Winterizing Boat. Batteries left in or not

GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

Hello. Thought I should hurry and get this one out there before the ice thickens and the board lights up.
I have always removed my batteries from my boat for the winter and stored them inside. Was just talking to someone and he said has always left them in the boat and charges them once a month.

Thoughts....

Glenn

lone ranger · **Joined:** Mon Sep 29, 2003 7:52 pm **Posts:** 183

Boat stored inside or outside? On the safe side I’d keep doing what your doing and take them out and store inside and charge them up once in awhile. Just my 2 cents

BATMAN · **Posted:** Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:53 am

GAP,

If you have a good quality modern charger you should be able to leave the charger running on the batteries for the entire winter.

I have four batteries on a Sportsman Pro charger. The batteries stay in the boat. The charger stays on all winter. The charger goes into maintenance mode when batteries are fully charged. Maintenance mode trickle charges batteries when required.

BATMAN

Roblin · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:53 pm **Posts:** 842

Personally, I take mine out and keep them in the basement. That might not be necessary, it's just what I've always done. To be sure maybe call Magnacharge in Kingston (613) 634-7357. Great guy's and service.

KHynes · **Posted:** Mon Jan 04, 2021 2:19 pm

I always unhook mine and leave them in the boat during the winter, a wiser option would be to remove them and top them up once a month.

Jim Lyon · **Joined:** Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:12 pm **Posts:** 423

Charge the battery full and then unhook the negative post, as long as there is no draw it will be fine.

GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

The boat is inside but not insulated or heated. I do have a onboard minnkota charger for the accessory batteries but it never crossed my mind to use it through the winter. I also have a tender that I could use on the starter battery. No big deal really to take them out but I was hoping to try getting out Nov/Dec next year for lakers and this way the boat would be ready if and when I am. Wasn't quite prepared for it this year. Messed up year all round. Next year has to be better....
Thanks all for the comments

sunrisecottageresort · **Posted:** Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:34 am

I leave mine in and on battery tenders. Boat is shrink wrapped and parked in the driveway.

bigbassin18 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:55 pm **Posts:** 431

We leave ours in. Have a charger set on body trolling and cranking. On a timer set up. Every 12 hours the chargers turn on for approx 2 hours. And haven’t had an issue with them. My boat is also covered and elements do not get into boat but is outside

reefhawg · **Joined:** Thu Dec 19, 2019 9:21 am **Posts:** 14

Only remove from boat in case of leak. Keep them in the garage all winter. Have had very good results with battery life.

BWHDeseronto · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:58 am **Posts:** 138

I leave them in boat stored on drive, have onboard Minn Kota digital battery charger which I leave plugged in, I unplug charger if forecast has a few days temps below the listed operating temp range, so far so good 4+ years of heavy use out of last first set. Sure saves lugging two 60lb+ batteries.

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Winterizing Boat. Batteries left in or not

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