Just a little braging and a bunch of praise for good ventilation

[Ross]

On Saturday afternoon Nancy and I went down to the boat to reinstall the propeller. When last I had been down in January there was a half inch of water in the bilge. Thatwas when I pulled the prop. (I was having it repitched from the 15 that is was when I bought it to 13 as recommended by some knowledgable friends). Everything went back in as planned and all is well. To my delight the bilge is dusty dry. The battery voltage is 12.15, down from 12.25 in November when I laid her up. Just a couple of minor repairs and we will be ready to splash when Stan can get his act and the tides together. We launch close to high tide.

 

[Lou 14643]

Ross, your post prompts a question about the state of my batteries

I brought my batteries home last week in order to give them a charge before launching in a week or so. This is the first time I've done this since owning the boat since 2004. Every fall I'm sure to run the engine sufficiently to get the batteries as fully charged as possible, just off the engine. My two (new in 2004) group 27 batteries always did fine starting the engine up again in the Spring. Last year they needed a jump in order to do the job. Perhaps I had just not given them enough charge before laying up for the winter. In any case, I have a manual charger. The batteries were reading about 12.1 volts when I first checked them. I'm now charging at the higher 10 amp rate the charger allows, and am watching and listening to the cells start to bubble. Checking periodically, I'm now up to about 13.6 volts, which I know will drop back once they've rested post charge. Any advice about how to know, without a smart, multi-stage charger, when they're at peak charge, but before doing any damage? Any advice appreciated.

 

[Ross]

I use AGM batteries and just charge them off the engine.

Basically I treat them just as I do my car batteries. If I get five or six years from them I am happy. I consider batteries as a small expense compared to many other things on a boat.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lou, learn about what batteries need to charge

Download the Ample Power Primer from www.amplepower.com

 

[Lou 14643]

Thanks Stu, I did look at the amplepower site...

but am a little unsure of myself having this "manual" charger. I think I'm getting there, however. Was able to get to the new owner of what had been Exide (bought by Midtronics) and found the documentation for a charger like mine there, which gave me some added confidence.

 

[Benny17441]

Lou, you asked for any advice; here it goes.

For under $15, you can get a 6 amp, three stage charger at Walmart which you could also use later for your car. As batteries approach 80-90% of charge their rate of charge acceptance diminishes and bubbling of the electrolite is a sign that the rate of acceptance is being exceeded and that is harmful to the life of the battery. If you don't mind the slow charging time an inexpensive three stage charger will do a good job. In order to test the state of charge of a battery you need to let it rest and with your current charger to attain full charge would be a hit and miss proposition.

 

[Lou 14643]

Benny, it is exactly a "hit and miss" process, as you suggest.

Didn't realize that a three stage charger is as inexpensive as you mention. Thanks. I'll pursue it!

 

[sailormanbigd]

DON'T LOOSE THE MANUAL CHARGER

I lost my manual charger a few years back-loaned it out to someone? Everything was fine with the new smart chargers until I tried to charge a dead battery. I knew it was still a good batter, just left the power switch "on" on the boat when I left and battery drained. The new smart charger read my battery as no good and would'nt send a charge to it. Had to take it to a battery store to get it charged, been fine ever since. Who has my manual charger! patrick (free boat)