Jump starting boat

[cardinaljacket]

Recently purchased a jump and carry box to jump start my spare car. I was wondering if it is safe to use for my SunDeck with 2 batteries? Are there any special precautions I should take, or is it just like jump starting a car? I would really appreciate a step-by-step protocol on how to safely jump start a boat. Thanks for your help!

 

[Paladin]

hmm I've wondered the same. Seems like if you turned your battery switch to one battery only (if you have more than one) and knew which one that was, and hooked it up like on a car,...?

 

[testlab]

Assuming your boat is 12V then it's similar to a car. Connect the positive (+) first and then the negative (-). Do not parallel the batteries if they are both flat. Select the bank with the jump pack on it and crank away.

Let it run for a minute then remove the pack, the (-) first then (+). Do not turn off the engine battery switch when disconnecting. If twin engines, let one run at fast idle to charge the battery for a while before paralleling the banks (if fitted with a paralleling switch) and continuing to let it run to charge the other bank too. Give it at least 10 or 15 mins for an average alternator output and try to start the second engine.

If it doesnt start and if the pack is still carrying a good charge then use it start the second engine using the same procedure as above, but this time parallel the battery banks before cranking.

Having had boats on moorings for many years flat batteries are at times are a way of life. Hope this helps.

Edited to add... If it's a petrol boat then open the engine hatches, look, smell and feel around for fuel or fumes before doing any of the above.

 

[cardinaljacket]

Thanks for the reply! I hope I never have to try this, but it is good to know the right way to do it.

 

[Gunn]

Recently purchased a jump and carry box to jump start my spare car. I was wondering if it is safe to use for my SunDeck with 2 batteries? Are there any special precautions I should take, or is it just like jump starting a car? I would really appreciate a step-by-step protocol on how to safely jump start a boat. Thanks for your help!

If you have two batteries, you essentially are already carrying a jump starter with you! Do you have a battery switch that you can set to 1, 2, 1+2 or None? If so, when the boat is not running, make sure you have selected one or the other, never both. Then if one were to die, you'd have the other to get you going, and then recharge the dead one.

Assuming your boat is 12V then it's similar to a car. Connect the positive (+) first and then the negative (-). Do not parallel the batteries if they are both flat. Select the bank with the jump pack on it and crank away.

When connecting the negative cables, the very last cable connection should be the negative cable to the dead battery, but...don't connect it to the battery terminal. Connect it to a grounded metal part of the frame or engine, as far away as the cables will allow. If you do connect them both to the terminals, there's a remote risk that a spark created when you clamp on that last cable could easily jump the short distance to the positive cable and...boom. Or that you could accidentally bump the clamps into each other...