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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Winter battery storage

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/09/2004 : 07:26:51

Hi All,

My boat is spending the cold winter months indoors in a heated boat storage warehouse in Vermillion, Ohio. This is about 2.5 hours from where I live. The thing is, I forgot to remove the batteries before I dropped her off. Since the indoor storage is heated, is it okay to leave the batteries where they are? I'm going to the boat show in Cleveland next weekend, and if it's best if I take the batteries home, that would be a good time for me to pick them up.

Thanks,

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 07:31:26

Are they on a charger? To me the important thing is that they be on a charger whether in the boat or in your garage.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 07:37:20

My concern would be charging the batteries come spring. I take mine out and store in the house. In the spring I'll put the battery on the charger for a while before moving it back to osmepneo.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 07:51:29

No, they're not on a charger. Last winter I stored them in my garage and then charged them before I splashed the boat in the spring. Admittadly, (sp?) I tended to be conservative with my battery use throughout the summer, but I never once had a problem with lack of battery power. I just used them for lights and the radio. I could never get my electric start to work on the engine (johnson sailmaster). Maybe because I didn't have enough juice in the batteries? This brings up another question though...both of my batteries are "house" batteries. Should I also have a cranking battery? Call me ignorant, but I've never had a boat with an engine with an electric start option, so I just don't know.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 09:48:23

The problem with leaving your batteries unattended for an extended period of time is that Lead-Acid batteries self-discharge during storage. Allowing a battery to remain in a discharged state for an extended period of time causes sulfation, which greatly reduces it's lifespan and ability to deliver higher current flows. (may explain your inability to start the engine).

Batteries in extended storage should have a 'maintenance' charger on them or receive periodic refresher charges from a regular battery charger. I found a 'permanent mount' 1.5 amp 'smart' maintenance charger at Kragen auto for $25. Never leave a 'dumb' (unregulated) charger on a battery for an extended time... it will boil the fluid out and ruin it.

IMHO, If your batteries have been through several years of long discharge periods... they are probably damaged.

If your engine is easily started by hand, you probably don't need a seperate house and starting battery. Those are usually found on boats where you depend on electric starting for your engine and are in realy trouble if you can't get your engine started due to a discharged battery.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 12:14:35

From the [url="http://www.exide.com/"]Exide[/url] website FAQ's...

"What is the proper way to store marine batteries?" 

Clean battery case and terminals with baking soda and water, being careful to make sure the solution does not get into the battery. Always check to ensure the battery is fully charged before storing. Batteries stored in a discharged state are susceptible to freezing and an increased rate of further discharge. Store in a cool dry place (not next to a furnace or other heat source) and out of reach of children and pets. Check the state of charge every 45-60 days and add distilled water if needed.

I usually just remove my fully charged battery and put it in my basement, and I've never had any problems.

Edited by - dlucier on 01/09/2004 12:15:47

Kip C
Navigator

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USA
243 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 13:32:14

We are storing our 2 batteriers in the basement also. I was wondering if a small 5 watt solar panel would be a good idea to keep them fully charged, provided there is enough light. For some reason, I was under the impression you should not store batteries directly on the ground because it drains the charge. That they should set on wood or something to insulate them from the ground. Any thoughts?

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 14:13:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kip C
 ...For some reason, I was under the impression you should not store batteries directly on the ground because it drains the charge. That they should set on wood or something to insulate them from the ground. Any thoughts?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Again from the FAQ's at the Exide website...

"Will placing my battery on concrete drain the charge?" 

A battery will not lose its state-of-charge strictly from placing it on a concrete surface, but will discharge it over a period of time, due simply to neglect.

So I guess the answer is no, the battery will not drain if set on a concrete floor.

Edited by - dlucier on 01/09/2004 14:15:12

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 14:34:16

Thanks Ya'll. Looks like I get to go see my baby!

Haven't seen her in a few months.

I miss her.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 16:04:15

My Johnson Sailmaster had a bad starter switch/button when I got my boat. I usually fix pretty much what ever needs fixing. The OB has so much water proofing on it's wires that I had a hard time tracing the problem, I took it to a shop and they diagnosed the switch and replaced it. I honestly do not see how anyone can pull a rope at the angle the rope would be at if their engine were down in the lowered position. I love my electric start!

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 01/09/2004 21:27:45

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 20:19:32

"Will placing my battery on concrete drain the charge?"

This is obsolete folk wisdom left-over from the early days of car batteries.
Before modern plastic or rubber casings appeared on the scene, battery fluid migrating through the early case materials would interact with the calcium in concrete... destroying the battery.

Don't need to worry about that anymore.

"I was wondering if a small 5 watt solar panel would be a good idea to keep them fully charged, provided there is enough light."

The amount of electricity used by 'maintenance' chargers is tiny... unless you simply don't have any power available where your batteries are stored, I wouldn't worry about using solar panels as an energy conservation measure. A $20 "Battery Pal" charger will keep them in a good state of charge.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2004 : 22:20:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 I honestly do not see how anyone can pull a rope at the angle the rope would be at if their engine were down in the lowered position.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's funny, my Eddie Bauer field watch was saying exactly the same thing...just before its crystal exploded into a million pieces.

Edited by - on

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