Don Casey Tip #5

Battery Care

Don't let the "maintenance free" battery in your car lull you into complacency about the battery in your boat. Neglecting a marine battery is certain to shorten its life.

Get the most from your boat's batteries by following these guidelines:

. Keep idle batteries fully charged. Leaving a battery even partially discharged leads to sulfation and loss of capacity.

. Check the water level regularly. Top up as necessary to keep the level about 1/4" above the plates.

. Use only distilled water for topping up; trace minerals and/or chlorine in tap water really do shorten battery life.

. Fill cells after charging. If you fill them before, expansion during charging will pump electrolyte out on top of the battery, causing a corrosive mess and reducing the acid level inside the battery.

. Keep the top of the case clean and dry. Dampness, dirt, and acid on the battery case can create a circuit between the terminals that will drain the battery.

. Keep terminals and cable clamps corrosion-free. Use a wire brush to remove corrosion. Coat both terminal and clamp with petroleum jelly (not grease) to prevent future corrosion.