8 Top Tips for Extending Marine Battery Life

1. Charge after every use and allow the battery to receive a full charge

2. Avoid high voltage fast charging cycles – Stick to recommended voltage requirements and unplug immediately after the charge is complete OR see the next tip.

3. Use a charger with Multi-Stage Charging for a safe and fast charge – As mentioned above, all Minn Kota Marine Battery Chargers come with Automatic Multi-Stage Charging where the charger controls the voltage and current your battery gets throughout the charging cycle, ensuring a fast, safe and precise charge. Precision batteries also reduce voltage and display a flashing 100% GREEN LED for each bank to indicate the battery is in Maintenance Mode and ready to use. After 12 hours, the charger automatically turns off and a steady 100% GREEN LED is lit for each bank to indicate the battery is in long term Maintenance Mode and ready to use. The charger will automatically resume charging when the battery voltage drops below 12.6V.

4. Avoid storing in very cold or hot temperatures – Bring your batteries inside over winter when your boat is in storage and avoid leaving them in your boat or garage for long periods of time during extremely hot temperatures.

(A.) All Minn Kota battery chargers have an Automatic Temperature Compensation feature that adjusts for fluctuations in temperature to prevent damaging your battery.

5. Battery Equalization (Flooded Lead Acid Batteries only) – Cleans and protects your battery to improve battery life

(A.) Utilize a charger that has battery equalization that cleans and protects your battery at least once or twice a year. Ideally, once in spring and once before winterization or in fall.

(B.) The beauty is that Minn Kota Precision onboard chargers do it automatically, every time you plug it in. They also allow you to activate a more rigorous cleaning with a push of a button.

(C.) Watch this Battery Equalization video for more information

6. Ensure proper water levels in flooded lead-acid batteries – Top them off with distilled water

7. Avoid storing uncharged batteries for long periods of time

8. Keep your battery terminals clean - Scrub off any corrosion with a brush and a paste solution of baking soda and water.

Full Charge Ahead!

By following these simple battery maintenance tips, you can extend the life of your batteries by a couple of seasons – resulting in more money in your wallet and more time on the water. You don’t have to be that guy with the proverbial monkey wrench thrown into his day’s fishing gears and delaying all of the other anglers sitting there shaking their heads.

Just remember it’s not usually the battery’s fault, rather an inferior charger, and improper maintenance.

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