wrote in message
oups.com...
Popular widsom has it that the batteries should be removed from the
boat before winteer storage. The boat will be stored outside, here in
Montreal,.

Question is, why can the batteries not be left in the boat if they are
fully charged before the winter and charged again in the spring?

Many thanks in advance

Matt


If you think about the task, you will probably do more damage by moving them
than by leaving them on the boat.

In the winter, I charge mine every once in awhile. I have 2, 8D batteries
and even my wife can't lift them ;-)

Bill

This has probably been said in one form or another, but just in case:

Lead acid batteries will not freeze if they are fully charged. In fact,
the extreme cold will reduce capacity (while cold) but actually extend
the battery's life!

The challenge, obviously, is to maintain a fully charged condition over
the winter.

At the very least, the battery should be disconnected from any possible
load, no matter how small.

A small solar charger would probably keep up with a battery's rate of
self-discharge.

An interesting question is whether batteries should be left connected in
parallel or isolated from one another. If left connected, a bad cell in
one will quickly discharge its partner. However, under some
circumstances a battery with a relatively high rate of self-discharge
could be "kept alive" to some extent by a parallel-connected partner.

A discharged lead acid battery is likely to freeze with unfortunate
consequences.

Chuck