I was reading a pervious thread about batteries and it led me to this question. I just purchased my first boat about 3 months ago so I am pretty inexperienced in the consequences of poorly maintaining a battery. My PT 175 is equipped with a Guest 6amp charger and due to a recent cold spell I've been leaving the charger plugged up. I removed both batteries a few weeks ago and topped them both off with DI water, then reinstalled them both. The reason I'm not leaving them out is because about once a month I still get the boat out to do a little crappie or musky fishing.

My question is, will my charger overcharge the batteries?

How long/often should I recharge the batteries?

At what point will I know the batteries are fully charged or a ready to go back on charge? (via volt meter)

Any other tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

The Guest charger is made to maintain the battery/s, leave it connected and plugged in.

Never, ever leave a battery in any state of discharge.

The Guest charger is made to maintain the battery/s, leave it connected and plugged in.

Never, ever leave a battery in any state of discharge.

Thanks Wayne!

Ironically I just bought the same boat, although it is my second boat. The owner of the boat explained to me that there is a red and a green light on the charger, which is hard to see, unless you duck your head in the battery compartment and look, the red light tells you it is charging when the red and green light is on it is close to being fully charged, when the green light is on the batteries are fully charged and will not over charge. Dont make the mistake I made and not check the electrolight level before you plug it in, apparently my starting battery as dry when I charged it, a rotten egg sent filled my garage. Luckly I purchased a 800cca battery to replace it for $75 at a local battery company, by the way Walley world wanted $95 dollars!

I have had the same pair batteries going on 4 yrs now. I kept the maintenance simple. As soon as I get home from a fishing outing, I put the batteries to charge. The day before I go out fishing, I make sure they are fully charged and I frequently check the water levels. Since I have done that, my batteries have been great. 

Ironically I just bought the same boat, although it is my second boat. The owner of the boat explained to me that there is a red and a green light on the charger, which is hard to see, unless you duck your head in the battery compartment and look, the red light tells you it is charging when the red and green light is on it is close to being fully charged, when the green light is on the batteries are fully charged and will not over charge. Dont make the mistake I made and not check the electrolight level before you plug it in, apparently my starting battery as dry when I charged it, a rotten egg sent filled my garage. Luckly I purchased a 800cca battery to replace it for $75 at a local battery company, by the way Walley world wanted $95 dollars!

Mine also has the red and green light. The books says if both lights stay on together for more then 24 hours that there is an issue with a battery. I've checked them both multiple times and can't find an issue with either. Mine will never show just the green light. I've left them plugged up for 2-3 weeks straight with no apparent issues. Maybe it's an issue with the charger.

I have had the same pair batteries going on 4 yrs now. I kept the maintenance simple. As soon as I get home from a fishing outing, I put the batteries to charge. The day before I go out fishing, I make sure they are fully charged and I frequently check the water levels. Since I have done that, my batteries have been great. 

This is what I do

I have had the same pair batteries going on 4 yrs now. I kept the maintenance simple. As soon as I get home from a fishing outing, I put the batteries to charge. The day before I go out fishing, I make sure they are fully charged and I frequently check the water levels. Since I have done that, my batteries have been great. 

 

 

This is what I do

Same here.

 

And in the winter I pull them out of the boat, and will put the charger on them every so often.