Winter is almost upon us. This year, things are a little less certain thanks to recent storms in various parts of the world. We hope all goes well, but we must take precautions. Removing a recreational boat to a safe place makes a great deal of sense. We thought it would be useful to review what is involved in putting a boat battery to bed. The same could apply to a classic car we ride with the hood down on a summer’s day.
Putting a Boat Battery to Bed: Step One: Clean Up
Disconnect the negative battery terminal first, and then the positive one. Take care to avoid a short circuit with a careless spanner, necklace, or bracelet. Put on stout, waterproof gloves, and then remove the battery to a sturdy workbench. Make a mix of four cups water to two tablespoons baking soda.
Use this to neutralize any acid on the case, making sure not to block any vents. Wipe the soda solution away with a cloth and water. Do the same to the battery tray and the cable clamps. You want to remove any caked dirt. Everything should look as close to new as possible before putting a boat battery to bed for winter.
Step Two: Inspect the Battery, and Battery Tray
Use this relatively rare opportunity to inspect the battery, battery terminals, and battery tray for signs of cracks, damage or decay. Neutralize any corrosion on the latter by first wire brushing, and then painting with rust converter. Paint over the repair with hard-wearing paint if desired.
Take the battery to a dealer if you find anything untoward. This is not worth taking a chance over so please follow their advice. If everything looks okay, top the electrolyte up if yours is a conventional vented battery.
Step Three: Prepare the Boat Battery for a Winter Doze
Next, connect the positive, and then the negative battery terminals to a smart battery-charger / maintainer in a convenient, vented space. Finally, apply grease to the battery terminals to reduce the chance of corrosion. That is about all there is to putting a boat battery to bed for winter.
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