Choosing Better Auto Parts

Batteries are one of the most critical parts of any boat, but they're easy to overlook. Many boat owners and anglers only think about their batteries once they begin to cause trouble, resulting in frustrating days out on the water and unnecessary expenses. Maintaining your boat's battery (or batteries) will help you extend its life while avoiding time-consuming and costly issues. 

Unfortunately, marine batteries often require a little more maintenance than the batteries on most cars. This extra care comes down to the type of batteries used and the seasonal nature of most boats. If the batteries on your boat aren't lasting as long as they should, these three tips will help you extend their life and enjoy less frequent replacements.

1. Know Your Battery Type

Marine batteries typically come in four types:

• Wet cell
• Gel cell
• Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)

Wet cell, gel cell, and AGM batteries are all different designs used for lead-acid batteries, while lithium batteries use an entirely different chemical makeup. Each battery has unique requirements, so it's critical to know the type of battery found in your boat. Of these four types, wet cell batteries require the most maintenance since you'll need to check and occasionally top up their water reserves.

While manufacturers typically list the other three battery types as "maintenance-free," there are still things you'll need to do to make them last for as long as possible.

2. Inspect, Clean, and Protect Terminals

Cleaning your batteries is about more than just keeping them looking good. Corrosion can develop around the battery terminals, reducing the quality of the connection. While this may initially only cause inconvenience, a build-up of corrosion on your battery terminals will eventually lead to excessive battery wear and a shortened life span.

While checking and cleaning your terminals is the most important thing you can do, you may also want to apply a terminal protectant from time to time. Storing your batteries in a cool, dry place and avoiding overcharging are two more steps that may help reduce corrosion on the terminals over the long term.

3. Focus on Storage and Charging

Battery maintenance doesn't end when you put your boat away for the season. You should always disconnect your batteries and store them in a location without high temperatures or excessive humidity. Unfortunately, leaving your batteries alone while in storage can cause them to self-discharge, ultimately reducing their life span or even killing them over the winter.

To avoid these problems, it's usually a good idea to invest in a smart charger that can work with your battery's unique chemistry to maintain them over the off-season. These charges will prevent your batteries from discharging too deeply, ensuring that the winter storage months don't shave months or years from your battery life spans.

Contact a marine battery supply service for more information.