www.iFourWinns.com

Getting ready to put my boat back in service for the year and although I have quite a bit of electrical experience from my past...I do not quite understand my marine system.

I have a 1996 238 Vista Dlx and when I bought her she had 3 batteries. So when I replaced them all two seasons ago it was a hit to the checkbook. Last season I had quite a bit of problems with my alternator (kept throwing belts) I finally replaced it and seemed like things were ok. When I parked it for the winter (Late November) it seemed as though I always needed to start the boat using the both position on the perko. Well life got in the way and I did nothing about it.

Well summer is coming and I am getting ready to splash her again and I wonder if I should remove all three batteries and put them on a charger? Could I simply plug into my shore power and use the on board guest charger?



TIA,

If one or more batteries were low/discharged when the boat was put away for winter, they have likely not survived the winter and may need to be replaced. As to the on-board charger, yes, you should be able to plug it in/turn it on what ever the case may be, and have it charger the batteries. However, I do not know to what degree that charger is "smart". Will it put on a continuous charger or will it go into a float mode. This will impact whether it can be turned on and left or if you need to baby sit it. Hopefully someone knows more about how that specific charger operates.

Thanks Wylie, just to add...the winter here (Las Vegas, NV) is really more of an Ohio summer...never really got below freezing for more than a night.

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

I love Jan weather in vegas, we usually come out for the CES. Cold temps are only part of the equation. The longer a battery left with less than a full charger, the harder it is for it to recover to a full charger. So get them charged and check them for how well they recover to a full charger and then go from their.

A 15 amp single bank charger will take a very long time to recover the charge on 3 batteries. It may be time to invest in a newer bigger charger

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

I bought a Pro Mariner Pro Nautic 3 bank charger 2 seasons ago by recommendations by another member here. It's a GREAT little charger. I think it was about $250 or so, depends on the size you want. Amazon has some good deals on them.
Also, don't forget to check the fluid level in the batteries before you start charging.

I will at least disconnect one of the terminals before winter lay up. I reconnect every so often and throw the onboard charger on. Even though you have the switch off it doesn't turn everything off. The radio still draws for the clock.
Or even worse a bilge pump switch could fail and run the battery down. Also, some bilge pumps turn on every so often to sense water.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Speaking of it. I am charging my Shorai in my 08 right now.
I charge the 09 stock battery with the same battery tender.
Will let you know