Top Tips for Maintaining Your Boat Batteries

The pandemic is almost over, and the trips, trekking, and camping activities have returned. And like any other city in the Northwest U.S., one of the most preferred recreational activities of Portlanders is sailing in the Pacific Ocean. Owning a boat is super cool, and everybody will be excited about sailing and partying with you.

Many in Portland own boats as the city is in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western US—being near the ocean is what makes people thrilled about sailing, and sailing has become a common activity in Oregon. As said earlier, sailing is fun, but what many boat owners forget about is the maintenance of the boat, especially the maintenance of the batteries. If the batteries are damaged, you can get boat batteries in Portland, OR at an affordable price, but the batteries will last for years if you do the proper maintenance.

Boat batteries are also called marine batteries, and if you keep these batteries properly maintained, you can avoid getting stuck in the middle of the sea. The boat uses batteries for several functions, such as GPS, lights, radio, necessary appliances, and devices that work on electricity. If the batteries malfunction, you’ll be stuck in the ocean and have to wait for the rescue team.

Oregon’s largest and most populous city (Portland) welcomes millions of tourists every year. The city’s major attractions are Washington Park, Columbia River in Gorge National Scenic Area, Pittock Mansion, International Rose test garden, and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. However, most tourists are attracted to the beaches in the city. The city has several beaches like Cannon Beach, Indian Beach, Short Sands, etc.; being close to the Pacific Ocean has made the city a popular tourist destination.

Now, how do you ensure that the batteries are working smoothly?

The following tips will help you understand the necessary things you must do to keep the batteries working fine:

Do regular testing

This is a method that many use to keep the marine battery in good condition. In this method, you use a maintenance charger to maintain the battery when it’s lying idle. This technique helps increase the battery life.

Proper storage is important.

What reduces the battery’s life is improper storage. Batteries must be kept in a secure and cool place when not in use. If you keep them in hot or humid conditions, the battery will start to degrade. And you’ll have to buy another one. And whenever you see boat batteries in Portland, OR, always buy the one that offers a warranty of at least half a year.

Understand the Recharging specifications

Sometimes boat owners’ biggest mistake is ignoring the recharging specification that comes with the battery brochure. Suppose you charge the battery with a high voltage charger; it results in faster discharge, sulfation, and corrosion. To avoid these mistakes, one must go through the instructions provided by the manufacturer or consult an expert.

Keep them clean

It would help if you cleaned the terminals of the batteries with soda paste. This will help neutralize the acid on the surface. Then fill the cells of the batteries (flooded electrolyte) with distilled water (if needed) as it has no minerals, hence zero impact on the internal plates.

Finally, cover the +ve terminal with a terminal boot or cover to prevent shocks, corrosion, and sparks.

Only use the right/proper marine battery charger.

Marine batteries are somewhat special as it is different from automobile batteries. The load these batteries carry is way more than the automobile batteries, and they are bigger, more robust, and durable. But, you cannot charge these batteries with any charger. It is highly recommended that you always use the chargers prescribed/approved by the manufacturer—you can use other chargers in case of emergencies. Still, if you use unapproved ones frequently, your battery may lose its life.

Remember these points when you are sailing and when the boat will remain idle for an extended time. Take care of the batteries, especially when they are not in use, because that’s when more damages happen.