I just bought an 8' bass hunter boat for pond fishing for $50 and I have a 3 year old Stowaway trolling battery that was only charged and used like twice after getting my older boat running after setting up for a few years. The battery has been in the boat and outside since it was bought. So it has been in some cold weather. Now when I am charging the battery and stick the volt meter to it, it shows about 14 volts, when i unhook the charger and stick the leads back to it, it shows about 8.65 volts and drops .01 volt about every second or two. What is wrong with it? Does it have a bad cell or what? My brother says that some of the new chargers made now have a function which will reverse this. Cant remember what he called the condition. I don't know if he knows what he's talking about or not lol. Anybody have an idea if this can be fixed or not? I paid like $90 for that battery!!!! I hate to have to buy another, I checked the acid levels, all cells are full. Thanks for any advice and recommendations in advance!!!!!!!! Also, if there are battery chargers that may fix this, recommend brands and models please.  Thanks again!

That battery is long gone.

Why pay $90 for a battery, then let it set for 3 years in the cold?

Unfortunately it sounds like you did not maintain the battery properly.  My guess is that it is ruined.  Most places around here will allow you a $5 core credit if you purchase a new one and take the bad one in w you.  Good luck.

I don't guess or go "cheap" on anything that my life could depend on.  Your battery craps out on the one day you decide to go to some bigger water, now what?

Get a new battery.

Yeah I know!!  When I bought this battery I had just gotten out my older boat and was gonna fix it up a little so I went and bought the battery. Then discovered some other stuff on the boat that really wasn't worth fixing so it ended up just sitting there after a couple of trips to the lake. Rotten floor, carb problems, etc. Yeah I'm just gonna get me a new battery when I receive my trolling motor I ordered off of ebay. Any recommendations? Mostly pond and some small creeks, but I will be taking it to Guntersville Lake a fairly good bit to fish around the banks. I want a big one that'll troll all day. The trolling motor is a motorguide T34. 34 lb thrust. Thanks!!!!!!!

Unless you keep a trickle charge on a battery leaving it unused will ruin it faster than heavy use.  It's gone.   Always charge your new battery as soon as you return and keep it fully charged.

One of the reasons i went to agm batteries,cold,hot doesn't matter,can put it on

charge,let it sit for monthes throw the charger back on it and it hasn't dropped

one bit,also never have to worry about acid spills with it,yea it cost more but

i have yet to run one down to nothing.