SECTION
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
11
BATTERIES ! Electrical Shock Hazard: Always disconnect the batteries before performing maintenance on the DC electrical system. Electrical shock may occur if the batteries are not disconnected during maintenance on the DC electrical system. ! Personal Injury Hazard: Always wear gloves and protective eyewear when working on and around the batteries. The batteries contain an acid called electrolyte. Avoid causing damage that could spill electrolyte into the bilge when servicing the batteries. Avoid getting salt water in or on the battery. Either condition can create a poisonous gas that is harmful if inhaled. Always disconnect the batteries before cleaning. ! Personal Injury Hazard: Never allow a tool to bridge across the battery terminals. Injury can result if the terminals are accidentally bridged with a tool or other conductor. Today’s boats can be loaded with electronics that all run off the boat’s battery. Because of this, many boats will have two or more batteries: one for starting and running the engine, and one for electronics, commonly referred to as the house battery. One advantage is that the starting battery will not be drawn down when using electronics with the engine off, such as with a stereo. Another advantage is if the starting battery has lost capacity because of age, the battery switch has a 1+2 (Both) position that parallels both batteries for emergency starting. Marine batteries generally come in two types: starting and deep-cycle. Starting batteries are similar to car batteries, can supply lots of current for a short period of time and are used for starting the engine. Starting batteries should be recharged almost immediately and do not tolerate deep discharges. Deep-cycle batteries are designed for repeated discharging and recharging cycles without damage. They are used as the house battery on boats with higher DC power requirements. All batteries have one thing in common — they run for a while, need recharging and require an eventual replacement as the capacity fades. Most marine batteries are sealed and require no maintenance other than keeping them at a full state of charge and diligently cleaning corrosion from the terminals. To maintain long life, deepcycle batteries should not be discharged more than 50% before they are recharged. Most marine batteries are flooded, sealed lead-acid, but there are several different battery types/chemistries that could be used. You must use caution when charging or replacing the batteries; replace batteries with the exact same type, group and capacity. If your boat is not equipped with an onboard battery charger, use a smart charger suitable to your battery type/chemistry.
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Watersport Tow Boats l 11-11