Are you having trouble with your marine battery? If your boat’s battery struggles to hold a charge for long periods or keeps dying, it’s likely due to one of these reasons.
It’s Too Old
Using Occam’s razor, the most common and simplest reason why your boat’s battery keeps dying is that it’s too old and worn down. Nothing lasts forever, especially a lead-acid battery—which can break down after just a few years of use.
There’s no solution to an old battery besides replacing it. If you choose this route, consider a lithium battery. They’re more durable and long-lasting than lead-acid units, and marine lithium battery maintenance is much easier.
There’s a Problem With the Charger
Another common culprit of a drained or dead battery is the charger itself. If your battery doesn’t have the same juice it once did but still seems in working order, the charger could be draining it.
Check the charger and the connections to the battery for any noticeable damage, and verify they’re capable and secure. You can check the charger’s output by reading the meter or testing it with a multimeter tool.
The Rectifier Is Broken
If your boat has an outboard engine, it also has a rectifier. This black box converts the alternate current (AC) power into the battery’s direct current (DC) power.
While the engine is on and you’re using the boat, the rectifier keeps the battery charged so that it doesn’t drain or die while in use—like a reserve of battery power. If your battery dies while boating, however, the problem could be a busted rectifier. You can try to repair the rectifier, but it’s more cost-effective to replace it altogether.
Other Boat Features Use Too Much Power
Electronic equipment and features on your boat requiring electricity could be sapping your battery dry. A healthy and fully charged battery shouldn’t die from using some electronics, so that’s something to keep in mind while on your boat.
Electronics and things on a boat that can drain the battery include:
- Radio
- Navigation lights
- LED displays
- GPS
- Depth sounder
- Fish finder
If your boat’s battery is unreliable, you shouldn’t tax it too much on the water with so much electronic equipment.