"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
It is such a nice day, I decided to open up the Ranger and check
things out - you know - just look around the boat, make sure things
are ok - you know, get ready for March 1st when the cover comes off
and the bottom is painted and stuff? :)

Good damn thing I did - the starting battery had a bulge in the side
and looked like it was about to fail. Pulled that sucker out in a
hurry. I've got the trolling motor batteries on slow charge right
now.

Can't figure out what happened to the starting battery - it was
disconnected and was fully charged before I put it away for the
winter. Never seen that happen before.

Sounds like that bat. is shot. Reverse charging, freezing, sometimes
over-charging can cause that "bulge" that you describe. Got a hydrometer?
Check your specific gravity. I'll bet it's not in spec.

From my notes -

MCA "Marine Cranking Amps" tested at 32* F.
CCA "Cold Cranking Amps" tested at 0* F.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Lead Antimony Alloy
1270 Full Charge specific gravity.
Charged battery = 1.250 to 1.270 specific gravity.

Room temp. climate adjusting:
80* F. is the norm
Any 10* F. up or down, use the adjustment of .004

You are allowed .040 specific gravity variance between the cells. And there
are other tests.

Best of luck.