Batteries over winter

grouch0jr

What do you all do with your batteries over winter? I was getting ready to pull mine to put them on a trickle charger for the winter, and a handful of guys at my boatyard said they just leave theirs in boat all winter. They stop in from time to time and plug their boats in to top of the batteries.

I'll be plugging her in at least once a month to do some work, so my batteries would get some juice.

YYZRC

I leave mine. 

aero3113

I leave mine in disconnected with a 4 bank trickle charger on them.

aero3113

I used to take them out and keep them on the trickle charger in the basement, what a pain pulling them out and then putting them back in!

aero3113

Cords are long enough to leave the batteries in place. It’s placed in between the trim pumps above the transom.

grouch0jr

Where I keep my store it for the winter, I can't leave it plugged in. I can only connect power while I'm with the boat, otherwise I'd definitely do that.

aero3113

Is it inside or outside? If outside, can you use a solar charger to keep them topped off?

Formulaben

@aero3113 has a good point.  I have a solar panel mounted vertically on a snowmobile trailer and it's going on year 5 of keeping the battery healthy in sub 20 degree weather, outdoors all winter!  No way it would have done as well without it IMHO. 

grouch0jr

aero3113 said:

Is it inside or outside? If outside, can you use a solar charger to keep them topped off?

It's outside. That's a good idea, I'll look into it.

johnny44

I remember years ago when I finally had a boat that had more than two batteries. Before that, when it was only one or two batteries, I used to take them home. One day I was looking at 5 batteries and I got curious about what others were doing. I read so many boat forums. Some very loud forum members would lecture about taking the batteries out and bringing them home, etc., etc. 

I kept reading. The batteries are heavy. They're in a hole in the engine room. My boat is a pretty good distance from my home. I don't have much space at home. Some people said that they just disconnected and left on their boat for the winter. So, that winter, I gave it a shot. Never had an issue with my battery life. Ever. I am sure some out there will argue with me, and that is okay. I am sure others may have a different experience than me. 10 years later, I leave my batteries on the boat, disconnected. No issues the next year, no issues with short life. 

Make a decision that you feel is best for you.

Ian

Leave in connected but switched off.

YYZRC

I put a single solar panel up on the shrink wrap to power my Arlo camera. I also am not allowed to leave the boat plugged in.

PickleRick

I used to charge them fully then store in the off position all winter.  

I started getting 2 to 3 years out of the batteries.  

Now i leave them plugged in all winter and get 5 to 6 years out of the same brand batteries. 

captkevin

disconnect & charge - leave in boat in barn

grouch0jr

I need a barn

Dream_Inn

Mine are in the boat and nothing different than any other time of the year.  She sits up on the lift, shore power plugged in.

aero3113

A barn would be awesome. Would love to have enough room for the boat and 2-3 vehicles plus a lift!

Grahamu

Load test each battery, if you have a failure remove it from boat and replace it with new at launch. Make sure the remaining batteries are fully charged and then remove the negative cable. we did this for a couple of hundred boats each year with very few problems. A discharged battery will freeze and crack.

captkevin

captkevin

30' X 48' sounded huge when we were planning. Should have gone bigger. 

Spyderweb

With my earliest boats I removed batteries and kept them at home.  With a new bayliner 285 I didn’t have that option.  Dealer said leaving batteries outside all winter would be fine (northern NY).  Those batteries lasted 9 years.  After that experience never worried about storing batteries outside again.  Rinker is stored with batteries on board all winter inside cold storage.  

captkevin

I was always told if you charge them before storage they can't freeze & would be ok. Used to take them out & store in the basement until spring.