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The sun has just come up, and you can feel in the air that it’s going to be a scorcher – the perfect day out for boating. A reliable boat battery is crucial to enjoying your day out on the water – not only do they keep the essentials going, but they power the comforts of the boat too. Maintaining your boat battery means it could last for several years, but you’ll only get a few short seasons from a neglected one.

So to avoid spending unnecessary money and to minimise the risk of getting stranded at the most inopportune time, here are a few tips to keeping your boat battery in the best shape:

Extending your boat battery life.

Boat batteries generally have a good lifespan and can last for several years if maintained correctly. You can ensure your battery lasts by keeping it connected to a maintenance charger to keep it fully charged. Using a maintenance charger can also help maintain and charge the battery while it is not in use. When left disconnected, batteries lose 1 – 3% of charge every month. Even when disconnected, batteries will lose charge over time.

Failing to keep batteries in a fully charged state batteries will shorten their lifespan.

Monitoring your battery.

The easiest way to monitor the state of charge of a lead acid battery is to make use of a multimeter. The voltage should be above 12.65 volts for a fully charged battery.

Be sure to test your battery regularly so that you are never left stranded.

Jump starting your boat battery.

Jump starting a boat is no different to jumping a car, but please ensure that you are in a well-ventilated space before connecting the battery. As many boat batteries are in confined spaces, it is essential to check that there are no fuel fumes prior to jumping.

Why has my boat battery failed?

Lead acid batteries fail for various reasons. Heat speeds up the degradation of a battery, as does deep cycling, as it causes the active material to break away from the lead grid. Sulphation is accelerated when the battery is allowed to run flat, particularly if it is not immediately charged again.

Remember: If batteries are not properly maintained, there is a risk that your boat battery might fail while on the water. It is advisable to not boat alone and to ensure that your phone is fully charged. Take some snacks, water, and a warm item of clothing with you when boating in case you do get stuck for a few hours. The safest option is to keep jumper cables on board with you

Authors

  • Andrew McFarlane

    Andrew Macfarlane has accumulated over a decade of experience in content creation - graduating from the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business with a Diploma in Copywriting. When he is not engrossed in writing at his computer, he can be found tending to his garden or engaging in various DIY projects. His contributions as an author have been acknowledged in reputable publications such as the Sunday Times, Bizcommunity, and HotCars, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and versatile writer.

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  • Heine Coetzer

    Name: Heine Coetzer Current Position: OEM and R&D Manager Qualifications: - N.Dip Electrical Engineering (Light Current); - B.Tech Electrical Engineering (Cum Laude) and; - Programme for Management Development (Gibbs) Experience: 17 years of experience in the South African battery industry covering Aftermarket sales and distribution, OEM sales and support, OEM product development, OEM quality systems, Research and Development, battery design, battery testing and benchmarking.

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  • Roger Harden

    Name: Roger Harden Current Position: Marketing Service Manager Qualifications: - National Higher Diploma Technika and; - Diploma in Marketing Management Experience: 30 years of experience covering new product and product gap analyses, range expansion, technical liaison for brands, product training, technical marketing as well as battery replacement updates.

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