Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey guys... as many of you probably know, this city boy is not very mechanically inclined.. in fact not at all.. so I have a question about charging my boat battery. Took the boat to the lake Saturday and got ready to launch.. turned the key and there was just a "hint" of the motor trying to start... tried it again, nothing... So I'm thinking it's got to be the battery right? Bring the battery back home, hook it up to a little Schumacher battery charger I have and let her run... Checked it about 10 pm saturday night and the display said the battery was 100% charged.. charging light shut off... so just on a whim I go back out tonight and plug it back in and the display says battery is at 70%. Really, lost 30% overnight just sitting on a work bench.... is this normal? I wouldn't think so but then again, I don't really know.. is it time for me to go buy another battery.. this one was only going on it's third season.... I can tell you the battery was not charged or left on a tender during the winter.. just sat on the boat... however the mechanic that serviced my boat last week said it fired right up... wondering also if maybe he didn't leave the key on accessory for a long time.. but no way to know for sure... anyway.. your thoughts please. thanks in advance for your input.

I'd take it back to the mechanic and tell him your story or just go out and buy a new battery.

I've had and heard of others having batteries fail after only three years. Some auto parts stores will perform a free "load test" on the battery. You can buy a hydrometer to test the battery and, find out if you have a bad cell or multiple bad cells which means time it's to break out the wallet and go battery shopping. Hydrometers sell for around $10 and are worth adding to 'useful' tools you may have.

http://all-about-lead-acid-batteries.ca ... ydrometer/

For me, NAPA batteries made by Deka in PA. are excellent quality. I'm staying away from big box store and wholesale warehouse stores. I've tried batteries from them over the years and they don't seem to last long, even with maintenance of checking and filling with distilled to the proper level. Some people have good luck with buying batteries at these stores, I don't.

You need a load test. I had a battery in my truck for a while that was fine 90% of the time but if I cut the engine of and turned the switch to accessory the battery would fail to Stuart the truck within five minutes. A stranded boat is no fun and possibly dangerous. Get a new battery if this one doesn't load test and keep a battery tender on it over the winter.

thanks guys... damdest thing... after I saw that the battery had lost 30% charge overnight I checked the fluid levels in all of the battery cells and all were full... then I put the battery charger back on it and set it on a "slow charge"... when the charge started the display said the battery was at 70%..... went out and checked it about 4 or 5 hours later and the display said 75%.... then I let it continue to charge over night but the display only went up 1 % to 76%. Thats only a 1 percent increase in over 8 hours of charging... frustrated, I just unplugged the damn thing at 76%.... then tonight after I got home from work I checked it just for grins... damn thing said it was at 100% in the display, but the " fully charged" light was not on... think I'm just going to play it safe and buy another battery this weekend..... and next fall I'm investing in a battery tender.

Hi Roland.
If you are conveniently located near a Pep Boys, Auto Zone, (I would imagine) O'Riellys... Take it there and have it load tested as already suggested... That is the only "sure fire" way of knowing if the battery is good. Batterys are expensive... I had a faulty electronic horn on my boat last year and it would ever so slightly drain the battery enough that after a week, we would go to the boat and it would crank a few times then nothing... Even though I found the "culprit" (the horn), my wife Annemarie says we are not leaving the dock for the rest of ever, without one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-JNC6 ... +jump+pack

I agree (peace of mind...) with her. Good luck.

Sincerely,
Rich

justrfb,
Thanks... I need to get another one of those 'jump packs.' The blue color will match up with my Sylvan.