Batteries 101

R

rkturner

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
RO Number
29892
Messages
3
Hey all...
1st timer owner, just bought a 22 ft 98 Maxum with a 315 mercruiser vdrive...
I bought it in the Winter and took it straight to storage...
Calgary, Canada

my question is about batteries:
1. what kind of charger do you use to keep batteries full for spring?
2. Does the engine have and alternator to keep the batteries charged, or do i need to keep aware of the charge on them?

putting her in the water this saturday, cautious but excited

Thanks & happy wake making...
 
I leave them in the boat fully charged and full of water. I periodically charge them with my onboard charger (maybe once or twice during the winter). Does your boat have an onboard converter (charger)? Yes, the alternators on the engine will charge your batteries. If you don't have an onboard converter and wish to add one, make sure it's marine rated and ignition protected (not a car battery charger). How many batteries and what type are they?
 
1st one:
Trojan maine F6, starting
165 min rb2@gr5t 25amps / 12volt

2nd one:
Everstart 27dc-6 trolling
amp 115

i've noticed a few threads of switching from one battery to the other with a switch while running...
is one just for cranking up and starting and one for running???

Cheers
 
Go to the bottom of this page and do a g00gle search of this website for the word "battery". Tons of valuable info there!
 
yes the mercruiser has an alternator. You can use any kind oif charger to top them up for spring, out of the boat, but never use an automotive charger on a boat becase of fire danger and incompatibility of the cheap auto design with boat grounding systems. They are fine if the batts are out of the boat.
 
I was told by a boat yard up in Maine that if your batteries are good and fully charged, then they can be left on the boat over the winter without a trickle charge, but disconnected. The comment was something like, "If the batteries can't last the winter then you're not going to want to use them in the Spring."
 
Go to Boatfix.com and right below that name on the top left, click on articles.
Then go to battery systems part 1 and part 2.
That will help you figure out what you have or what you need.
 
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