R31CB battery life

[Beat Army!]

We purchased our R31 new last May. I keep it inside a high and dry facility when not underway. It seems like after about 6 weeks of being inside, the batteries have lost enough of their charge that (if i'm lucky) the only way to start the engine is to cross connect / parallel the batteries. Today, that wouldn't even work and i had to run the generator for about 30 minutes before i got enough charge to turn the engine over.

And, yes, before i stow the boat, i open all the breakers including the one for the inverter.

Is this normal? Or, what (else) should i be doing?

steve

 

[Cutwater28GG]

sounds like the batteries werent kept charged through the off season. even with the breakers open there is parasitic charges on the batteries.

best way to tell is to load test them out of the boat. but your description sounds like are toast.

you cant just disconnect the breakers you need to make sure you keep the batteries charged/conditioned.
you sould get somwhere between 4-6 years out of a set of batteries.

 

[Kevin Lamont]

We purchased our R31 new last May. I keep it inside a high and dry facility when not underway. It seems like after about 6 weeks of being inside, the batteries have lost enough of their charge that (if i'm lucky) the only way to start the engine is to cross connect / parallel the batteries. Today, that wouldn't even work and i had to run the generator for about 30 minutes before i got enough charge to turn the engine over.

And, yes, before i stow the boat, i open all the breakers including the one for the inverter.

Is this normal? Or, what (else) should i be doing?

steve

Steve,

When you store the boat is the boat plugged into shore power? The bilge pumps and CO2 detectors are always on even if the breakers are tripped. Best way to keep batteries fresh is to have plugged in and charging. Let me know and lets make sure you dont have a problem.

Thank you,
Kevin Lamont

 

[Beat Army!]

Thanks, Kevin. There is no shore power when the boat is in the high and dry storage. But, to be clear, we don't have much of an off season here in LA (lower AL), so the longest it's been out of the water is about 6 weeks.

Do i need to give up on the inside storage and leave it in a wet slip where i can have power, or is there something else i could be / should be doing?

steve

 

[Dale777]

Steve,

Disconnect the battery negative ground cables.

 

[Kevin Lamont]

Thanks, Kevin. There is no shore power when the boat is in the high and dry storage. But, to be clear, we don't have much of an off season here in LA (lower AL), so the longest it's been out of the water is about 6 weeks.

Do i need to give up on the inside storage and leave it in a wet slip where i can have power, or is there something else i could be / should be doing?

steve

Steve,

It is best practice to have the boat system charging while not in use weather it be in the water or in dry stack. You could try and remove the fuses for the bilge pumps and C02 detectors while in dry stack to see if that helps. Also I assume you keep your propane valve shut off when not using propane? That also can draw the engine battery down. Let me know, also if its easier you can email me direct. My email is below.

Thank you,
Kevin

 

[ixlr8]

Also I assume you keep your propane valve shut off when not using propane? That also can draw the engine battery down.

Thank you,
Kevin

Kevin,
Could you explain the why's of this please.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

the propane solenoid draws power and is wired direct to the batteries and not through the breaker.