What do you guys do with your boat batteries in the winter? I usually take them out of the boat and put them in my shed and charge them every now and then all winter. This year I was lazy and left them in the boat and haven't charged them yet. I hope they live.

Mine are huge and really heavy, so I leave them in and once a month I plug in my onboard trickle charger for a couple of days.

Ready to go in the spring.

You gotta keep them charged, if not the Neg plates start to rot.

I have always pulled mine out and put them in the cellar. A local dealer said I shouldn't have to do that. He maintains/stores about 100 boats over the winter in his yard. He said he just disconnects the positive cable and leaves them in the boat for the winter.

But then again, he is in the business of selling stuff like new batteries.

I just leave them where they sit and disconnect the cables. Never had a problem.

They stay in the boat and always have. I do charge them now and then. Also shut them of at the switch. Guess I should that the pos. lead off but never have.

both of em are in the garage.. We have not charged them?? should we?


Jr Link

I had 2 batteries freeze and split last winter. This year I have been charging them once a month.

on wood the concrete floor will drain it quicker or so im told so I put it on wood and run the charge once a month

Batteries should be charged about once/month. I fthey are allowed to discharge the acid breaks down and turns to water. Then they freeze and split the casing. Batteries that are fairly new will survive the winter generally. It's after they get a couple years old that they will degrade faster. Extreme cold temps like we've seen this year can also do them in.

I believe what Bigbo said is true....
A dead battery can freeze.

Keep em' charged.

Plus the $$$ for marine batteries is insane, (especially these big ones my engine requires) so I'm making sure they last..

If they are fully charged and you disconnect the cables they will stay fully charged all winter, no worries about freezing.

If you disconnect the positive side of the battery first on newer Suzuki OB it will ruin the computer in the motor. Read your manual You must remove the - first. :smash: