Boat Storage question about batteries

[tummyman]

I am interested in what people / marinas do with batteries over winter storage. In particular, I am interested in boats that are stored outside...not in heated areas. Do they just leave the batteries in the boat over the winter? Seems an overwhelming task to remove them....labor intensive. I have been removing my batteries for a number of years, but as I get older, it is getting to be more work...they are heavy!! I rationalize that people leave batteries in cars exposed to low temps. Apparently there is not a concern of the liquids freezing...or is there? I store my boat outside on my property with shrink wrap. Any thoughts as to what others do or what marinas do would be appreciated. A trickle charge will not work for me due to distance away from power.

[Winnisquamer]

Why is it labor intensive to remove a battery? Are they a nightmare to get too? I take mine out, it's literally loosen 4 bolts for 2 batteries, charge them up then store them. Grab a friend if they're too heavy.

If stored inside I just disconnect them and leave them in the boat. I also have friends who hook them up to trickle chargers. I just don't bother, takes a day to charge them in the spring, no big deal.

[TiltonBB]

I disconnect the cables and leave my batteries in the boat. A charged battery will not freeze. Over the past 40 plus years I have never lost a battery over the winter and I assume that if I do the battery was no good anyway.

Some years a little help is needed but this past spring my 6 year old batteries started the boat without even charging them.

[Doobs41378]

My batteries are disconnected and stay in the boat. My boat gets shrink wrapped for the winter.

[Hillcountry]

I will take my battery home (boat will be shrink wrapped at marina) and put it on a maintainer system that will keep charged and maintained up to 6 batteries.
I keep all my equipment's batteries on the bench during off seasons.

[NH20]

A fully charged battery won't freeze until something like -75f, a fully discharged battery will freeze at about the same temp as water. Really, a lead-acid battery should never be left discharged, regardless of the air temp.

I pull my batteries and keep them inside on a tender (varies the charge voltage according to charge level, as opposed to a trickle charger) and swap in an older battery I keep around so the shop can run it to winterize it, and then leave that one in all winter. A bit of a pain, but only a small part of the winter layup.

I think if you can keep them full or near-full charge they should be OK over the winter in the boat.

[Rich]

As others have said, charge batteries fully, then disconnect the cables and leave them in the boat.

Disconnect the cables is key, as on some boats not everything is disconnected by a battery switch, so it's best to disconnect at least one cable from each battery to be sure there is no parasitic load on the battery over the long cold winter.

[ishoot308]

My batteries stay in my boats over the winter and never had a problem in the past. Charge them fully, take off one cable if you can or at a minimum shut the battery switch. You will be good to go in the spring.

Dan

[robmac]

Mine both stay in and a week before she's put up for the winter I charge them with a solar charger. Never had an issue

[BroadHopper]

Seems like when I bring the batteries in, do a maintenance charge (recycle), store them on a wood plank in the cellar and I can get 7 or 8 years life. If I leave them in the boat charged, I only get 3 or 4.

I also notice the batteries need distilled water at the end of the season. I top them off.

[persistence]

I have 7 batteries in my boat 3 are not so fun to remove, or even fill for that matter. I keep them charged as i'm plugged into shore power in the water. Going on my 5th winter now, I check the water and turn the switches off. The boat is close to me so I leave an ext cord hanging out through a scupper and plugged into an adapter on the boat. I'll try to plug the boat in to charge for a few hours every month. I like to go inside too to check things out, make sure no animals or humans have found a new home. (it has happened to friends boats) . As the warmer weather comes ill plug it in as i'm working on the boat.

So far so good... :)

[Descant]

Persistence: SEVEN Batteries? I have 4, two for each engine and none for the generator. My previous, larger, boat, had three, two on one engine and no separate battery for the generator. What sort of boat do you have?

[persistence]

lol thats what i said, 7?!? it's a 31' Tiara. 4 are for engines and house. and 3 are for a xantrex inverter on the boat. it powers most things in lieu of genny, but it CAN NOT make coffee lol.

[ishoot308]

lol thats what i said, 7?!? it's a 31' Tiara. 4 are for engines and house. and 3 are for a xantrex inverter on the boat. it powers most things in lieu of genny, but it CAN NOT make coffee lol.

You have 7 batteries and can't make coffee!?? I would return it! :D:D

[persistence]

Haha. yea however I haven't tested it since I replaced the batteries. I think its meant more for light systems. It will run the microwave but I think its more for outlets, fridge etc, when on the hook. The first summer we tried a coffee maker and it just zapped the batteries :) Not the end of the world and I think id rather have it, than a generator, maintenance wise...

Anyway, I do just leave them in the boat all winter. Take the 2 yo down the club saturday mornings, plug the boat in while he runs around the clubhouse with the old timers ;)