Boat Battery Maintenance

Your boat’s battery is one of its most critical components, with a role to play in some of your boat’s most important systems. That’s why it’s so crucial that you take the best possible care of your boat’s battery. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to boat battery maintenance, these tips from Texas Malibu can help!

Install The Correct Boat Battery

Always check your owner’s manual to make sure that a new boat battery is compatible with your vessel before you install it. We recommend recording the date that you install the battery. This will make it easier to tell when it’s time to replace the battery.

Clean Your Boat Battery

Corrosion will build up on your boat battery’s posts over time, reducing performance and eventually causing permanent damage. Luckily, the posts can be cleaned with a mixture of baking soda and water. Once you’ve completely removed the corrosion and allowed the posts to dry, lightly grease them with dielectric grease.

Recharge The Battery Often

Boat batteries tend to last longer and perform better if they are kept well-charged. The tender on a boat’s battery is usually not enough to keep it charged, so you’ll need to use a tender. We recommend recharging your boat’s battery after every voyage or as often as the owner’s manual recommends. The owner’s manual will also have a list of chargers that are compatible with your battery.

Store The Boat Battery Correctly

Standard practice is to store your boat’s battery separately from your boat itself. For long-term boat battery storage, use a cool and dry place. Boat batteries need to be kept charged even while in storage, so recharge your battery at least once a month. Don’t forget to clean off the corrosion as well!

Shop boats at Texas Malibu in Austin, Texas. We’re proud to serve communities like New Braunfels, Texas. We also offer boat servicing, repairs, and financing.