First a brief history of events.... Sometime in July (probably mid july) I checked my batteries and topped off the water level. Went out a couple of times, no problem, but last time out, we expected to be back on the boat in less than 5 days, so I didn't bother to plug in shorepower and charge the batteries,. well one thing lead to another and it was a full two weeks before we got back to the boat. When I went to start the motor this past week-end, no juice. GPS's battery reading was repoting only about 12.1 volts in the all position. Hooked up shore power and started the motor. Waited for about 30 minutes, then left the slip under motor, motered for a good 45 minutes or so and cut motor to sail for a couple of hours. When it was time to restart the motor, again the batteries were dead. fortunately I had a portable charger, and started the motor. While motoring back to the slip, I notice on the GPS we still only had about a 12.4 charge on the battery. When back in port, I checked the water level and both were dry. I added water, hooked up shore power and hoped the batteries would come back. (aren't you glad that was the brief version 
) Well, went back tonight to see if that recharged the battery, and you guessed it, no such luck. The GPS charge read 12.4 and when I disconnected shore power, it quickly fell within a few seconds to 12 then 11.9 etc. I checked the charger, and the needle on the charger showed 0 on the charge rate. It is a dytek marine automatic battery charger and I wouldn't swear to it since it isn't in a convient place to read, but the needed did move higher before. My question is....are my batteries toast and should I just replace? it is my charger that isn't working (remember I motored for a good hour after jump starting the motor and it still only showed a 12.4 from teh alternator)? could it be just a bad fuse on the chrager why the needle is reading 0? are both toast or is it something else? My thought is the batteries are toast, but to go dry in just 2 months seems a bit extreme. They are about 3 years old. Why would the needle on the charger read zero if the batteries are toast? If it is the batteries (2 Seaworthy NC24 batteries from BoatUs that the PO installed), can/should I replace with like batteries, go to gel batteries? Will my existing charger work with these batteries (assuming it is ok)? Only information I could get off of the batteries is that they are Boat US Seaworthy NC24 625 MCA, 120 RC and 75 AH @20 hr rate. I have no idea what all those numbers mean. I appreciate any help I get on this.
) Well, went back tonight to see if that recharged the battery, and you guessed it, no such luck. The GPS charge read 12.4 and when I disconnected shore power, it quickly fell within a few seconds to 12 then 11.9 etc. I checked the charger, and the needle on the charger showed 0 on the charge rate. It is a dytek marine automatic battery charger and I wouldn't swear to it since it isn't in a convient place to read, but the needed did move higher before. My question is....are my batteries toast and should I just replace? it is my charger that isn't working (remember I motored for a good hour after jump starting the motor and it still only showed a 12.4 from teh alternator)? could it be just a bad fuse on the chrager why the needle is reading 0? are both toast or is it something else? My thought is the batteries are toast, but to go dry in just 2 months seems a bit extreme. They are about 3 years old. Why would the needle on the charger read zero if the batteries are toast? If it is the batteries (2 Seaworthy NC24 batteries from BoatUs that the PO installed), can/should I replace with like batteries, go to gel batteries? Will my existing charger work with these batteries (assuming it is ok)? Only information I could get off of the batteries is that they are Boat US Seaworthy NC24 625 MCA, 120 RC and 75 AH @20 hr rate. I have no idea what all those numbers mean. I appreciate any help I get on this.
