2006 290SLX newbie owner - battery question

[joepro]

Hi,
I picked up my boat on Sunday. After getting it on the lift, cleaning it up, etc... I turned off the main breaker DC panel with my key, but forgot to turn the battery dial to the "off" position. Since the main breaker panel is turn off, should I have any issues with the batteries if/when I return to the boat in 2-3 weeks?

After reading some instructions, I see it's recommended to turn the battery switch to "off" if extended time away from the boat. Next time, I'll turn it 'off' before leaving.

Thanks in advance. Any other newbie tips/recommendations are welcome.

 

[BillK2632]

Shouldn't be any problems leaving the batteries switched on. There are varying opinions on this - personally I always leave mine off, except occasionally when I forget. I have friends who have never switched the batteries off. The downside to leaving them on is the 12v system is energized, so any 12v accessory that is left on could discharge the batteries and in the unlikely event you had a 12v issue with wire or something, again the system is energized. Leave them off and essentially everything on the boat is off, but the downside there is things you might want power to before you get to your battery switches would not work - ie lights, outdrive trim, etc, etc.

I leave mine off for the most part when I am away, but like I said sometimes I forget - and they stay on for a couple of weeks with no issues.

 

[molson9]

I use a battery tender on my 20 footer even on the trailer. I have a buddy who rack stows so he put a couple solar tenders on his boat. Turning the switch off is a great practice "if the boat isn't in the water" but in the water could be very bad. them pumps like that juice.

 

[tdgard]

Turning the switch off is a great practice "if the boat isn't in the water" but in the water could be very bad. them pumps like that juice.

Balderdash. The battery switch has no effect on your bilge pumps. They operate regardless of the switch position. I never use the off position for a couple of reasons. My boat is not very complex so there are not many systems. Kind of like leaving your car at the airport for two weeks-don't leave the dome light on and you'll be ok. That and it's plugged into shore power all the time it's at the dock.

 

[1956olds]

I leave mine on,but i make sure to turn off all 12v systems not needed while away.The fresh water system will lose pressure and cycle occassionaly if left on and so will the vacuflush if its almost full,so i turn it off also.The one thing i dont like is if they are off and you lose power at the dock your refrigerator will run the batteries down in a day mabey two if they are big batteries,but we have lost power and everything was still cold in the fridge after two days and the breaker at the power pole was off due to surge.