Allen: Don’t neglect batteries in winter
Veteran pro Harold Allen suggests giving your boat's batteries some attention in winter. (PAA: Chris Dutton)
PAA Communications
Stored the boat for winter yet?
If you have, before grabbing the bow or rifle to head out to chase deer or ducks it’s a good idea to make sure your boat’s batteries are prepped for the next few months.
Getting them in shape for the return to the lake in spring will help make that first trip go easier and eliminate headaches.
“It’s not full-blown winter yet in most of the country and a lot of us are still fishing, so making sure your batteries are in good working order after a long spring and summer is a good idea,” says veteran Skeeter pro Harold Allen of Texas, who runs Optima Blue Top batteries in his boat.
“But if you have put the boat up until spring, I think one of the best things you should do is periodically hook up your battery charger for 5-6 hours to keep the battery where it needs to be,” he said. “Batteries are critical piece of equipment in your boat, no doubt. The less you use them, the more chance for them to run down.”
Allen has been around boats for more than three decades in all types of weather. Although it doesn’t get too cold in Texas to completely stop fishing, he does make sure to take care of them when he’s not on the water as often.
Along with keeping them charged, Allen suggests making sure all the connections, wires and terminals are in good condition.
“Winter is a good time to spend some time and go check all the terminals,” he said. “If you see one that’s corroded, clean it really well. Corrosion is something we don’t always think about until it’s too late, but it’s something that can be easily taken care of. In winter or downtime if you’re not fishing as often, you have more time to do it. So don’t let it just sit there. Check all the wires, connections and everything else, too.”
Unlike boats from years past, today’s models are bigger and offer easier access to the battery storage area.
“It’s so much easier to get into those storage areas today to remove or work on your batteries,” he said. “You can leave them in there, or remove them and make sure nothing is loose with the battery-holder and that nothing’s rattling around in the hull. It’s a good time to check out anything else in that storage area, too.
“Disconnect all of your electronics and check everything with those terminals, too. Make sure nothing’s accidentally turned on that could drain power without your knowledge or create other problems. Winter is a good time to give your entire boat a thorough check-up, clean out storage areas, go through your tackle and make sure everything’s in good shape for spring.”
Today’s batteries are more efficient and require less maintenance, Allen said, but that’s not a reason to ignore them until four or five months from now.
“Batteries are like fire extinguishers,” he said. “When you need them, you really need them and you want the biggest and best one you can get that will get the job done. You don’t want to get ready for a trip and find out something’s wrong that you could have taken care of earlier.”
