Winter battery storage

[Pauliemv]

Hey all… first year with a 2016 25SC. Looking for intel in what people do with their regular lead batteries for the winter. Do you haul them out? Disconnect the negative leg? Or maybe remove fuses for bilge?
If it’s fuses… where the hell are they? Are they labeled clearly somewhere. I was thinking about keeping the boat connected to shore power so I could run the battery charger that’s on the boat monthly to keep up the batteries… is that a good idea?
While I’m at it… fresh water system has been flushed out with 5 gallons of pink antifreeze. Sump in shower has pumped pink anti freeze out as well. Put a gallon through the head…. Doing engine on Friday with PEAK green antifreeze.
Is there anything else I should think about?
Appreciate any help from seasoned Tug owners…
Paul

 

[Todd_D]

I fully charge my batteries, turn the battery switches off and leave them aboard. My boat is wired so that when the switches are off everything is disconnected. I am in the tropics of Maine - Mount Desert Island. Because of the way Rangers are wired I would likely disconnect the negative lead to each battery bank. As long as the batteries are fully charged when you winterize the boat the batteries will be fine.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

You need to winterize the wash down pump system. You also need more antifreeze in the holding tank than the 1 gallon you flushed at the head so you can also winterize the macerating pump. If you have a heat pump (i.e. Air Cond.) you'll need to run antifreeze into that as well. Finally, both bilge pumps need antifreeze run thru them too. HTH, Gary

 

[rheimb1]

As far as the batteries go, I used to pull them, because I didn't have a way to charge the where i stored the boat. So I would put them on a Battery Tender for desulfination and trickle charge. Since I have gone to AGMs and don't really need desulfinating. Now the boat is plugged in full time. I don't think a monthly charge is sufficient. I notice quite a draw on them and they can be below 12 volts in two weeks.

 

[ftornabe]

I disconnected the Ground and no problems in the spring.

 

[AGLyme]

This is my first winter owning a boat.
This string is incredibly helpful ( never thought of running the RV antifreeze through the bilge pumps).

My rear Rule bilge pump and the Rule pump in the shower box “check” every couple of minutes… and the rear bilge pump checks with or without the fuse installed (direct from the battery), I was wondering how I was going to end that energy suck… so removing the negative battery wires from the poles is the solution I suppose.

Re the “Macerator”, how can I check if I have one please ? I have no idea how to turn it on/off… assuming I have one.


Thanks

 

[Martin610]

I also make sure to put anti freeze through the shower pan to protect that bilge pump.

-Martin 610

 

[AGLyme]

Yes, I have a Rule pump in the shower waste water reservoir. The Corp video on winterizing that reservoir did a good job of how to winterize the shower waste reservoir.
I plan on removing all the negative wires on the 6 batteries to shut off the Rule’s auto check feature.

 

[AGLyme]

My mystery item is the macerator… I have to figure out if I have one or not.
Thx