Battery Problems??

PimpinD · Addict Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 785 City: Orlando, FL

We took my boat out today, and she ran fine until we stopped at an island, and went to crank her up again, but she was a no-go. Seemed that she lost charge in her battery, because after swimming the boat back to the dock, we attached one of those quick charge things, and she cranked up fine after a little.
What are my options here??
I have the battery running on a 6 hr. Charger. So she will probly crank 2morrow, do boat have alts. to charge up battery like a car?
Would I need a new battery, if so how good are optima battery i know they have good CAR AUDIO related battery and they show a marine version of it Smile

...

Lemme know soon, i wanna ride 2morrow Smile

PimpinD · Addict Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 785 City: Orlando, FL

anyone???

JamesP · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 64

What kind of Boat is it?

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

I used to stress out the entire time we were at the lake. "WHat if my battery dies?" THat's what I thought every time we parked for a while. I always drive about 5 miles or so away from where we launch. WE went out for the first time today and I can say that I no longer feel that stress. I went and go a marine battery from Wal-Mart. I didn't know they had marine batteries, but they do. It only cost me $47. Now I have a spare in the boat. Which mean NO MORE STRESS. I figure I will change the batteries every month or so to make sure they each keep their charge.

PimpinD · Addict Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 785 City: Orlando, FL

Its a 1994 Mastercraft Prostar with the ford V8 351 Indmar (sp.) engine.

Thats a good idea, i wonder how those optima batteries work in the marine environment.

Thanks

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

My boat is the V8 Indmar also. the battery at Wal-Mart is a MARINE battery. It says so on the side. Not to mention that it has a 12 month complete replacement warranty. If it goes bad this season I will get another for FREE. I kinda hope it goes bad at the end of the season so I can get another for free with the same 12 month deal.

Mike · Addict Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 536 City: Orlando

Heres my story about batteries. We had just got our brand new boat and the next day we brought it to the lake. Backed it in for the first time and tried starting it for the first time. Nothing. I left a switch on and it drained my battery. It was a huge bummer.

PimpinD · Addict Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 785 City: Orlando, FL

Could my alt. be burnt out or something, cause we were riding for aboutr 1hr before we shut off the engine to go party???

lee · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 196 City: USA

If your battery sat dead or dry all winter it could have lost its charge holding capabilities. You can charge the battery, let it set a half day then check the voltage.

Mike · Addict Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 536 City: Orlando

Make sure that everything was turned off. You may have had a switch on and didnt know about.

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

It could be a problem with your alternator. If your worried you could take your alternator off and take in into an autoparts store that will test it, usually for free. The autoparts store can probably test your battery as well.

Nick
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Herbalaire

PimpinD · Addict Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 785 City: Orlando, FL

yea that could be it too, maybe the alt. wasnt charging the battery. O well im at school now and the boat is at home ill have to wait for my dad to getback home and work on the it ....

tc · Posted: Mar 17, 2003 9:48 am Post subject: Check the following...

OK, First thing is on your Dashboard you SHOULD have a guage that reads AMPS. When the boat is on check the guage, it should read like between 12 - 14volts that is letting you know that the alternator is charging the battery, If it is not showing that then check the wiring on the alternator. Open the engine box and look for the alternator(if you don't know what one looks like then search on the web for Alternator) check that all wires are secure. If so then check the connection to the battery make sure it is clean and that the wires are tight.

Make sure that you don't have anything else on, blower, lights, stereo, accessories... that could be causing the problem.

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

to add to what TC said, check the guage before you start it, it should be around 12. Then check the gauge after you start it, when it is running it should be around 14 or at least more than it was before you started it.

Nick
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YAMAHA TDR 250 HISTORY

mkcarte2 · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 168 City: raliegh, nc

follow tc's driections first, always start out with the simple checks then move on from there