Boat Batteries In Unheated Storage.

MonacoMike

MonacoMike

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2009
14,721
Indiana lakes and Lake Michigan
Boat Info
2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
Engines
85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
I have always been able to leave my boat charger on all winter but my new storage will not allow that. The batteries are 7 year old blue top Optma's. Should I pull them out for the winter and put them in my garage on a charger or leave them in for the winter?

MM
 
I like to remove the batteries for the winter.

I keep them in the garage, temps don't drop below 35° out there.

I put them on the charger once every 3 weeks.
 
Last season I took them out and charged every 2 weeks
 
I feel a lot of fuss is made over batteries. A charged battery in your car doesn't freeze in the driveway, even when you leave on the 2 week Christmas vacation. So unless you are talking sub zero for weeks, why should the boat be any different.
My boat only has the radio pulling a small current, to keep the memory programmed, so I don't even disconnect the leads. I pull the drain plug so any water will drain and not activate the bilge pump.
I don't remove the batteries for winter, trickle charge them, or anything. Mine are Autozone brand marine dual-purpose, getting ready for year #4
For what is worth, my Mechanic does oil and drive service every fall, flushes with water safe antifreeze, and leaves the blue plugs in. Full tank of treated gas reduces condensation in the fuel. My de-winterize procedure involves a good spring clean and wax, since she is stored outside, put the drain plug in, and go to the lake.
 
I shrink wrap the boat and move it to a yard about 10 minutes away. I take the batteries out because otherwise I'd never get to charge them over the winter.
 
I also have AutoZone dual purpose batts. I keep them in my garage over the winter and charge them once a month. 4 years old and test at almost full capacity still.
 
Over charging batteries is the fastest way to kill them. I leave mine in over winter and charge them maybe every 2 to 3 months. And I live in a place that is a lot colder than you will ever see.
My batteries are now 6 years old and still going strong.
 
Exposing flooded lead acid and AGM batteries to extreme ambient temperatures can be very harmful to the battery. It's always best to keep on a quality maintenance charger and in a dry relatively warm area (above water freezing temperature). Usually, it is not practical to pull larger batteries / banks from the boat so keep the area where they are located above freezing and on maintenance charge. Modern multi-phase chargers do not "overcharge" and will ensure the electrolyte specific gravity is in spec, will prevent plate oxidation, and freeze damage. ProMariner makes a great little 5 amp maintenance charger called ProMar1 for flooded lead acid batteries that is not expensive. If your boat is going to be laid up for extended periods and power is not available I would take the batteries out.
This article is from Trojan Batteries on battery maintenance:
http://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-support/battery-maintenance/
 
I always remove the batteries from the boat after winterizing all systems and put them in the basement. It may be an old wives tale but I always put the batteries on a block of wood on the floor to prevent premature draining. Also use a "Battery Tender" maintenance charger and have been getting a good 5 years service from them.
Battery Tender makes a variety of different maintenance chargers for different applications. I have been using them for years on my Harleys and dirt bikes and it pretty much doubles the life of those batteries.
 
I've haven't removed my batteries for the last 20 years. I climb into the boat and crank the engine about one revolution 3-4 times each winter. Keeps the seawater impellers from taking a set and also moves the engines valves from sticking in the valve guides. Also plug the boat in a few times each winter to keep the batteries fully charged.
 
The best thing you can do for batteries is to keep them on a smart charger all the time (NOT just a "trickle" charger - those can kill a battery). It will increase the lifespan of the batteries. But, if removing them is not practical, then the second best thing to do is to make sure they are fully charged and remove the negative cable. A fully charged battery will not freeze and removing the cable prevents parasitic loss (or worse). A healthy battery will retain plenty of juice to start the engine in the Spring.
 
Like Hottoddie, I've been storing boats with charged disconnected batteries for the same number of decades (ok, maybe plus a couple more years) without problems. The yards around me won't allow storage boats to to have power on 24/7 because of the fire risk. Some will let you have power if you are working on a project and are there in person.

As for taking them out, my feeling is why lug the darn things around? Getting them in and out of the boat is a chore, getting them off and on the boat usually involves ladders. Why risk dropping one and creating a mess, and or hurting yourself?

Henry
 
Thanks to all who gave their opinions. The batteries are so heavy and getting them down is a chore with risk as Henry stated.

MM
 
FWIW - I've always stored indoors, cold storage and have never removed a battery. Leave them hooked up and just turn the switch to off. No issues in the spring.
 
I used to take them out for the winter but stopped doing that years ago. They stay in and hooked up with the switches turned off and the drain plug out so there is nothing drawing on them. I turn the charger on for a few days a couple of times over the winter, and the batteries are always good to go in the Spring.
BTW: I go in and out of my boat several times over the winter here on Long Island through a door in the shrink wrap. I've kept a bottle of water in the galley sink for several of the last few winters just to see how cold it gets in there. I haven't had a bottle of water freeze yet. While it gets plenty cold inside the boat, between the shrink wrap and things inside the boat being out of the harsh wind, there isn't a lot of ice forming in there.
 
Guys..He said he has no way to charge them where it is. Just pull them out and bring them home. Turn on the trickle charger once a week for a day or so.
 
While we on the subject of batteries during the winter now is a good time of the year to add water to the batteries if needed. It takes time for the acid and water in the batteries to mix properly and prevent freezing. Just did mine last weekend. I'll check them during the winter but not add water during the extreme cold.
 
When my batteries go bad, I buy new ones. It isn't worth a moment's thought to worry about it.
I charge mine in the winter for about four hours once a month, and fully before first use in the spring.
 
Of course. If I had a high dollar boat with that many batteries, I wouldn't even blink at replacing them.
There are lots of things to worry about, and to me, battery life after taking reasonable care of them isn't one of them.
 
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