Battery Maintenance

Batteries are not usually maintained very well due to their inconvenient location. In addition to being hard to get to, a frequent lack of recognition that they need to be checked regularly commonly leads to problems.

The first thing that a boat owner should check when inspecting batteries is that they are clean on top. Next, verify they have a proper water level, which means the plates are covered. The connections should all be clean and tight and secured firmly to withstand the boat’s movement.

Please remember that impurities commonly found in tap water will ruin the batteries and greatly shorten their life, so always use distilled or watermaker water.

When cleaning connections, use a wire bristle brush, and after re- connecting batteries, cover with "CRC corrosion inhibitor" to help fight future corrosion build up. Do not use wingnuts, as they will loosen up.

Lastly, please note that the best hold-downs you should be using are of a material that will not rot from the battery gases.

Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

~Ron Romaine
ron@kkmi.com