"Da Kine" wrote in
oups.com:

You can sort of fix crystallized batteries by over charging them to
16.8 volts and then beading off the excess charge. That melts most of
the crystallization that happens. There is also some acid that you can
buy to add to your cells that prolongs the life of batteries but I a
big believer in changing batteries about every 2 years. Call it cost of
ownership and live with it because it is better and safer for not that
much money.



All a disaster waiting to happen. Adding acid to electrolyte to
"rejuvenate" dead cells is SUICIDE! The lead was eaten away from the
plates and crystallized into the bottom of the battery, in the space
provided for it. You come along and add acid, eating holes in already
weakened plates, possibly creating a shorting hazard so the battery
explodes. You have to see a boat whos battery has exploded to realize
what damage that does. Please don't add acid to a dead cell, please?

Going to sea with crap batteries is stupid! Batteries are cheap unless
you suck up to some idiotic gauze batteries for $600 by some slick
salesman in boat shoes. Golf cart batteries are throwaway consumables at
$89 a pop. Use them. They work great for years, and when something
doesn't start to look right, TOSS THEM to the battery recycler pile and
BUY NEW ONES from a BATTERY SHOP, not a boat store!

I like your idea of the 2-year swap, but cheap golf cart batteries will
last much longer if one takes care of them properly....

When you zap a battery with 16.8V at really high current, the good cells
boil like hell, possibly warping a plate and causing an explosion. NEVER
do this crazy crap! You are NOT going to "save" a dead cell...its acid
is used up, its plates are eaten away, its full of lead sulphate
crystals...buy a NEW ONE.