Bilge and Battery

[OnTheWater]

I'll be taking my boat from my home slip that has power to a slip that doesn't have power for a few days, so I won't be able to keep it plugged in. It's a 242 with 2 batteries - should be OK for 2-3 nights, right? I probably won't run it the 1st 2 days - will be in business meetings.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[davel501]

Without knowing the starting condition of your batteries, 2-3 days should be fine. Turn off the start battery just to be safe.

 

[txav8r]

Since you maintain your batteries correctly it sounds like, it will be just fine. Your boats electrical system stator magnetos put out about 28 amps per hour, this is sufficient to maintain and charge back a little recovery from starting and general drainage. But if you anchor for 5 hours a day and drain the batteries, it won't fully recover. Over 2 to 3 days, you shouldn't have any issue. Have you considered a jump pack for a reserve in a situation like this?

 

[Bruce]

The factory bilge pump kicks on every few minutes to check for water. If it finds water it continues pumping until it can no longer find water. If your hull and its fittings are well sealed the check will be the only power draw and you will have plenty of battery to handle the load. If your boat is not well sealed or it is storming then the batteries will drain faster.

 

[itsdgm]

2-3 days should be no problem. That is provided that the batteries are in good shape and there's no known water leaks. I've slipped my boat for over a week without power. I run a 2 battery setup. I leave the battery switch in a position that only draws power (and charges) one battery. This keeps my second as a reserve/spare. I leave the one battery on with the bilge pump. Usually I will switch to the second battery mid-week just to exercise it too. So far, no issues. But it's important to make sure that all switches (except the bilge), stereo, radio, etc are turned off.

 

[OnTheWater]

Thanks to all 4 for the replies! Sounds like I should be good with fully charged and well-maintained batteries.

@txav8r Mel - I thought about a jump pack, but not enough to look deeper into it. Do you have a recommendation on one? Of course, with that booster ball purchase from yesterday...room, room, room.

 

[txav8r]

I don't actually think you need a jump pack @Belteddeep . It is insurance I guess, but you have two batteries already. I know guys that would do a long weekend with a single battery in these boats without worry. It is really a question of what your going to be doing and how deep you intend to deplete them. Your batteries will remain isolated while the boat isn't running, and they will combine when it is, charging the lowest first. But once a low battery gets below the limits of your DVSR, then it will not combine again. If you don't have a drain on it, it will go for a week or more on a single battery, just supporting the bilge pumps automatic feature...unless it is having to pump water. Chances are, you don't have any kind of hull leak that would require it to pump. Most leaks guys find are annoying and not problematic. Those leaks being thru hull holes drilled to accommodate accessories at the factory, that were not sealed good. Other leaks are the anchor locker. Both of these won't leak while static, but will when underway or when on the swim deck and it is pushed deeper into the water. Also some leaks are found at the rub rail where the seam between the lower hull half is joined to the upper hull half. That seam has been found to leak in areas...but again, it has to be pushed underwater to leak and it won't be when static. So the jump pack probably isn't necessary, but it is good insurance. I can't recommend one...I have had one for about 5 years...and I just found it dead and unable to accept a charge. The thing about those packs is it is a battery, and it must be maintained just like any battery. If it isn't used and doesn't get exercise, it will fail, plus, they won't last any longer than other batteries and have a life limit.

Be sure to post up your thoughts on the sportstuff booster ball after you get some use out of it. I always felt it helped a bunch with the rope, but it is one more thing to manage. The good thing I found, is that it came with its own rope, so that was a benefit!

 

[nucleuscracker]

As we wet slip our boat every summer, I had a float switch installed for this very reason. I found that the cycling of the bilge pump was killing our battery. (we also have a dual set up now). With no electricity at the slip, this has saved our battery big time. I still have a solar panel upgrade on the to do list for our boat. one day..lol

 

[cane.mba]

Will you be in a covered slip? Do you have a good cover on the boat that will shed rain water? That's the key. If your in a side tie, or uncovered slip without a good cover could be an issue if you get a heavy, heavy rain. At my old Marina two years ago there was a much older Yamaha in a side tie (not covered) with a very old cover. We had one thunderstorm sit over the Marina area and dump 5-6" of rain over a two hour period, and sunk that old Yamaha. Mine was still brand new, and my cover with poles shed the water, so other than some damp carpet we were ok. I always shut off the starting battery, and leave the house battery and bilge on all summer. We don't have power to our dock now! And there are times when the house battery dies, but the starter still gets us going. So far it's been three years now and no issues, but I've also never found more than a few cups of water sitting in the bilge.

Worst case, if the both batteries were dead you would have to run to a local Walmart/Target, etc to pickup a jump pack. I think most of them come with enough of a charge to jump you once (don't quote me on that though, my research was a couple of years ago and then I realized these boats are rock solid).

 

[Glassman]

...I have had one for about 5 years...and I just found it dead and unable to accept a charge.

If you are lucky and the case is assembled with screws, not glued, you can easily open it up and replace the batteries.

I found exact fit replacement batteries for around $15.00 each.

http://www.apexbattery.com/

 

[OnTheWater]

As we wet slip our boat every summer, I had a float switch installed for this very reason. I found that the cycling of the bilge pump was killing our battery. (we also have a dual set up now). With no electricity at the slip, this has saved our battery big time. I still have a solar panel upgrade on the to do list for our boat. one day..lol

Yeah, I'm going to have the dealer do my 10 hour service after this trip and am going to have them put in a float switch. Couldn't get it in before hand. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[OnTheWater]

Will you be in a covered slip? Do you have a good cover on the boat that will shed rain water? That's the key. If your in a side tie, or uncovered slip without a good cover could be an issue if you get a heavy, heavy rain. At my old Marina two years ago there was a much older Yamaha in a side tie (not covered) with a very old cover. We had one thunderstorm sit over the Marina area and dump 5-6" of rain over a two hour period, and sunk that old Yamaha. Mine was still brand new, and my cover with poles shed the water, so other than some damp carpet we were ok. I always shut off the starting battery, and leave the house battery and bilge on all summer. We don't have power to our dock now! And there are times when the house battery dies, but the starter still gets us going. So far it's been three years now and no issues, but I've also never found more than a few cups of water sitting in the bilge.

Worst case, if the both batteries were dead you would have to run to a local Walmart/Target, etc to pickup a jump pack. I think most of them come with enough of a charge to jump you once (don't quote me on that though, my research was a couple of years ago and then I realized these boats are rock solid).

Cover is good on the boat and the rental slips may have covers (can't remember). I figure if I need to, I can run out and start it up and let it run for a bit if needed. This boat stays dry so far - I pulled it out after 6 weeks in the slip and out on it most weekends and not a drop from the drain plug. Thanks for the tips!

 

[davel501]

The newer boats should channel the water out of the scupper so even without a cover the bilge should stay dry.

 

[Julian]

All our boats have deck drains that empty deck water overboard.
A boat with a stock battery with no leaks will deplete the battery in just over 2 weeks of sitting with the bilge pump on (and nothing else). I learned this when I had a slip with no power.

@Belteddeep Now, if your boat has a leak and the pump runs frequently (vs just checking for the presence of back pressure), then your battery time will vary. If she is pretty dry...2 days....no issue....

 

[davel501]

All our boats have deck drains that empty deck water overboard.
A boat with a stock battery with no leaks will deplete the battery in just over 2 weeks of sitting with the bilge pump on (and nothing else). I learned this when I had a slip with no power.

@Belteddeep Now, if your boat has a leak and the pump runs frequently (vs just checking for the presence of back pressure), then your battery time will vary. If she is pretty dry...2 days....no issue....

Oh ok, so rain should never sink one of our boats by itself. It would have to be rain and a clogged scupper, etc.

 

[Julian]

Correct.....rain will drain out the scupper and (depending on your model) drains in the lips of floor storage lockers. Will some get to your bilge...yes....but the point is...not much SHOULD. Coast Guard boat building regulations require that new boats have self bailing cockpits.

 

[txav8r]

But self bailing is when underway, when parked, without gravity and centrifugal force, the cockpit doesn't drain near as easy. It can also overrun the drain channels a tad and end up in the bilge as Julian mentions.

 

[Glassman]

For anyone planning on wet slipping for extended periods and may be concerned about battery life, I recommend adding a float switch controlled bilge pump wired directly. Others have simply swapped out the OEM pump.

 

[Julian]

For anyone planning on wet slipping for extended periods and may be concerned about battery life, I recommend adding a float switch controlled bilge pump wired directly. Others have simply swapped out the OEM pump.

I'd suggest an on board charger and shore power first....and float switch bilge if that isn't an option.

 

[cane.mba]

But bringing this back on topic, a few days shouldn't be an issue.