First thing is to keep your hull and sterndrive clean. It is a must for good performance, dirty hulls create cavitation and drag resulting in poor performance.
A boat battery may not hold a charge for several reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons why a boat battery may not hold a charge:
Age: Over time, boat batteries lose their ability to hold a charge due to the natural degradation of their internal components. If your battery is old, it may be time to replace it.
Sulfation: Sulfation is a buildup of lead sulfate crystals on the battery plates that reduces its capacity to hold a charge. This can happen if the battery is left discharged for too long or if it is not charged properly.
Corrosion: Corrosion can occur on the battery terminals or cables and cause poor electrical connections, which can prevent the battery from holding a charge.
Parasitic Loads: Parasitic loads are electrical components that continue to draw power from the battery even when the boat is turned off. These loads can drain the battery over time if not properly disconnected.
Overcharging or Undercharging: Charging the battery too much or too little can damage the battery and reduce its ability to hold a charge.
To avoid these issues, it is important to properly maintain your boat battery by keeping it clean, charging it regularly, and avoiding overcharging or undercharging. If your battery is consistently not holding a charge, it may be time to replace it.
Regular and or seasonal maintenance of your Boat Engine protects your investment, helps to prevent breakdowns, costly repairs and will save you on the cost of repairs in the future.
Boat electrolysis is a process where electrical current flows through the water and metal components of a boat. This current can cause corrosion and damage to the boat's metal components, including the hull, propeller, shaft, and fittings.
Electrolysis occurs when there is a difference in electrical potential between two metal components in the water, such as the boat's metal fittings and the surrounding water. This can cause an electrical current to flow, leading to corrosion and damage to the metal.
Electrolysis can be caused by a number of factors, including:
Improper grounding: A lack of proper grounding can cause stray electrical currents to flow through the boat's metal components.
Electrical systems: Faulty wiring, loose connections, or damaged electrical systems can cause stray electrical currents to flow through the boat's metal components.
Marinas and shore power: Improperly maintained shore power systems or nearby boats with faulty electrical systems can cause stray electrical currents to flow through the water and affect nearby boats.
Saltwater: Saltwater is a better conductor of electricity than fresh water and can increase the risk of electrolysis.
To prevent electrolysis, it's important to ensure that the boat's electrical system is properly grounded and maintained. Other steps that can be taken to prevent electrolysis include using sacrificial anodes, which are designed to corrode instead of the boat's metal components, and avoiding marinas or locations with a history of electrolysis problems.
If you suspect that your boat may be experiencing electrolysis, it's important to have the boat inspected and determine the cause of the problem. Timely detection and correction of electrolysis problems can prevent costly damage to your boat's metal components
