I check mine with a Hydrometer if ok give them a full charge , Shut the switch's and thats it . They are only off 4- 5 months

 

[my3sons]

I disconnect them. Fully charged batteries will be fine all winter.

 

[Golfman25]

I used to do what you do. Remove from the boat and keep at home. But like you I found it a PIA. So I have kept them on the boat, disconnected. Haven' noticed any real loss in longevity.

 

[Creekwood]

I disconnect them. Fully charged batteries will be fine all winter.

Same. Week before haul out I ensure water levels are topped up and they are fully charged. Then disconnect the ground wires (black) only to all batteries. In spring the first thing I do is reconnect the batteries, check the electrolyte levels, connect shore power and turn on the charger. It never runs at full charge rate for very long. Maybe 10-15 minutes. So they don't discharge much sitting for 5 months in Canada. I think my 6v Rolls Surette house batteries discharge more than the sealed battery bank. but they are designed for deep cycling.

 

[KnoxWill]

This is my first winter with my boat. I am leaving it at my slip on lift. I have two batteries. I took one home to charge. I left one in the boat. I wanted to have bilge pump power incase the lift dropped and somehow boat takes on water. My be anal, but....

Is it save to put installed battery on maintainer charger in boat with canvas mooring cover on? Is there enough ventilation? I have an Optima 400 charger.

 

[Creekwood]

This is my first winter with my boat. I am leaving it at my slip on lift. I have two batteries. I took one home to charge. I left one in the boat. I wanted to have bilge pump power incase the lift dropped and somehow boat takes on water. My be anal, but....

Is it save to put installed battery on maintainer charger in boat with canvas mooring cover on? Is there enough ventilation? I have an Optima 400 charger.

Yes its safe. Lots of people leave their mooring covers or canvas on when not using the boat and have their chargers on all the time.

 

[KnoxWill]

Yes its safe. Lots of people leave their mooring covers or canvas on when not using the boat and have their chargers on all the time.

Thanks for the info.

Should I remove the battery terminals or leave connected so bilge will be operational while charging?

 

[Creekwood]

Thanks for the info.

Should I remove the battery terminals or leave connected so bilge will be operational while charging?

Cant help you there. I think those that keep their boat on lifts down south will have better input. I would assume if you leave your plug in on the lift, you would want the bilge pumps to be ready to go in case of storms filling it with water.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Yes its safe. Lots of people leave their mooring covers or canvas on when not using the boat and have their chargers on all the time.

Yes, like me, all day every day, all spring summer fall.

 

[SCORPIO]

I store my boat in my barn, I leave the batteries installed and the smart charger connected all winter.

 

[KnoxWill]

I store my boat in my barn, I leave the batteries installed and the smart charger connected all winter.

Thanks. I get concerned leaving it in the slip. I guess it will ok. I had conditioned it with a charge of 12.8 volts. It is now at 12.4 volt.

 

[brewster16]

Don't kill yourself taking them out.....as others have said, full charge then dc the negative terminals. I've never had a problem come Spring.

 

[KnoxWill]

Don't kill yourself taking them out.....as others have said, full charge then dc the negative terminals. I've never had a problem come Spring.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Thanks. I get concerned leaving it in the slip. I guess it will ok. I had conditioned it with a charge of 12.8 volts. It is now at 12.4 volt.

If it's dropping down to 12.4V in a relatively short time with little use, the battery is just about gone. Or, the charger isn't really doing it's job. It should be charging at a higher rate than 12.8 - that's what a new battery's resting V will be.

If it's a good/smart charger, it's fine to leave it on. But if it's not rated for use in the bilge (ignition protected), just the wires in and leave it in the cockpit. BUT... I wouldn't use alligator clips - it's safer to make a permanent connection.