The Rooster Posted September 21, 2008 Posted September 21, 2008 I have two deep cycle batteries on my boat and also have a Guest onboard charger that puts out 5 amps per bank on dual banks. Can I just leave the batteries in the boat all winter and keep them plugged in, or do I need to take them inside the house so they don't get cold?? My boat stays outside under a tarp, no garage to keep it in here, and it can get fairly cold here in KY, we get some good snow at times too. Quote
illumastorm Posted September 21, 2008 Posted September 21, 2008 i would remove them and take em in the house & sit them on some plywood somewhere out of the way. hook up a trickle charger every now & then to keep them charged. Quote
NBR Posted September 21, 2008 Posted September 21, 2008 You can leave them in the boat all winter and either keep them plugged-in or plug them in once every 2 to 3 weeks. If you take them in you don't need to set them on wood. That was true before plastic battery cases. Make sure the water level is as required. Quote
The Rooster Posted September 21, 2008 Author Posted September 21, 2008 Do you just add distilled water only?? I used bottled water one time on a battery, spring water if I remember right, and it died shortly thereafter, I never got to use it not even one more time after that. How high do you fill each cell?? Quote
Ann-Marie Posted September 21, 2008 Posted September 21, 2008 You can leave the batteries in the boat. No one takes their car batteries to bed to keep them warm. Hit them with the charger every month or two. They will not require any water but you should use distilled water. When cruising on our boat for 14 years I used the water from our water maker which is as good as distilled. Quote
The Rooster Posted September 21, 2008 Author Posted September 21, 2008 That is true you don't remove a car battery, but you usually are using it about everyday when you drive the car so you know that the battery is good each day when the car starts again. The boat doesn't get moved or even started for nearly 5 months so if the battery drops down in charge, a person might not notice it for a pretty long time. Did I see by your avatar that you've never been bass fishing!!!! We're gonna have to declare an emergency and get you out there with at least a spinnerbait or something tied on!!!! I was just worried about this boat this year now that I have the onboard charger, and also now that my other portable charger bit the dust, I don't have a way to keep them charged up inside the house anymore, but I was worried about them being out in the cold air for an extended period of time. I guess that charger will do it's job to keep them up though. Quote
kikstand454 Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 man im glad i live in florida. bass fishing 12 months a year! when i get bored with that... inshore fishing is hot in the winter too!!! ha! Quote
teh_bass Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 man im glad i live in florida.bass fishing 12 months a year! when i get bored with that... inshore fishing is hot in the winter too!!! ha! Lol yup WE WIN! we dont have to worry about batteries, frozen lakes, or anything really ;D except skin cancer and heat :-/ Quote
riverfisher Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 man im glad i live in florida.bass fishing 12 months a year! when i get bored with that... inshore fishing is hot in the winter too!!! ha! Lol yup WE WIN! we dont have to worry about batteries, frozen lakes, or anything really ;D except skin cancer and heat :-/ Geeeeze dont think that just because theres ice here up north that there is no fishing!! Ya cut yourself holes with a big 10" gas powered Ice auger and start drillin for tip ups. You also get yourself the biggest bait you can find. I prefer 12" or so suckers ya drop them down the hole and you wait for them big toothy pike and walleye and occasional large mouth. BUT, while you wait for the flags to fly ya play some football, maybe a little home run derby, bust out the ol'daisy and have a can shooting competition. But when a flag goes up thats when you run for it, because its like playing kill the carrier to get there first!!!! Well thats how we roll on the Ice, Man I do love Ice fishing!!! Quote
riverfisher Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 Man I just realised I got way off subject sorry about that! I yank out all of my batteries and keep them on a trickle charger on my work bench in my cellar. I just prefer to do that to keep them warm rather then freeze up. Quote
HPBB Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 Both of my boats sit outside 24/7/365 Up here in Pittsburgh Pa, winters can get really cold.I leave the batteries in the boats, I have a BPS xps 5/5/5 charger in my small boat and a Promariner 20sport in my big boat and leave them plugged in all winther( infact when ever the boats are home they stay plugged in 24/7) and have nevr had a problems with batteries sitting over the winter. the plus to this is, if there is a warm day and I want to get out ( and the water isn't hard) the batteries are always ready to go Quote
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