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Boat Battery Maintenance

Jul. 3 2023 Maintenance By Active Water Sports

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Keeping your boat’s battery running well can help it perform better and ensure a longer operational lifespan. However, battery maintenance can be more complicated than it sounds. Not all boat owners know how to take care of their batteries, which is why Active Water Sports has created this guide to boat battery maintenance.

Clean the Boat Battery

Corrosion tends to build up on boat batteries over time. Since this corrosion can lead to diminished performance or even damage, you should make a habit of cleaning your boat’s battery. Use a solution of baking soda and water to clean the battery posts and then lightly grease them with dielectric grease.

Recharge the Battery Often

One thing to keep in mind about boat batteries is that while they might superficially resemble car batteries, there are a few major differences between the two. Namely, car batteries are made for daily usage, while boat batteries are not, meaning that you cannot rely on just the alternator to keep your boat’s battery charged. We recommend that you recharge your boat’s battery after every trip. However, the manufacturer may have different recommendations, so check your owner’s manual for advice.

Store the Boat Battery Correctly

Proper battery storage is very important when it comes to ensuring proper battery health. Before you put your boat away for the season, fully charge your battery and give it a good clean. Select a dry, temperature-controlled location to store the battery such as a garage or shed. Finally, be sure to leave the battery connected to the motor during storage. Follow these steps, and your battery should come out of storage working about as well as it did before you put it away.

For more information or to view our selection of new and pre-owned boats, visit Active Water Sports at one of our four locations. We have dealerships in Canby, Oregon City, Redmond, and Portland, Oregon. We also offer parts, trade-ins, storage, service, and financing. We are proud to serve the state of Oregon, and we hope to see you soon.