OK, Mr. Rayovac – it’s almost opening day…are your batteries holding 12-volts? The first warm weekend in May is a great time to get the boat out of winter storage and fire it up for a run around the lake, but don’t ruin my day when you do it. I don’t want to be stuck 6 trucks behind you at the boat ramp because you forgot to take care of simple battery maintenance before loading the family into the Vista Cruiser and trailering-up.

Magic batteries…magic batteries are the kind of batteries that never require charging – they always sit at 12.0 volts. Magic batteries can go an entire winter still connected to a boat motor without every losing an amp. If I were smart, I myself would run right out and buy some magic batteries, but wait…they don’t exist!

Every battery on every boat needs to be tested before the boat is brought to the lake. There should be a law. The law would read something like this. “Your batteries are not magic, dummy. Check them before you leave the house.” And really, there is no reason not to check your batteries – it’s both easy and cheap. Volt meters can be purchased for less than I spent on my kid’s Happy Meal, and plenty of battery chargers can be bought for under $75. With new voltmeter in hand, put the red lead on the positive terminal of the battery (the terminal with the + sign), and the black lead on the negative side of the battery (negative means - sign). If you don’t see 12-volts or more on your voltmeter, your motor probably isn’t going to start. Charge it now, or don’t bring it to the boat landing. Be warmed, however. Even a battery that is fully charged can have a hard time cranking a big outboard if the battery terminals are dirty.

Clean those terminals. Rust and corrosion on a battery terminal is not a good thing. Contrary to what some boaters think, grunge does not go with the territory of having batteries. Dirty terminals can cause a dramatic drop in amps and volts getting to your boat’s starter, leaving me – again – stuck 6 trucks deep at the boat landing. I don’t want that. So, to make sure you’re not in my way when I get there, get yourself some baking soda, water, and a wire brush. Make a watery-oatmeal like solution out of the water and baking soda, and start scrubbing. Once restored back to a dull-gray, your terminals are clean.

Don’t let your oversight ruin my day on the water. By testing your batteries – charging when necessary – and ensuring your batteries are cleaned, you’re guaranteed the volts and amps you need to crank up your motor the first day out. Your battery is the heart of your boat; if it quits beating, you’re dead in the water.

Mr. Fishwrench