kb some of the guys around here dont take there batterys out for winter  they just leave the charger on all winter   i do take mine out and store them in garage.  its about a 5-6 month think here in indiana.  how do you do it kb :-/ :-/

I used to take my batteries out every winter and put them in the house . then in spring put them back in the boat. But For the past 4 years I have left the batteries in the boat and left the onboard charger plugged in all winter. Infact whenever the boat is parked next to the house its plugged in.The boat sits outside with a heavy cover on it, and the batteries are fine come spring. I live in Pittsburgh, so winters are like yours. Infact since I have been doing this I have had no  problems with the batteries.

I pull my batteries and put them in the garage. I run them on the charger every once in awhile.

I pull my batteries and put them in the garage. I run them on the charger every once in awhile.

I pretty much do the same mine go in the basement in battery boxes though.

Chow

I saw this thread and thought I would add my 2 cents. I, like others, pull all 3 of my batteries and put them down in the basement. I do this because the location I winterize my boat is too far from the house to run extension cords safely. So I pull the batteries, but a good Idea if you are pulling them guys is to keep them somewhat warm. Even if they are down in the basement I place, on the floor, a pair of 2x4s with a peice of 3/4in plywood on top of them. I then put my batteries on the plywood. I do this to keep them off of the cold basement floor. My uncle who owns a Marina said that this was a good idea and would extend your battery life another season or two. Hope this helps.

I too pull mine and put them in my basement, charging them about once a month.

I pull them and put them in the basement.  On the first of each month I hook up the charger and trickle charge them.  I only picked that because it was easiest to remember.  In the basement I put them on some old buckets so they are off the the concrete.  Apparently, concrete can react with the battery and lower the life, don't know if that is true, but why take the chance.

kb here again   was talking to a interstate battery man  and he said if you take your  trolling batterys  out reverse them for the next year    the front battery goes to the back he says you will get a couple more years out of batterys   because he says { cant remember for sure which way it works}  but he said one battery gets more use than the other   if this makes sence kb  :-? :-/ :-/

That depends on the way the batteries are connect and only if you're running a 12/24 motor.  Some 12/24 setups only run on one battery when running in the 12V mode and both batteries in the 24V mode.   If running a straght 24V motor, doesn't matter how the batteries are.

If I was going to take my batteries out and store them, I would get me some small float charge maintainers and connect to them.   Some advertise they can maintain up to five batteries connected in parallel.  Yes, they will do that but that is not a smart way to store batteries because the batteries would all have to be connected together and storing batteries connected together is something you should never do.  If one goes bad, it can ruin all the batteries connected to it.  When stored, you still should check the water every month or so and keep them charged.

I just leave the onboard chargers plugged in and check the water every month or two.

I wouldn't know anything about winterizing. In Georgia we fish all year.

I'm in Georgia and I too fish year round, but with five boats and nine motors, I don't use all of them year round so it saves money and aggrevation if you keep the ones not being used stored properly.  My Javelin is the only one that never gets winterized or stored, that one gets used just about every other weekend, regardless the weather.

I wouldn't know anything about winterizing. In Georgia we fish all year.

That must be nice ;D  You can fish all year up here but it will involve chopping some ice

I store my batteries in the basement and charge them a couple of times over the winter.  I also put my trolling motor in the basement after seeing one that cracked open after freezing.  It must of had some water in it.  

Whats Winter?? down here in south florida there is no winter 8-) just SUN and Heat   8-)

I grew up in Florida and down there you only have two seasons, Summer & Christmas.

I forgot to mention that I use Minn Kota's battery equalizer additive to the batteries haven't use it long enough to know if it works I just started using it this year. The batteries are only 2 years old and it's my first boat so the jury is still out for me. Maybe someone else has used it or heard of anyone using it.

Chow

Yea, in south Florida they don't wait for the water to get warm enough for the bass to go on the spawn, they have to wait for it to get cool enough.

There have been all kinds of battery additives around for many years making all sorts of claims. I've never used or experimented with any of them to make any assumptions of my own. I feel a properly maintained battery does not need additives, whether it be stored or in use. I think if there was a magic potion, some manufactor would be advertising it already in their batteris to get that little extra on the competition.

Yea, in south Florida they don't wait for the water to get warm enough for the bass to go on the spawn, they have to wait for it to get cool enough.

There have been all kinds of battery additives around for many years making all sorts of claims. I've never used or experimented with any of them to make any assumptions of my own. I feel a properly maintained battery does not need additives, whether it be stored or in use. I think if there was a magic potion, some manufactor would be advertising it already in their batteris to get that little extra on the competition.

Minn Kota has their own line of batteries maybe they are just selling another item to catch Angler's money rather than having any benefit. Will keep inquiring to others as it's benefit. Thanks.

Chow

I grew up in Florida and down there you only have two seasons, Summer & Christmas.

I heard there was snow flurries and freezing temps down that way earlier this week. Seriously, It's like some of you live on a different continent. Here in PA we get everything you can imagine. Triple digit temps with humidity to almost match and then 5 months later you can drive a Hummer out over your favorite fishing spot.

That is why it is important to get advice from people in similar climates.  Brrr...